🍊 Orange Chicken (Crispy & Saucy)
🥣 Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (bite-sized pieces)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup flour
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
- Oil (for frying)
Orange Sauce
- 1/2 cup orange juice (fresh is best)
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp ginger (grated)
- 1–2 tsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (slurry)
🔥 Instructions
1. Prep & Coat Chicken
- Season chicken with salt and pepper
- Toss in beaten egg
- Coat with cornstarch + flour mixture
2. Fry Until Crispy
- Heat oil to ~350°F
- Fry chicken in batches for 4–5 minutes until golden and crispy
- Remove and drain on paper towels
👉 Extra crispy tip: fry a second time for 1–2 minutes
3. Make the Sauce
- In a pan, sauté garlic and ginger for ~30 seconds
- Add orange juice, zest, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil
- Bring to a simmer
4. Thicken
- Stir in cornstarch slurry
- Simmer until sauce thickens (1–2 minutes)
5. Toss & Serve
- Add crispy chicken to the sauce
- Toss until evenly coated
🍽️ Serve With
- White rice or fried rice
- Steamed broccoli
- Green onions or sesame seeds on top
💡 Pro Tips
- Chicken thighs stay juicier than breasts
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying
- Add red pepper flakes if you want a spicy kick
- Use fresh orange juice + zest—it makes a huge difference