Chinese Orange Chicken (30 Minutes)

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When I think of orange chicken, my mind usually thinks of takeout but today we’re going to put dinner on the table for a fraction of the cost. Crispy fried chicken pieces are tossed in a tangy and sweet orange sauce and served over rice in this delicious and simple recipe. Let’s get started!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Vegetable oil, for frying
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 1 tbsp ginger, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • Cooked rice, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the chicken pieces with 1/2 cup cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Mix until the chicken is coated evenly.
  2. In a large frying pan, heat about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces and cook for about 5-6 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and crispy. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the orange juice, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, orange zest, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
  4. Pour the sauce into the same frying pan you used to cook the chicken and heat it over medium heat. Cook the sauce for about 2-3 minutes or until it thickens slightly.
  5. Add the cooked chicken to the pan with the sauce and toss until the chicken is coated in the sauce.
  6. Pour the cornstarch-water mixture into the pan and continue to cook the chicken and sauce for another minute or two, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.
  7. Serve the orange chicken over rice and top with sliced green onions.

Notes

I usually serve this meal with a side of steamed broccoli or other veggies to help lighten things up. To increase the spiciness, feel free to increase the amount of red pepper flakes. Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.heresyourdinner.com/chinese-orange-chicken-30-minutes/