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–+ servings
Orange chicken topped with green onions over white rice in a white bowl.

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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