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Home Recipes

Orange Chicken Recipe

Orange chicken is a wonderful spin on a classic fried chicken recipe. It is the perfect combination of tangy and sweet. Its popularity is evident especially in North America, where itโ€™s the signature dish of fast food chain Panda Express.

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By: Vanjo Merano 49 Comments Updated: 1/6/25

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Orange chicken is basically a Westernized version of sweet and sour dishes that remain popular in Chinese cuisines. You may be surprised to learn that you can rarely find orange chicken in authentic Chinese restaurants. Americans tend to have more of a โ€œsweet toothโ€ than the Chinese, so they took the classic sweet and sour sauce and turned it into something that leaned into the former more. The tartness of the citruses used is easily balanced by the other ingredients in orange chicken.

Orange Chicken


 

The original recipe for orange chicken comes from the Hunan province in China, where the actual orange or tangerine peels remained in the dish even during cooking. This dish is a lot spicier than its American counterpart, which relies heavily on its sweetness. Apart from orange chicken, Chinese and Chinese-American restaurants have several other notable chicken recipes that both kids and adults alike enjoy. Here are some of my personal favorites that are just as easy to make at home.

How to Cook Orange Chicken

YouTube video

Orange chicken sounds daunting, but itโ€™s actually quite a simple recipe to follow. In no time at all, youโ€™ll be saying goodbye to getting takeout and hello to home-cooked goodness!

  1. Prepare all the ingredients. Dice your chicken breast pieces and beat your one raw egg. Dilute 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water. Make sure to mince your garlic and finely chop your green onions, too, before you start cooking.
  2. Coat the chicken with breading. In one container (like a Ziploc, or a plastic tupperware), pour in 2 cups of all purpose flour and a quarter teaspoon of salt and ground black pepper. Incorporate your ingredients well, then set it aside for the time being. In another bowl where youโ€™ve beaten your egg, take your chicken cubes and dip them in the egg mixture, coating all sides evenly before placing it with your dry ingredients (the flour mixture). Close the container and shake it heartily, until youโ€™ve coated your entire egg-covered chicken with the flour.
  3. Fry the chicken until crispy. In a pan, heat up your cooking oil and begin to dip your chicken cubes in one by one, deep frying them until theyโ€™re a beautiful golden color. This will take about 7 minutes, but you can also monitor it yourself for best results. Once your chicken has deep fried, set it aside on a plate or wire rack.
  4. Make your orange chicken sauce. Take another clean pan and pour in your water, soy sauce, vinegar, and orange juice. Bring this combination of liquids to a boil before adding in the garlic you had previously minced. Let this mixture simmer for about 5 minutes, then add your one cup of brown sugar. The sugar helps balance the otherwise tart or savory flavors of your orange chicken sauce. Let that simmer for another 3 to 5 minutes, then toss in your green onions and cornstarch; the latter is a great thickening agent. Mix your sauce well, and take in those absolutely mouthwatering aromas!
  5. Add your chicken into the pan and cook until the sauce evaporates. If you like you could leave some for your rice to absorb, but otherwise let your chicken soak up the amazing flavors. Once youโ€™re satisfied, transfer your orange chicken to a bowl and serve it hot!

Similar Recipes to Try

General Tsoโ€™s Chicken – Its name comes from a Chinese statesman and military leader during the Qing Dynasty, Tso Zongtang. General Tsoโ€™s leans more into saltier, more savory flavors. This is evident by the use of soy sauce, vinegar, and minced ginger in its sauce.

Kung Pao Chicken – Panda Express offers this dish as another one of their chicken entrees. Unlike orange chicken which originated in Hunan, kung pao chicken is a staple of Sichuan cuisine. Not only is this dish super tasty, but itโ€™s gorgeous to look at.

Oriental Lemon Chicken – Similar to orange chicken in its zesty flavors, lemon chicken is another favorite for those who like to indulge their sweet tooth even during lunches or dinners. Just like the orange chicken, the citrus taste of the lemon sauce appeals to almost everyone.

However, no matter what chicken recipe youโ€™re cooking, I firmly believe that all Chinese dishes go best with a steaming cup of Yang Chow Fried Rice.

Enjoy this orange chicken with family and friends, and let us know what you think!

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we can see your creations!

5 from 3 votes

Orange Chicken Recipe

Prep: 15 minutes minutes
Cook: 25 minutes minutes
Total: 40 minutes minutes
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Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless chicken breast cubed
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 raw egg beaten
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • Cooking oil
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 4 tablespoons orange juice
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup green onions finely chopped

Instructions

  • In a container, put-in the flour, salt, and ground black pepper then mix well
  • Dip the chicken on the beaten egg mixture and place inside the container (where the flour, salt, and pepper are)
  • Close the container and shake until the chicken is evenly coated with the flour mixture
  • Deep fry the chicken for about 7 minutes or until the color turns golden brown. Set aside
  • In a pan, put-in the water, soy sauce, vinegar, and orange juice then bring to a boil
  • Add the garlic and simmer for 5 minutes
  • Add the sugar and and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes
  • Put-in the green onions and cornstarch (diluted in 2 tbsp of water) then mix well
  • Add the deep-fried chicken on pan and cook until sauce nearly evaporates
  • Serve hot. Share and Enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 6g
ยฉ copyright: Vanjo Merano

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Vanjo Merano

Vanjo Merano is the creator of PanlasangPinoy.com. His goal is to introduce Filipino Food and Filipino Cuisine to the rest of the world. This blog was the first step that he took.

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Recipe Rating




  1. Iris Mae says

    Posted on 4/30/17 at 3:23 pm

    I tried this recipe today. I used the juice of a real orange and it turned out great! My family love it. Thanks Chef Vanjo Merano for sharing this recipe.

    Reply
  2. Anna ms says

    Posted on 12/14/16 at 9:18 pm

    Tried this recipe today and wow ang sarap! Ito na yung dadalhin ko sa christmas party namin this sunday dec 18,2016.Thanks po!

    Reply
  3. mayang says

    Posted on 8/22/15 at 4:38 pm

    I always loook at your recipes for delicious filipino dishes and I never fail to impress my husband.
    And I get to feel proud sharing to him our delicious filipino recipes.

    Reply
    • Vanjo Merano says

      Posted on 8/20/16 at 12:17 pm

      Mayang -- you are doing an awesome job in cooking our beloved Filipino dishes for your husband,. Kudos to you!

      Our recipes will just be here in case you need more in the future.

      Reply
  4. Beck C says

    Posted on 6/2/15 at 1:29 pm

    Can I use sunny D orange juice here?

    Reply
    • Vanjo Merano says

      Posted on 8/20/16 at 12:15 pm

      You may, but the powdered juice will be a better option.

      Reply
  5. Lynne Latido says

    Posted on 2/2/15 at 9:35 pm

    I just finished cooking your recipe which this is intended for lunch. My daughter tried a small portion and instantly asked me if we could have our lunch na. Why, am I not pleased? This sounds like another “block buster” as I told you earlier! Credit goes to you…thank you once again. Warm regards!

    Reply
    • Vanjo Merano says

      Posted on 8/20/16 at 12:15 pm

      Lynne, I think that you are the one who did a good job. I was just here to guide, while you did all the cooking.

      Your daughter can say that her mom is the best cook in the world ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  6. berry says

    Posted on 1/28/15 at 2:05 pm

    hi! what is the yield of this recipe? thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Vanjo Merano says

      Posted on 8/20/16 at 12:17 pm

      This recipe is good for 6 persons.

      Reply
  7. Racquel Javier says

    Posted on 1/20/15 at 7:01 pm

    5 stars
    I just tried cooking this today and it’s so delicious! Thanks Vanjo! I’m an avid fan!

    Reply
    • Vanjo Merano says

      Posted on 1/21/15 at 8:24 am

      The pleasure is mine, Racquel.

      Reply
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As a huge fan of Filipino food, it is my goal to teach people how to cook it using the simplest way possible. Prepare your taste buds for an ultimate showdown of delectable Filipino dishes! Read more…

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