Description
This Panda Express Orange Chicken recipe features crispy, battered chicken pieces tossed in a tangy and sweet homemade orange sauce. Perfectly fried to golden perfection and coated with a flavorful glaze, it’s a delicious copycat version of the popular takeout dish that you can make easily at home in about 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Breading
- 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Orange Sauce
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and easy eating.
- Set up Breading Station: Place the flour in one bowl and beat the eggs in another bowl to prepare for coating the chicken.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each chicken piece first into the beaten eggs, then thoroughly coat them in the flour. This creates a crispy exterior when fried.
- Heat the Oil: Pour vegetable oil into a skillet and heat it over medium-high until hot enough for frying but not smoking.
- Fry the Chicken: Fry the coated chicken pieces in the hot oil until they turn golden brown and crispy, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Once cooked, remove and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Prepare the Orange Sauce: In a saucepan, combine fresh orange juice, orange zest, low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it starts to bubble and the sugar dissolves, creating a flavorful glaze.
- Toss Chicken in Sauce: Add the fried chicken pieces to the saucepan and toss them until they are evenly coated with the orange sauce, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can double-coat the chicken by repeating the egg and flour steps.
- Adjust the sweetness or tanginess by varying the amount of brown sugar or vinegar in the sauce.
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
- This recipe can be paired well with steamed rice or vegetables for a complete meal.
