Description
Indulge in the vibrant flavors of homemade Panda Express Orange Chicken, a delightful dish that captures the essence of your favorite Chinese-American cuisine. This recipe features tender pieces of chicken, perfectly fried to achieve a crispy exterior, and enveloped in a luscious sweet and tangy orange sauce made from scratch. Ideal for family dinners or special gatherings, this versatile dish is sure to impress. With its balance of flavors and easy preparation, you can enjoy a restaurant-quality meal right at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 1 egg
- 1 Tbsp sunflower oil (or any neutral flavored oil)
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (heaping)
- 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
- 1/2 cup cane sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or coconut liquid aminos)
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1/2 tsp zested ginger root (peeled)
- 1 Tbsp orange juice concentrate (or 3 Tbsp orange juice)
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp rice apple vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, mix chicken with salt, pepper, egg, sunflower oil, cornstarch, and flour until evenly coated.
- Heat oil in a deep frying pan or wok to around 350°F (175°C). Fry the coated chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy (about 5-7 minutes each). Drain on paper towels.
- In another saucepan over medium heat, combine vinegar, sugar, water, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, garlic, orange juice concentrate, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Toss the fried chicken in the sauce until well-coated. Serve hot over rice or vegetables.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (150g)
- Calories: 355
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 785mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 90mg