Orange Chicken Recipe
Orange Chicken Recipe features tender bite-sized pieces of chicken thigh or breast coated in a crispy cornstarch batter and deep-fried until golden. The chicken is generously dressed with a tangy and sweet orange sauce made from fresh orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and orange zest. This combination provides a flavorful contrast of citrus, sweetness, and mild heat from optional red pepper flakes, creating a delightful dish suited for serving with rice or stir-fried vegetables.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken thigh or breasts, boneless, skinless
- 1 cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg
- vegetable oil for frying
Orange Sauce
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 ¼ cup water divided
- 2 tablespoons orange juice fresh
- ¼ cup lemon juice fresh
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon ginger root minced, fresh
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons green onion chopped, plus more for garnish
- red pepper flakes to taste
Instructions
Chicken
- Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Combine cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a resealable plastic bag. In a small bowl, use a fork to beat the egg until the yolk and egg white are blended.
- Dip chicken pieces into beaten egg. Shake in cornstarch mixture to coat.
- Heat oil in a deep fryer or wok to 375 degrees F. Deep-fry chicken in batches until completely cooked. Remove it to drain on paper towels.
Orange Sauce
- In a small bowl, combine cornstarch with ¼ cup water and mix thoroughly. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan combine the remaining 1 cup water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Whisk ingredients together over medium heat for a few minutes.
- Stir in brown sugar, orange zest, ginger, garlic, and green onion. Bring to a boil Slowly stir the cornstarch mixture into the sauce until it thickens.
- Place fried chicken in a large bowl and pour sauce over the top.
- Fold the sauce into the chicken or toss gently to coat. If desired, add red pepper flakes and garnish with green onions.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 580
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 580kcal | 29% |
| Carbohydrates | 62g | 21% |
| Protein | 32g | 64% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 175mg | 58% |
| Sodium | 1036mg | 43% |
| Potassium | 479mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 37g | 74% |
| Vitamin A | 787IU | 16% |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 56mg | 6% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.