Easy Orange Chicken

This 30-minute easy orange chicken recipe will definitely rival your favorite Chinese takeout meal. The classic Chinese-American dish—thank the restaurant chain Panda Express for its creation—features crispy chicken tossed with a homemade sweet and tangy orange sauce. Our easy version takes shortcuts like using frozen popcorn chicken, which cooks up fast, and adding hoisin sauce as a stand-in for the soy sauce, sesame oil and rice vinegar usually found in an orange chicken sauce (that means fewer ingredients for you).

Think of orange chicken as the milder sibling to General Tso’s chicken. Both have an orange-scented, sticky, sweet-savory sauce, but General Tso’s often contains chiles for more kick. Served over fluffy rice with steamed broccoli or bok choy, this popcorn orange chicken recipe is easy for a fantastic and fast weeknight meal that everyone will love.

Easy Orange Chicken Ingredients

• Popcorn chicken: Frozen popcorn chicken makes this recipe a breeze. Use chicken nuggets or chicken tenders (cut into bite-sized pieces after cooking) for a similar crispy texture.
• Canola oil: This neutral cooking oil has a high smoke point, making it perfect for stir-frying veggies like the carrots in this popcorn orange chicken recipe. Canola is one of the best healthy oils to keep in your pantry.
• Carrots: Thinly sliced carrots contribute sweetness and a crisp texture to this easy orange chicken recipe.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds a punch of flavor to this dish.
• Orange zest and juice: The chicken gets its signature orange flavor from orange zest and juice. For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed orange juice (strain out the pulp). When zesting the orange, be sure to avoid including any of the white pith, which has a bitter flavor. Wash the orange before zesting, and zest before juicing.
• Hoisin sauce: Made from fermented soybean paste, this dark brown, sweet, savory, salty sauce is a staple for Cantonese cuisine. Use this Asian sauce in stir-fries, as a glaze or in marinades.
• Sugar: A little sugar balances the saltiness of the hoisin sauce.
• Seasonings: The sauce is seasoned simply with salt and pepper. A dash of cayenne pepper adds just a touch of heat.
• Cooked rice: Serve rice alongside this orange chicken recipe for an easy meal. Cook the rice using your favorite method, whether on the stovetop or in a rice cooker. The aromatic and lightly floral flavor of jasmine rice is particularly well-suited to this recipe.

Directions

Step 1: Bake the chicken

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Bake the popcorn chicken according to the package directions.

Step 2: Make the sauce

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Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the carrots. Cook and stir until tender, three to five minutes. Add the garlic and cook one minute longer. Stir in the orange zest, orange juice, hoisin sauce, sugar and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until thickened, four to six minutes, stirring constantly.

Step 3: Add the chicken

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Add the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat. Serve with rice.

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Easy Orange Chicken Variations

• Pile on the veggies: Before making the sauce, stir-fry broccoli florets or thinly sliced red peppers along with the carrots to amp up the flavor (and nutrition).
• Spice it up: To add a little heat to this dish and deepen its flavor, add one or both of the following: 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger.
• Give it a garnish: Top each serving with freshly chopped green onions or toasted sesame seeds.

How to Store Easy Orange Chicken

Leftover popcorn orange chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. Note: The texture of the popcorn chicken is best fresh and will probably become less crispy over time.

How do you reheat orange chicken?

For the best results, reheat leftover orange chicken in a pan on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through. You can also reheat popcorn orange chicken in the microwave.

Easy Orange Chicken Tips

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Can you use other types of chicken for easy orange chicken?

Absolutely! You can use fresh boneless chicken breast or chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces. Toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch or flour seasoned with salt and pepper before pan-frying for a light crust.

This recipe is also a great way to use up leftover chicken. Simply cut leftover chicken breast or thighs into 1-inch cubes and use that instead of the popcorn chicken. Or, if you don’t have any leftovers on hand, you could always use cubed grocery-store rotisserie chicken.

How can you thicken easy orange chicken sauce?

If you’re short on time, the easiest way to thicken a sauce is to add a cornstarch slurry. Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water and stir together. Add the cornstarch mixture to the sauce and whisk until it begins to thicken.

What can you serve with easy orange chicken?

Of course, fluffy rice is the best thing to serve with an easy orange chicken recipe, but you can also create a full takeout meal at home with Chinese food recipes like Asian green beans, sesame soy broccoli, easy fried rice, glass noodle salad or tofu salad. You can also use popcorn orange chicken in wraps or on top of a crisp and crunchy salad.