Orange chicken is such a tasty dish when you want something both sweet and savory! Let’s whip it up at home, and it’ll be even better than what you get at Panda Express.
Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat
Ingredients
**Chicken:**
- 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
**Orange Glaze:**
- 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 mixed with 3 tablespoons cornstarch
**Other:**
- 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, mix together flour, cornstarch, a sprinkle of salt, and a sprinkle of black pepper to taste.
- In a small deep bowl, whisk together eggs, a sprinkle of salt, and a sprinkle of black pepper to taste.
- Dip a few pieces of chicken at a time first in the wet batter, then into the dry mixture, shaking off any excess. Set on a plate and bread all the chicken.
- In a pot over medium-high heat, combine soy sauce, orange juice, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, minced ginger, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer, then add the cornstarch slurry (water and cornstarch whisked together) to thicken into a glaze. Once thickened, remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil to 350°F in a frying pan. Fry the breaded chicken in two batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Fry until golden, about 4 minutes, then drain on a paper towel.
- Toss the fried chicken in the glaze.
- Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, and serve with rice or noodles!
Notes
- You can use chicken breast, tofu, or beef instead of chicken thighs.
- For a stronger orange flavor, add some orange zest into the glaze after it thickens.