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Easy Orange Chicken dish with crispy fried chicken and sweet tangy orange sauce.

Easy Orange Chicken

A quick and delicious orange chicken recipe that delivers bold restaurant-style flavor without the fuss, perfect for weeknight dinners or unexpected guests.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 1 lb Chicken breast or thighs, cut into chunks Thighs tend to stay juicier.
  • 1/2 cup Cornstarch For coating.
  • 1/2 cup Flour For coating.
  • 2 large Eggs For sticking power.
For the Sauce
  • 1 large Orange, zest and juice Fresh zest is recommended for best flavor.
  • 1/4 cup Soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp Vinegar Adjust to taste for tang.
  • 1/4 cup Brown sugar or honey Adjust sweetness as preferred.
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced Fresh is best, jarred works too.
  • 1 tbsp Ginger, minced Fresh is best, jarred works too.
  • to taste Chili flakes or hot sauce Optional for heat.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Mix together cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
  2. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl.
  3. Coat the chicken pieces by first tossing them in the dry mix, then dipping in the egg, and coating them again in the dry mixture.
Cooking the Chicken
  1. Heat oil in a skillet or air fryer.
  2. Cook chicken in batches until golden and cooked through, being careful not to crowd the pan.
Making the Sauce
  1. In a small pot, simmer together orange juice, zest, soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, garlic, ginger, and vinegar.
  2. Thicken sauce with a cornstarch slurry, stirring constantly for about a minute.
Assembly
  1. Toss the cooked chicken in the sauce right before serving.
  2. Top with sesame seeds or green onions if desired.

Notes

For best results, keep the sauce separate from the chicken until serving to maintain crispiness. Leftovers can be reheated in an air fryer to regain crunch.