Description
If you’re craving a delightful blend of spicy and sweet, look no further than this Hot Orange Chicken (Panda Express Copycat): A Fiery Feast Made Easy. This dish features crispy chicken pieces coated in a vibrant orange sauce that perfectly balances sweetness with a kick from chili peppers. Ideal for busy weeknights or entertaining guests, this easy recipe requires minimal ingredients while delivering maximum flavor. Serve over fluffy rice or alongside crisp vegetables for a satisfying meal that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup cornstarch
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup orange juice
- Zest of 1 orange
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 4 tbsp rice apple vinegar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- Dried whole red chili peppers and red pepper flakes for spice
- 2 tbsp oil, for egg wash
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp white pepper
- Oil, for frying
- 1 tbsp green onions, sliced (plus more for garnish)
- 2 tbsp oil, for stir-frying
- 6 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp sesame oil, for stir-frying
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp ginger, grated (optional)
Instructions
- In one bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, salt, and white pepper. In another bowl, whisk together eggs and oil for an egg wash.
- Coat each chicken piece in the egg wash followed by the cornstarch mixture.
- Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry coated chicken pieces until golden brown (5–7 minutes). Drain on paper towels.
- For the sauce, combine orange juice, zest, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, and cornstarch in a saucepan over medium heat until thickened.
- Stir-fry garlic and ginger in a skillet with oil; add fried chicken and dried chili peppers before pouring the orange sauce over everything. Toss to coat.
- Serve hot garnished with sliced green onions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (150g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 70mg