Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
Better than takeout orange chicken is crispy, tangy, and ready in just 30 minutes. After making this many times, I discovered the secret to a perfect sauce every time. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Mexican Street Corn Style Grilled Zucchini and Easy Roasted Beet Salad with Feta and Cucumber.
Why This Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy chicken coated in a tangy, sweet orange sauce
- Ready in just 30 minutes with easy-to-find ingredients
- No food coloring or artificial flavors, just real ingredients
- Better than takeout and freezes well for meal prep
What You'll Need for Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- orange juice
- soy sauce
- garlic
- ginger
- brown sugar
- cornstarch
- green onions
- orange zest
- red pepper flakes
- sesame oil
- Optional: sesame seeds
- Optional: chopped peanuts
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: Cut into bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant-read thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature. → See on Amazon
- Non-stick skillet — Prevents chicken from sticking and ensures even cooking. → See on Amazon
How to Make Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
- Step 1: In a bowl, whisk together orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Set aside.
- Step 2: Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, add the sauce mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat. Garnish with green onions and serve over rice.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
- : For extra crispy chicken, pat chicken pieces dry before cooking.
- Common mistake and fix: If your sauce isn't thickening, try mixing a slurry of 1 tbsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp water, then stir it into the sauce and let it simmer.
- : For a spicier version, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Storing & Reheating Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare sauce up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Freezing Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
Freeze cooked chicken and sauce separately for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°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, add more cornstarch to the slurry.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts for even more flavor.
- Make-ahead: Prepare chicken and sauce separately, then combine and reheat when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for meal prep.
- Troubleshooting: If chicken is not cooking evenly, try cutting it into smaller pieces.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality rice cooker — Ensures perfectly cooked rice every time, paying for itself vs takeout. → Check price on Amazon
Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- orange juice
- soy sauce
- garlic
- ginger
- brown sugar
- cornstarch
- green onions
Seasonings
- orange zest
- red pepper flakes
- sesame oil
Optional Toppings
- sesame seeds
- chopped peanuts
Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, whisk together orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Set aside.
- Step 2: Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, add the sauce mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat. Garnish with green onions and serve over rice.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker sauce, add more cornstarch to the slurry.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts for even more flavor.
- Make-ahead: Prepare chicken and sauce separately, then combine and reheat when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for meal prep.
- Troubleshooting: If chicken is not cooking evenly, try cutting it into smaller pieces.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken and sauce separately for up to 3 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: Prepare sauce up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 370
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sat. Fat: 2g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe FAQs
Yes, prepare sauce up to 1 day ahead and store in the fridge until ready to use.
Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and do not overcook.
Yes, cook chicken and sauce together on low for 4-6 hours.
Yes, but ensure it's thawed and patted dry before cooking for best results.
Serve over rice with a side of steamed broccoli or green beans.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe 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!
