Crispy American Chinese Orange Chicken Recipe with Sweet Tangy Sauce Easy and Perfect
A quick and easy recipe for crispy golden chicken coated in a perfectly balanced sweet tangy orange sauce, delivering nostalgic American Chinese comfort food at home.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American Chinese
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 large eggs, beaten (room temperature)
- Oil for frying (vegetable or peanut oil recommended)
- ¾ cup fresh orange juice (about 2 medium oranges)
- ¼ cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar or brown sugar
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger (or 1 tsp ground ginger)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (for thickening)
- Optional: 1 tsp chili flakes or sriracha
- Thinly sliced green onions (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (toasted, for garnish)
Instructions
- Cut chicken into 1½ inch bite-sized pieces and pat dry with paper towels.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and pepper.
- In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and gradually combine with dry ingredients to form a thick, smooth batter.
- Toss chicken pieces in the batter until fully coated and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Pour oil into a frying pan to about 2 inches deep and heat to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry chicken in batches for 4-5 minutes each until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels or cooling rack.
- While frying, combine orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and chili flakes in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
- Whisk in cornstarch slurry and cook until sauce thickens and becomes glossy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Toss crispy chicken gently in the warm sauce until evenly coated.
- Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
Notes
Use fresh ginger and freshly squeezed orange juice for best flavor. Maintain oil temperature at 350°F for crispy results. Toss chicken gently in sauce to keep coating intact. For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour blend and tamari instead of soy sauce. Sauce thickness can be adjusted with water or simmering longer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Protein: 30
Keywords: orange chicken, crispy chicken, sweet tangy sauce, American Chinese recipe, easy dinner, comfort food