Let’s whip up some Homemade Panda Express Orange Chicken! When I’m craving that perfect mix of sweet and savory, orange chicken always hits the spot. Now, we’re going to make it at home, and it’ll be even better than what you get at Panda Express.
Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- Salt and pepper
- 2 large eggs
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup water + 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Optional garnish: green onions and sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.
- In a wide shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, a sprinkle of salt, and a sprinkle of black pepper to taste.
- In a small deep bowl, whisk together the eggs, a sprinkle of salt, and a sprinkle of black pepper to taste.
- Dip a few chicken pieces at a time first into the wet batter, letting any excess drip off, and then into the dry mixture, shaking off any excess. Set them on a plate and finish breading all the chicken.
- Over medium-high heat, add soy sauce, orange juice, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, minced ginger, and red pepper flakes to a pot. Bring to a simmer and then pour in the cornstarch slurry (water and cornstarch whisked together) to thicken into a glaze. Once it thickens, remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil to 350°F in a frying pan. Drop the breaded chicken in, making sure not to overcrowd. Fry in two batches. Once golden, about 4 minutes, remove from the oil and drain on a paper towel.
- Toss the chicken in the glaze.
- Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, and enjoy with rice or noodles!
Notes
- You can use chicken breast, tofu, or beef instead of chicken thighs.
- For an extra orange kick, add some orange zest into the glaze after it thickens.