Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken is easy to make at home! Crispy chicken bites coated in tangy orange sauce makes the perfect meal!
Serve this popular dish with Air Fryer Crab Rangoon, Copycat PF Chang's Spicy Green Beans or Quinoa Fried Rice for the perfect meal!
Orange Chicken is a popular dish served at Panda Express, a fast-food chain specializing in American Chinese cuisine. It has become one of the chain's most iconic and best-selling menu items. With this copycat recipe, you can skip the takeout and know exactly what ingredients are in your food!
Making this dish at home is easy, here's how...
How to make Panda Express Orange Chicken:
**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**
- Get all of the ingredients together and prepped.
- Mix the egg, salt, and pepper then dip the chicken pieces into the bowl to coat.
- Mix the cornstarch and flour in a bowl. Then piece by piece, dunk the wet chicken into the flour mixture, tossing to coat. Repeat for all of the chicken.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the chicken pieces and fry until golden brown, stirring occasionally, 6-7 minutes over medium heat. Remove from the pan...
- Make the sauce: Add oil to the pan and sauté the garlic, ginger and chili flakes. Add the soy sauce, white wine, orange juice, brown sugar and orange zest into the pan and cook for 1 minute while stirring. Add sesame oil.
- Mix water with cornstarch then pour into the pan. Stir until the sauce thickens (1-2 minutes).
- Add the chicken back to the pan and toss to cover.
- Serve the copycat Panda Express orange chicken with sesame seeds and green onions.
Tips for frying the chicken:
- To achieve a crispy exterior while keeping the chicken tender inside, fry the chicken in small batches. Heat oil to the correct temperature of around 350°F (175°C) before adding the chicken. This ensures a quick and even frying process, preventing the chicken from becoming greasy. Use a digital thermometer to test the temperature.
- Use a heavy bottom frying skillet to make sure the heat is evenly distributed.
How to reheat Panda Express Orange Chicken:
Cook for 1 minute in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl.
Can I freeze orange chicken?
I do not recommend freezing this dish. The sauce will not thicken back up to the same consistency after freezing and defrosting. Since this Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken can be made in under 30 minutes, I recommend cooking it when you want to eat it!
Side dishes to serve with the Orange Chicken:
- Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
- Copycat PF Chang's Spicy Green Beans
- Easy One Pot Quinoa Fried Rice - Healthy and Delicious
- Garlic Ginger Spinach
- Spicy Steamed Bok Choy
- Easy Asian Noodles
Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken is easy to make at home! Crispy chicken bites coated in tangy orange sauce makes the perfect meal!
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breast diced
- 1 large egg
- 4 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon white wine
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
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In a small bowl, whisk the egg with salt and pepper. Dip the chicken pieces into the mixture.
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In another bowl, mix the cornstarch and all-purpose flour. Then piece by piece, dunk the wet chicken into the flour mixture, tossing to coat. Repeat for all of the chicken.
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Heat the oil in a frying pan, then add the chicken in a single layer in the pan.
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Fry the chicken pieces until golden brown, stirring occasionally, 6-7 minutes over medium heat. Then transfer to a paper towel lined plate and set aside.
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Add sesame oil to the pan and sauté the garlic, ginger and chili flakes for a minute, stirring occasionally.
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Add soy sauce, white wine, orange juice, brown sugar and orange zest into the pan; sauté for 1 minute.
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Mix water with cornstarch in a small bowl, making sure there are no clumps. Pour into the pan, and stir into the sauce. Heat over medium until the sauce thickens, about 1-2 minutes.
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Add the chicken back to the pan and toss until evenly coated in sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds and serve immediately.
Nutritional information per serving: 463 calories, 20g fat, 24g carbohydrates, 8g sugar, 42g protein.
jess
This really tastes just like the same from the restaurant. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!
Jessica
Okay this was so delicious I already can't wait to make it again.
Beth
Their orange chicken is so addicting. I seriously get it every time we go. I don't even try anything new. I can't wait to make this!
Olivia
This copycat recipe is amazing! Thank you for sharing this recipe, I'm so glad I can make this dish from home now!
Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert
Such a fantastic meal! Adding on our must make list!
Catalina
I love orange chicken and I am so glad to make it at home! Such and easy recipe!
Sandra
Everyone at my house really loved it! Such a delicious meal!
Alicia
I love ordering from panda express, but I hate spending the money so often! This recipe tasted just like theirs, but it was absolutely cheaper and easy to make!