This Orange Chicken recipe tastes just like the popular Panda Express dish, but made with simple ingredients right at home! Tender chicken in tangy sauce beats restaurant take-out any day!

Panda Express Orange Chicken

Orange Chicken takes center stage whenever we decide to have a Chinese food night. We rarely get take-out anymore because it’s so much easier and cheaper to make it at home. The tangy orange sauce is made with pantry staples you already have on hand, and complements tender chicken chunks perfectly. Whip up a batch for your next Chinese feast and turn take-out into take-in!

Andrew Cherng, the founder and CEO of Panda Express (thank you Wikipedia) said that Orange Chicken is a variation of General Tso’s Chicken (which IS an authentic Chinese dish). Orange Chicken is definitely “Americanized”. If you are able to find an Orange Chicken in China, it will probably be “Orange PEEL Chicken” which is a similar dish that is flavored with orange rinds, creating a much tangier flavor. Authentic or not, this dish is certainly popular and oh so delicious!

Suggestions for this Recipe We got the idea for this recipe from blogchef.net. It’s delicious on its own but I decided to kick up the heat a little. If you like things nice and spicy too, add some Sriracha Sauce or red pepper flakes. That way you can control the spice depending on taste.

As the recipe is written, no it’s not. However, it’s really simple to convert this recipe to a GF one. Just replace regular soy sauce with a gluten-free brand. As always, check labels on everything to make sure you’re working with gluten free ingredients.

Because this recipe is fried, it may not be considered the healthiest Panda Express copycat recipe (see our other options below). If you are looking for a healthier alternative, instead of frying, heat a little oil in a large skillet and cook chicken on each side for 5-7 minutes or until cooked through and THEN add the sauce. You will still get a little bit of a crispy texture and still have all the flavor! You can also reduce the sugar amounts or even use a sugar substitute.

Box up leftovers and store in the fridge for up to four days. The great news is you can freeze this chicken and store it for a couple of months in the freezer. Thaw by microwaving and enjoy!

What to Serve with Orange Chicken

We pull out all the stops when putting together a Chinese feast. Sure, you can make things simple by serving this dish alongside some steamed rice, but if you’re wanting to wow friends and family with a scrumptious Asian spread, try a few of these delightful recipes:

How to Make Panda Express Orange Chicken