Description
Baked Orange Chicken: Crispy, tangy, and sweet—this healthier baked version of the takeout classic delivers bold orange flavor without frying.
Ingredients
Scale
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts – 1½ lbs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Cornstarch – ½ cup (for coating)
- Eggs – 2 large, beaten
- All-purpose flour – 1 cup
- Oil – 2 tbsp (for drizzling or spraying)
- Orange juice – ¾ cup
- Sugar – ⅓ cup
- White vinegar – 2 tbsp
- Soy sauce – 2 tbsp
- Cornstarch – 1 tbsp (mixed with 2 tbsp water for slurry)
- Sesame oil – 1 tsp
- Ground ginger – ½ tsp
- Garlic – 1 tsp, minced
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly grease it.
- Coat chicken pieces in cornstarch, dip into beaten eggs, then dredge in flour. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly spray or drizzle the chicken with oil. Bake for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
- While the chicken bakes, make the sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and orange zest.
- Bring to a simmer, then stir in the cornstarch–water mixture. Cook until thickened (about 2–3 minutes).
- Once chicken is done, toss immediately with the hot orange sauce until well coated.
- Serve over steamed rice and garnish with green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, bake on a wire rack set over the baking sheet.
- You can substitute chicken thighs or chicken breasts according to preference.
- If you prefer more sauce, double the sauce ingredients or reduce less to taste.
- Leftovers keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat gently in the oven or a skillet.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of the recipe)
- Calories: N/A
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: N/A
- Cholesterol: N/A
Keywords: Baked Orange Chicken, crispy orange chicken, Panda Express copycat, oven baked chicken, orange sauce, Asian fusion, 4-ingredient concept