Description
This homemade orange chicken recipe is a delightful take on the classic Chinese takeout dish. Tender, crispy chicken morsels are coated in a sweet and tangy orange sauce that bursts with citrus flavor. Perfect for a cozy dinner at home, this recipe will surely satisfy your cravings for Chinese cuisine.
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
- ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon oil
For the orange chicken sauce:
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1½ tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Additional ingredients:
- ½ tablespoon garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon Chinese chili pepper flakes or crushed red pepper
- 1 stalk green onion, thinly sliced
- Whole dry chili pepper (optional)
- Oil for cooking
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken thighs: In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken thighs, water, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, cornstarch, and oil. Mix well.
- Heat the oil: Heat oil to 375°F in a wok.
- Prepare the sauce: Combine orange juice, zest, ketchup, sugar, vinegar, and cornstarch. Set aside.
- Fry the chicken: Fry marinated chicken until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
- Cook the sauce: Stir fry garlic, chili peppers, and green onion. Add sauce and cook until thickened.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Add fried chicken to the sauce. Toss to coat.
- Serve: Serve immediately with rice. Garnish with green onion.
Notes
- Adjust orange flavor by reducing orange zest.
- Adjust sweetness based on orange sweetness.
- Freshly squeezed orange juice enhances flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying, Stir-Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 478.3 kcal
- Sugar: 14.8g
- Sodium: 805.3mg
- Fat: 15.4g
- Saturated Fat: 3.4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.1g
- Carbohydrates: 34.5g
- Fiber: 0.8g
- Protein: 47.7g
- Cholesterol: 308.5mg
