Servings
Font
Back
0 from 15 votes

(Better Than) Panda Express Orange Chicken

This easy copycat recipe makes crispy and sweet homemade fried Panda Express Orange Chicken that's way better than the original!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 571 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

For the Fried Chicken –
  • 2 pounds boneless chicken thighs
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 large egg
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • 2 quarts oil for frying peanut, coconut, or vegetable oil
For the Orange Chicken Sauce –
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup orange juice fresh-squeezed or store-bought
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • Zest of 1 navel orange (optional for extra orangeness)
  • ½ - 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1/3 cup chopped scallions

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Chop the chicken into 1-inch bite-size pieces.
  2. Set out a large mixing bowl. Add the cornstarch, flour, salt, and white pepper. Mix well. Then add in the egg, 3 tablespoon oil, and 6 tablespoons water. Mix into a thick smooth batter. Stir in the chicken pieces and coat well. Chill the chicken in the batter for at least 20 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, set a large sauce pot and pour in the remaining oil. Clip a cooking thermometer to the side of the pot, with the end submerged in the oil. Turn the heat on medium and bring the temperature of the oil to 350-375 degrees F.
  4. Set a paper towel lined plate to the side for draining the fried chicken.
  5. Then set a large sauté pan on another burner for the orange sauce. Add the sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes to soften. Then whisk in the orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, rice vinegar, orange zest, and crushed red pepper. Bring to a simmer and thicken into a heavy syrup. Then turn off the heat.
  6. Once the oil is hot, carefully drop the chicken pieces, one at a time, into the hot oil. Add about one-third of the chicken to the pot at a time. Stir with a skimmer and cook for 5-7 minutes until light-gold in color. Watch the thermometer and adjust the temperature if needed to keep the oil just over 350 degrees.
  7. Use the skimmer to move the cooked chicken pieces to the holding plate. Repeat in two more small batches.
  8. Once all the chicken is cooked, turn the heat back on for the orange chicken sauce. Stir to warm, then toss the fried chicken pieces in the sauce. Stir to coat all the pieces evenly. Then sprinkle with chopped scallions and serve warm.

Notes

  • You can make the flavor more or less orange-y, by adding or omitting the orange zest. To make the overall flavor more mild like Panda Express Orange Chicken, HALF the ginger and garlic, and use just one pinch of crushed red pepper.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 571kcal (29%) Carbohydrates 45g (15%) Protein 28g (56%) Fat 31g (48%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 179mg (60%) Sodium 1187mg (49%) Potassium 496mg (14%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 22g (44%) Vitamin A 449IU (9%) Vitamin C 22mg (24%) Calcium 54mg (5%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 571

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 571kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 45g 15%
Protein 28g 56%
Fat 31g 48%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 179mg 60%
Sodium 1187mg 49%
Potassium 496mg 11%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 22g 44%
Vitamin A 449IU 9%
Vitamin C 22mg 24%
Calcium 54mg 5%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.