Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4 servings
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Calories
585 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Chinese
Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat
Description
The recipe recreates the popular Panda Express Orange Chicken by frying chicken pieces that have been dipped in a seasoned egg mixture and coated in a dry mix of cornstarch and flour. The frying produces a crisp, golden crust with tender chicken inside. The sauce combines orange juice, soy sauce, white and brown sugars, white vinegar, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and hot pepper flakes, simmered briefly to meld the flavors and thicken slightly with cornstarch.
After frying, the chicken is added to the hot sauce off the heat and stirred to coat evenly, preserving the chicken's crisp texture. The dish can be served alongside rice and garnished with orange zest, sesame seeds, and green onions for aroma and extra color.
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken thigh or breasts work as well - cut into 1" pieces, boneless, skinless
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 2 tablespoons canola oil divided, plus more for frying
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup flour
Panda Express Orange Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 2 tablespoons rice wine
- 2 tablespoon water
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons white sugar
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 8 tablespoons white vinegar
- orange zest of 1
- 1 tablespoon ginger root minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
Instructions
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl, whisk, and set aside.
- Add the egg, salt, pepper, and one tablespoon of oil into a shallow bowl and whisk together.
- In another shallow bowl, add 1/2 cup cornstarch and flour and stir to mix well.
- Add enough oil to a large frying pan over medium-high heat to deep fry the chicken pieces. Heat the oil to 375 degrees.
- Once the oil is hot, dip chicken pieces in the egg mixture first, then dredge in the flour mixture and add to the pan.
- Do not overcrowd the chicken pieces in the pan; if needed, fry in batches.
- Fry the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden and crispy outside. Once fried, transfer to a cooling rack.
- Discard the oil from the pan, leaving only about one tablespoon of oil. Stir the prepared orange sauce and add it to the pan. Bring to a boil.
- Turn off the heat, add cooked chicken to the sauce, and stir until well-coated.
- Serve with rice, garnished with orange zest, sesame seeds, and green onions if desired.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 585 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 585kcal | 29% |
| Carbohydrates | 49g | 16% |
| Protein | 48g | 96% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 256mg | 85% |
| Sodium | 1906mg | 79% |
| Potassium | 649mg | 14% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 25g | 50% |
| Vitamin A | 145IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
| Calcium | 39mg | 4% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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