Get the best of Chinese Orange Chicken takeout at home! This recipe is loaded with sweet citrus flavors, sesame seeds, and scallions. It’s surprisingly easy to make. All you need is a large skillet. And don’t skip the orange zest in the sauce—it’s the most important piece!

Photography Credit: Nick Evans

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If I’m ordering Chinese takeout, you better believe there will be at least one order of orange chicken in the bag! I love that lightly fried chicken, coated with a sweet citrus sauce—and it’s actually one of the easier Chinese takeout dishes to make at home!

If you are an orange chicken fan, then today’s recipe is a must try.

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WHAT IS ORANGE CHICKEN?

Orange chicken is one of many iterations of Chinese takeout dishes that involve fried chicken pieces tossed with sauce. In this case, the sauce is a mix of soy sauce, water, and orange juice, plus some cornstarch thickener to make the sauce just thick enough to coat the chicken.

The key to giving the sauce a great orange flavor isn’t just the orange juice, though; it’s the orange zest, so don’t skip that ingredient!

THE BEST CHICKEN TO USE FOR ORANGE CHICKEN



There is no specific chicken cut that works better than any other. Personally, I like boneless skinless chicken thighs because they’re inexpensive and stay a bit juicier than chicken breasts. But you can use chicken breasts if that’s what you prefer.

HOT TIP! You can also use chicken wings for this recipe! Just deep fry them for about 12 minutes or bake them for 45 minutes until they’re cooked through, before tossing them in the sauce.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH ORANGE CHICKEN

I keep it simple for serving for this dish. Plain white rice is best garnished with big pinches of fresh scallion and sesame seeds. For a low-carb alternative, serve the orange chicken on a bed of baby arugula or cauliflower rice with chopped cucumber and grated carrot.

SUGGESTIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS



To make a vegetarian version of this orange chicken, I recommend using tofu. Make sure to press the tofu to remove as much liquid as possible, then toss the tofu with the egg and cornstarch mixture just like you would the chicken.

MAKE-AHEAD TIPS FOR ORANGE CHICKEN



You can make and fry the chicken well in advance if you wanted to. Then just cook the garlic, shallot, and sauce and toss in the cooked fried chicken. Continue to toss the orange chicken until the chicken is warmed through, and it’s ready to go!

HOW TO STORE AND FREEZE ORANGE CHICKEN



This orange chicken stores great in the fridge for five days. Reheat in a small skillet over low heat, adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce a bit.

You can freeze orange chicken for up to three months. If you do, thaw it before reheating in the skillet so the chicken pieces separate easily.

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