Irresistibly Crispy Orange Chicken Recipe You’ll Love Recipe
This Irresistibly Crispy Orange Chicken recipe features tender chicken bites coated in a crunchy flour and egg batter, fried to golden perfection, and tossed in a tangy, sweet orange sauce infused with garlic and ginger. Perfect served over rice or noodles, it’s a delightful homemade take on a beloved Chinese-American favorite.
- Author: Maya
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying and Simmering
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
- Diet: Halal
Chicken and Breading
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Pinch of salt (for flour mixture)
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
Orange Sauce
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp ginger powder
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces for easy frying and even cooking.
- Set Up Breading Station: In one bowl, mix the all-purpose flour with a pinch of salt. In another bowl, beat the eggs until smooth. This will create two stations for coating the chicken pieces.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each chicken piece into the beaten eggs, letting any excess drip off. Then coat thoroughly in the flour mixture, ensuring an even layer for a crispy finish.
- Heat Oil for Frying: Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering and around 350°F, perfect for frying chicken to a golden crisp.
- Fry the Chicken: Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, cooking each side for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
- Make the Orange Sauce: In a saucepan, combine fresh orange juice, low-sodium soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, and ginger powder. Simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens and blends the flavors.
- Toss Chicken in Sauce: Add the fried chicken pieces to the saucepan and toss well to coat them evenly with the sticky, flavorful orange sauce.
- Serve: Serve the crispy orange chicken immediately over steamed rice or noodles for a delicious meal.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, double-dip the chicken pieces by repeating the egg and flour coating step.
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice for the best natural citrus flavor.
- You can adjust the sugar to balance the sweetness of the sauce to your liking.
- Ensure oil is hot enough before frying or chicken will absorb too much oil and become greasy.
- This recipe can be made gluten-free by using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and tamari in place of soy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 cup orange chicken)
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: crispy orange chicken, orange chicken recipe, homemade orange chicken, fried chicken with orange sauce, Chinese-American chicken dish