Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken is crispy, tangy, and ready in just 30 minutes. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to a restaurant-quality sauce every time. The golden, crispy chicken will make your kitchen smell amazing. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Juicy Greek Chicken Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce and Easy 30-Minute Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl Recipe.

What You'll Need for Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• Optional: Green onions, chopped
• Optional: Sesame seeds
• Optional: Orange slices, for garnish

How to Make Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

1. 1. Cut and coat the chicken: Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat.
2. 2. Cook the chicken: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. 3. Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 cloves garlic (minced), 1 tbsp grated ginger, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes. Stir and bring to a simmer.
4. 4. Thicken the sauce: In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup water. Slowly pour into the skillet, stirring constantly. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
5. 5. Combine and serve: Add chicken back to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce. Serve over steamed rice, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.

Storing & Reheating Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week. Reheat before adding the chicken.

Freezing Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

Freeze cooked chicken in the sauce for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a quicker version, use store-bought orange chicken sauce and skip steps 3 and 4.
• Best substitution: Substitute chicken with tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version.
• Make-ahead: The chicken can be coated and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or chicken broth.

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

⏱

Prep

15 minutes

🍳

Cook

20 minutes

⏳

Total

35 minutes

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free, Low-carb

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Seasonings

• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Optional Toppings

• Green onions, chopped
• Sesame seeds
• Orange slices, for garnish

Instructions

1. 1. Cut and coat the chicken: Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat.
2. 2. Cook the chicken: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. 3. Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 cloves garlic (minced), 1 tbsp grated ginger, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes. Stir and bring to a simmer.
4. 4. Thicken the sauce: In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup water. Slowly pour into the skillet, stirring constantly. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
5. 5. Combine and serve: Add chicken back to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce. Serve over steamed rice, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a quicker version, use store-bought orange chicken sauce and skip steps 3 and 4.
• Best substitution: Substitute chicken with tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version.
• Make-ahead: The chicken can be coated and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or chicken broth.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken in the sauce for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
• Make ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week. Reheat before adding the chicken.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 11g
• Carbs: 28g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 12g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 75mg
• Sat. Fat: 2g

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!