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+ servings
Orange chicken served over rice with chives.

Simple Orange Chicken Recipe

Isabel
This Simple Orange Chicken Recipe is an easy weeknight meal. Your family will love these crispy chicken pieces with sweet orange sauce.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Chinese
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • 1 tongs

Ingredients
  

For the chicken

  • 4 Chicken tenderloins about ½ pound of chicken total
  • 1 Garlic clove
  • ¼ cup Orange juice
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika optional
  • ¾ cup Avocado oil for frying the chicken

For the breading

  • ½ cup All purpose flour
  • ¼ cup Cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon Baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1 egg

For the Orange Sauce

  • ¾ cup Orange juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Rice vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons Soy sauce
  • ½ cup Orange marmalade
  • 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch In a slurry
  • 1 Tablespoon Avocado oil
  • 1 Garlic clove Minced
  • ¼ teaspoon Fresh ginger Grated
  • Scallions Optional garnish

Instructions
 

  • Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
    4 Chicken tenderloins
  • In a bowl, combine the minced garlic, orange juice, salt, pepper, onion powder and paprika. Add the cut chicken and stir until the chicken is well coated. Set aside.
    1 Garlic clove, ¼ cup Orange juice, ¼ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Onion powder, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

Make the Orange Sauce

  • In a sauce pan over medium heat add the avocado oil, garlic and grated ginger. If you don't have fresh ginger just leave it out. Cook for 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.
    1 Tablespoon Avocado oil, 1 Garlic clove, ¼ teaspoon Fresh ginger
  • Add the vinegar, soy sauce, orange juice and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the orange marmalade.
    ¾ cup Orange juice, 1 Tablespoon Rice vinegar, 2 Tablespoons Soy sauce
  • In bowl combine the cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water. Mix well until all the cornstarch is dissolved (slurry). Add the to orange sauce to thicken it up.
  • Bring the heat to medium-high until the sauce is shiny and syrup-like consistency. This makes about 2 cups of orange sauce.

Make the breading

  • In a small baking dish or a plate combine the flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, baking powder and whisk together.
    ½ cup All purpose flour, ¼ cup Cornstarch, ¼ teaspoon Salt, Pepper to taste, ½ teaspoon Baking powder
  • In a bowl beat the egg.
    1 egg
  • In a non-stick frying pan add about ¾ cups of avocado oil and bring it to a medium-high heat.
  • Dip the egg pieces in the egg and then flour mixture until fully coated.
  • Fry the chicken for 2-3 minutes and flip it. Fry for another 2 minutes until both sides are golden brown. Fry in 2 to 3 batches and avoid overcrowding the pan.
  • Place the chicken in a kitchen paper towel-lined plate.
  • Toss the chicken in half the orange sauce until well coated. Add more if desidered.
  • Serve over rice, add chopped chives as garnish.
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