Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken: Crispy Goodness Ready in 40 Minutes

Easy Orange Chicken is crispy, tangy, and ready in just 40 minutes. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to a perfect crispy coating. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump straight to the recipe. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Recipe and No-Churn Neapolitan Ice Cream to Delight Every Sweet Tooth.

What You'll Need for Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken: Crispy Goodness Ready in 40 Minutes

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• Optional: Green onions, chopped
• Optional: Sesame seeds

How to Make Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken: Crispy Goodness Ready in 40 Minutes

1. Step 1: In a bowl, whisk together orange juice, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger. Set aside.
2. Step 2: In another bowl, combine salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and cornstarch. Toss chicken pieces in the mixture until evenly coated.
3. Step 3: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and once hot, add the chicken. Cook until browned and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
4. Step 4: In the same skillet, pour in the orange sauce. Stir in water and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken back to the skillet and coat in the sauce. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
5. Step 5: Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over steamed rice with your favorite sides.

Storing & Reheating Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken: Crispy Goodness Ready in 40 Minutes

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The sauce can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat before adding the chicken.

Freezing Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken: Crispy Goodness Ready in 40 Minutes

Freeze cooked chicken in the sauce for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of water and add it to the sauce while simmering.
• Best substitution: Substitute chicken breasts with chicken thighs for a more tender result.
• Make-ahead: The chicken can be breaded and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little more water or chicken broth.

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken: Crispy Goodness Ready in 40 Minutes

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

25 mins

⏳

Total

40 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-Free (with substitutions)

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated

Seasonings

• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water

Optional Toppings

• Green onions, chopped
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, whisk together orange juice, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger. Set aside.
2. Step 2: In another bowl, combine salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and cornstarch. Toss chicken pieces in the mixture until evenly coated.
3. Step 3: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and once hot, add the chicken. Cook until browned and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
4. Step 4: In the same skillet, pour in the orange sauce. Stir in water and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken back to the skillet and coat in the sauce. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
5. Step 5: Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over steamed rice with your favorite sides.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of water and add it to the sauce while simmering.
• Best substitution: Substitute chicken breasts with chicken thighs for a more tender result.
• Make-ahead: The chicken can be breaded and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little more water or chicken broth.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken in the sauce for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Make ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat before adding the chicken.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 35g
• Fat: 10g
• Carbs: 25g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 10g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 95mg
• Sat. Fat: 2g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken: Crispy Goodness Ready in 40 Minutes FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken: Crispy Goodness Ready in 40 Minutes and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!