![To make Easy Orange Chicken, gather these simple ingredients: - 1 lb (450g) boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces - 1/2 cup cornstarch - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil - 1 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed if possible) - Zest of 1 orange - 2 tablespoons soy sauce - 2 tablespoons honey - 1 teaspoon grated ginger - 2 cloves garlic, minced - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat) You can make your dish pop with these fun garnishes: - 2 green onions, sliced - Sesame seeds If you need to swap ingredients, try these options: - Use chicken breast instead of thighs for a leaner choice. - Maple syrup can replace honey for a different sweetness. - You can use lime juice if you don't have orange juice. - If you want more heat, add sriracha instead of red pepper flakes. Now you have everything you need to create a tasty meal in minutes! For the full recipe, refer to the Easy Orange Chicken section. Start by cutting your chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. This helps them cook evenly. Next, place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the cornstarch and toss until the pieces are well coated. Make sure to shake off any extra cornstarch. This step is key to getting that crispy texture. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the coated chicken. Cook the chicken in batches to avoid crowding. It should take about 4-5 minutes per batch. Look for a nice golden brown color. Once cooked, remove the chicken and place it on a plate. In the same skillet, lower the heat to medium. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, sautéing for about 30 seconds. You want to smell their wonderful aroma. Now, pour in the orange juice, zest, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes if you want some heat. Stir the mixture well and bring it to a gentle simmer. Let the sauce simmer for about 3-5 minutes. This helps it thicken a bit. Once it’s ready, return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss everything together so the chicken gets coated in the sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors. Now you have a tasty orange chicken ready to enjoy! For the full recipe, check here. To get crispy chicken, coat it well with cornstarch. This forms a nice crust. Heat the oil until it shimmers before adding the chicken. Cook in batches to avoid crowding. Each piece should have room to fry evenly. This step keeps the chicken crunchy and golden. For a thick sauce, let it simmer longer. This helps it reduce and intensify flavor. If it's too thin, mix a bit of cornstarch with water. Stir this mixture in and cook until it thickens. Adjust the thickness to suit your taste. A well-balanced sauce clings beautifully to the chicken. Add zest or herbs for more flavor. Fresh herbs like cilantro or basil can brighten the dish. You might also try adding a splash of orange liqueur for depth. For heat, mix in more red pepper flakes. Each tweak can make your orange chicken unique. Explore these options to find what you love. For the full recipe, check here: [Full Recipe]. {{image_2}} You can add colorful vegetables to your orange chicken. This makes the dish healthier and more fun. Try broccoli, bell peppers, and snap peas. Just sauté the veggies in the same skillet before adding the sauce. Cook them until they are bright and tender. Then, mix the chicken back in with the sauce. You get a tasty and vibrant meal. If you like a kick, make it spicy! Add more red pepper flakes to the sauce. Start with one teaspoon and adjust to your taste. You can also add fresh chili peppers for extra heat. Just slice them thin and sauté them with the garlic and ginger. This brings out their flavor. Your spicy orange chicken will excite your taste buds! You can switch up the protein in this recipe. Try shrimp or tofu for a different taste. For shrimp, cook them until they turn pink, then add the sauce. If you want to use tofu, press it to remove moisture, then cube it. Cook it until it's golden before mixing in the sauce. Each protein brings a unique flavor to the dish, making it versatile and fun. For the full recipe, check out the link. To store your leftover Easy Orange Chicken, place it in an airtight container. Make sure it cools down first. This helps keep the chicken juicy and fresh. Store it in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to enjoy it later, freezing is a great option. When you're ready to eat the leftovers, reheating is simple. You can use a microwave or a skillet. For the microwave, place the chicken in a bowl and cover it. Heat for 1-2 minutes until warm. If you use a skillet, add a splash of water or orange juice to keep it moist. Heat on medium until it’s hot. If you want to freeze Easy Orange Chicken, do this right after it cools. Use a freezer-safe container or bag. It can last for up to three months in the freezer. When you're ready to eat, thaw it overnight in the fridge. Then, reheat as mentioned above. This way, you'll have a tasty meal ready in minutes! For the full recipe, check out the Easy Orange Chicken section. You can make Easy Orange Chicken healthier by using less oil. Try baking the chicken instead of frying it. You can also use skinless chicken thighs or even chicken breast for a leaner option. Replace honey with a natural sweetener like agave or maple syrup. Add fresh veggies like bell peppers or broccoli to boost nutrients. Yes, you can use chicken breast instead of thighs. Chicken breast has less fat and can be just as tasty. Slice the breast into bite-sized pieces. It cooks quickly, so watch it closely to avoid overcooking. Adjust the cooking time to about 3-4 minutes per batch. You can serve Easy Orange Chicken with steamed rice or quinoa. These sides soak up the sauce well. Adding a fresh salad or stir-fried veggies adds color and crunch. You can also try it with noodles for a fun twist. To thicken the sauce, let it simmer longer. This reduces the liquid and concentrates the flavors. If you want a quicker fix, mix a bit of cornstarch with water. Stir this mixture into the sauce as it simmers. Cook for an extra minute until it thickens nicely. For the full recipe, check the main content. In this blog post, we covered how to make Easy Orange Chicken. I shared the key ingredients, cooking steps, and tips for crispy chicken. You also learned about tasty variations and how to store leftovers. By following these steps, you can create a delicious dish that impresses everyone. Enjoy this recipe and make it your own. Happy cooking!](https://goodsouppot.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/61d87809-8a43-4229-9d50-10b183bc4a1d-768x768.webp)
Want a tasty meal in no time? You’re in the right place! This Easy Orange Chicken recipe is simple, quick, and full of flavor. You can make it for a busy weeknight or a relaxed weekend. I’ll share the ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and helpful tips to make your chicken crispy and delicious. Let’s get cooking and turn your kitchen into a tasty haven!
Ingredients
List of Required Ingredients
To make Easy Orange Chicken, gather these simple ingredients:
- 1 lb (450g) boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed if possible)
- Zest of 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Optional Garnishes
You can make your dish pop with these fun garnishes:
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds
Substitutions for Ingredients
If you need to swap ingredients, try these options:
- Use chicken breast instead of thighs for a leaner choice.
- Maple syrup can replace honey for a different sweetness.
- You can use lime juice if you don’t have orange juice.
- If you want more heat, add sriracha instead of red pepper flakes.
Now you have everything you need to create a tasty meal in minutes!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparation Steps
Start by cutting your chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. This helps them cook evenly. Next, place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the cornstarch and toss until the pieces are well coated. Make sure to shake off any extra cornstarch. This step is key to getting that crispy texture.
Cooking the Chicken
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the coated chicken. Cook the chicken in batches to avoid crowding. It should take about 4-5 minutes per batch. Look for a nice golden brown color. Once cooked, remove the chicken and place it on a plate.
Making the Orange Sauce
In the same skillet, lower the heat to medium. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, sautéing for about 30 seconds. You want to smell their wonderful aroma. Now, pour in the orange juice, zest, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes if you want some heat. Stir the mixture well and bring it to a gentle simmer.
Combining Chicken with Sauce
Let the sauce simmer for about 3-5 minutes. This helps it thicken a bit. Once it’s ready, return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss everything together so the chicken gets coated in the sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors. Now you have a tasty orange chicken ready to enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
How to Achieve Crispy Chicken
To get crispy chicken, coat it well with cornstarch. This forms a nice crust. Heat the oil until it shimmers before adding the chicken. Cook in batches to avoid crowding. Each piece should have room to fry evenly. This step keeps the chicken crunchy and golden.
Best Practices for Sauce Thickness
For a thick sauce, let it simmer longer. This helps it reduce and intensify flavor. If it’s too thin, mix a bit of cornstarch with water. Stir this mixture in and cook until it thickens. Adjust the thickness to suit your taste. A well-balanced sauce clings beautifully to the chicken.
Flavor Enhancements
Add zest or herbs for more flavor. Fresh herbs like cilantro or basil can brighten the dish. You might also try adding a splash of orange liqueur for depth. For heat, mix in more red pepper flakes. Each tweak can make your orange chicken unique. Explore these options to find what you love.
Variations
Orange Chicken with Vegetables
You can add colorful vegetables to your orange chicken. This makes the dish healthier and more fun. Try broccoli, bell peppers, and snap peas. Just sauté the veggies in the same skillet before adding the sauce. Cook them until they are bright and tender. Then, mix the chicken back in with the sauce. You get a tasty and vibrant meal.
Spicy Orange Chicken Option
If you like a kick, make it spicy! Add more red pepper flakes to the sauce. Start with one teaspoon and adjust to your taste. You can also add fresh chili peppers for extra heat. Just slice them thin and sauté them with the garlic and ginger. This brings out their flavor. Your spicy orange chicken will excite your taste buds!
Alternative Protein Choices
You can switch up the protein in this recipe. Try shrimp or tofu for a different taste. For shrimp, cook them until they turn pink, then add the sauce. If you want to use tofu, press it to remove moisture, then cube it. Cook it until it’s golden before mixing in the sauce. Each protein brings a unique flavor to the dish, making it versatile and fun.
Storage Info
How to Store Leftovers
To store your leftover Easy Orange Chicken, place it in an airtight container. Make sure it cools down first. This helps keep the chicken juicy and fresh. Store it in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to enjoy it later, freezing is a great option.
Reheating Suggestions
When you’re ready to eat the leftovers, reheating is simple. You can use a microwave or a skillet. For the microwave, place the chicken in a bowl and cover it. Heat for 1-2 minutes until warm. If you use a skillet, add a splash of water or orange juice to keep it moist. Heat on medium until it’s hot.
Freezing for Longer Storage
If you want to freeze Easy Orange Chicken, do this right after it cools. Use a freezer-safe container or bag. It can last for up to three months in the freezer. When you’re ready to eat, thaw it overnight in the fridge. Then, reheat as mentioned above. This way, you’ll have a tasty meal ready in minutes!
FAQs
How can I make this recipe healthier?
You can make Easy Orange Chicken healthier by using less oil. Try baking the chicken instead of frying it. You can also use skinless chicken thighs or even chicken breast for a leaner option. Replace honey with a natural sweetener like agave or maple syrup. Add fresh veggies like bell peppers or broccoli to boost nutrients.
Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?
Yes, you can use chicken breast instead of thighs. Chicken breast has less fat and can be just as tasty. Slice the breast into bite-sized pieces. It cooks quickly, so watch it closely to avoid overcooking. Adjust the cooking time to about 3-4 minutes per batch.
What can I serve with Easy Orange Chicken?
You can serve Easy Orange Chicken with steamed rice or quinoa. These sides soak up the sauce well. Adding a fresh salad or stir-fried veggies adds color and crunch. You can also try it with noodles for a fun twist.
How do I make the sauce thicker?
To thicken the sauce, let it simmer longer. This reduces the liquid and concentrates the flavors. If you want a quicker fix, mix a bit of cornstarch with water. Stir this mixture into the sauce as it simmers. Cook for an extra minute until it thickens nicely.
In this blog post, we covered how to make Easy Orange Chicken. I shared the key ingredients, cooking steps, and tips for crispy chicken. You also learned about tasty variations and how to store leftovers.
By following these steps, you can create a delicious dish that impresses everyone. Enjoy this recipe and make it your own. Happy cooking!
![To make Easy Orange Chicken, gather these simple ingredients: - 1 lb (450g) boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces - 1/2 cup cornstarch - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil - 1 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed if possible) - Zest of 1 orange - 2 tablespoons soy sauce - 2 tablespoons honey - 1 teaspoon grated ginger - 2 cloves garlic, minced - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat) You can make your dish pop with these fun garnishes: - 2 green onions, sliced - Sesame seeds If you need to swap ingredients, try these options: - Use chicken breast instead of thighs for a leaner choice. - Maple syrup can replace honey for a different sweetness. - You can use lime juice if you don't have orange juice. - If you want more heat, add sriracha instead of red pepper flakes. Now you have everything you need to create a tasty meal in minutes! For the full recipe, refer to the Easy Orange Chicken section. Start by cutting your chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. This helps them cook evenly. Next, place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the cornstarch and toss until the pieces are well coated. Make sure to shake off any extra cornstarch. This step is key to getting that crispy texture. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the coated chicken. Cook the chicken in batches to avoid crowding. It should take about 4-5 minutes per batch. Look for a nice golden brown color. Once cooked, remove the chicken and place it on a plate. In the same skillet, lower the heat to medium. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, sautéing for about 30 seconds. You want to smell their wonderful aroma. Now, pour in the orange juice, zest, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes if you want some heat. Stir the mixture well and bring it to a gentle simmer. Let the sauce simmer for about 3-5 minutes. This helps it thicken a bit. Once it’s ready, return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss everything together so the chicken gets coated in the sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors. Now you have a tasty orange chicken ready to enjoy! For the full recipe, check here. To get crispy chicken, coat it well with cornstarch. This forms a nice crust. Heat the oil until it shimmers before adding the chicken. Cook in batches to avoid crowding. Each piece should have room to fry evenly. This step keeps the chicken crunchy and golden. For a thick sauce, let it simmer longer. This helps it reduce and intensify flavor. If it's too thin, mix a bit of cornstarch with water. Stir this mixture in and cook until it thickens. Adjust the thickness to suit your taste. A well-balanced sauce clings beautifully to the chicken. Add zest or herbs for more flavor. Fresh herbs like cilantro or basil can brighten the dish. You might also try adding a splash of orange liqueur for depth. For heat, mix in more red pepper flakes. Each tweak can make your orange chicken unique. Explore these options to find what you love. For the full recipe, check here: [Full Recipe]. {{image_2}} You can add colorful vegetables to your orange chicken. This makes the dish healthier and more fun. Try broccoli, bell peppers, and snap peas. Just sauté the veggies in the same skillet before adding the sauce. Cook them until they are bright and tender. Then, mix the chicken back in with the sauce. You get a tasty and vibrant meal. If you like a kick, make it spicy! Add more red pepper flakes to the sauce. Start with one teaspoon and adjust to your taste. You can also add fresh chili peppers for extra heat. Just slice them thin and sauté them with the garlic and ginger. This brings out their flavor. Your spicy orange chicken will excite your taste buds! You can switch up the protein in this recipe. Try shrimp or tofu for a different taste. For shrimp, cook them until they turn pink, then add the sauce. If you want to use tofu, press it to remove moisture, then cube it. Cook it until it's golden before mixing in the sauce. Each protein brings a unique flavor to the dish, making it versatile and fun. For the full recipe, check out the link. To store your leftover Easy Orange Chicken, place it in an airtight container. Make sure it cools down first. This helps keep the chicken juicy and fresh. Store it in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to enjoy it later, freezing is a great option. When you're ready to eat the leftovers, reheating is simple. You can use a microwave or a skillet. For the microwave, place the chicken in a bowl and cover it. Heat for 1-2 minutes until warm. If you use a skillet, add a splash of water or orange juice to keep it moist. Heat on medium until it’s hot. If you want to freeze Easy Orange Chicken, do this right after it cools. Use a freezer-safe container or bag. It can last for up to three months in the freezer. When you're ready to eat, thaw it overnight in the fridge. Then, reheat as mentioned above. This way, you'll have a tasty meal ready in minutes! For the full recipe, check out the Easy Orange Chicken section. You can make Easy Orange Chicken healthier by using less oil. Try baking the chicken instead of frying it. You can also use skinless chicken thighs or even chicken breast for a leaner option. Replace honey with a natural sweetener like agave or maple syrup. Add fresh veggies like bell peppers or broccoli to boost nutrients. Yes, you can use chicken breast instead of thighs. Chicken breast has less fat and can be just as tasty. Slice the breast into bite-sized pieces. It cooks quickly, so watch it closely to avoid overcooking. Adjust the cooking time to about 3-4 minutes per batch. You can serve Easy Orange Chicken with steamed rice or quinoa. These sides soak up the sauce well. Adding a fresh salad or stir-fried veggies adds color and crunch. You can also try it with noodles for a fun twist. To thicken the sauce, let it simmer longer. This reduces the liquid and concentrates the flavors. If you want a quicker fix, mix a bit of cornstarch with water. Stir this mixture into the sauce as it simmers. Cook for an extra minute until it thickens nicely. For the full recipe, check the main content. In this blog post, we covered how to make Easy Orange Chicken. I shared the key ingredients, cooking steps, and tips for crispy chicken. You also learned about tasty variations and how to store leftovers. By following these steps, you can create a delicious dish that impresses everyone. Enjoy this recipe and make it your own. Happy cooking!](https://goodsouppot.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/61d87809-8a43-4229-9d50-10b183bc4a1d-250x250.webp)
