Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

Easy Healthy Orange Chicken is the best way to enjoy your favorite takeout dish at home. With a crispy, tangy sauce and tender chicken, this 30-minute recipe is better than takeout and packed with flavor. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to getting that perfect crispy texture is to toss the chicken in cornstarch before cooking. Start by marinating the chicken in a simple mixture of soy sauce, orange juice, and garlic. Then, cook it in a hot skillet until crispy. Toss it in the sauce and serve over steamed rice. Jump to Recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Chocolate Orange Cheesecake Recipe and Fresh Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad Ready in 10 Minutes.

What You'll Need for Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 green onions, sliced
• salt
• black pepper
• grated ginger
• minced garlic
• red pepper flakes (optional)
• Optional: sesame seeds
• Optional: chopped green onions

How to Make Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

1. Step 1: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. Toss chicken in the mixture until evenly coated.
3. Step 3: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until crispy and golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
4. Step 4: In the same skillet, combine orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir until sugar is dissolved.
5. Step 5: Return chicken to skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and sauce has thickened.
6. Step 6: Garnish with sliced green onions and serve over steamed rice.

Storing & Reheating Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance. Cook as directed when ready to serve.

Freezing Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

Freeze cooked chicken and sauce separately for up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat before serving.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, until heated through. Stir halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a quicker cooking time, use chicken tenders instead of breasts.
• Best substitution: Substitute the chicken with firm tofu for a vegetarian version.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little bit of water or additional orange juice.

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

15 mins

⏳

Total

30 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Healthy

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 green onions, sliced

Seasonings

• salt
• black pepper
• grated ginger
• minced garlic
• red pepper flakes (optional)

Optional Toppings

• sesame seeds
• chopped green onions

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. Toss chicken in the mixture until evenly coated.
3. Step 3: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until crispy and golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
4. Step 4: In the same skillet, combine orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir until sugar is dissolved.
5. Step 5: Return chicken to skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and sauce has thickened.
6. Step 6: Garnish with sliced green onions and serve over steamed rice.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a quicker cooking time, use chicken tenders instead of breasts.
• Best substitution: Substitute the chicken with firm tofu for a vegetarian version.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little bit of water or additional orange juice.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken and sauce separately for up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat before serving.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, until heated through. Stir halfway through.
• Make ahead: Marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance. Cook as directed when ready to serve.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 28g
• Fat: 12g
• Carbs: 28g
• 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 in 30 Minutes FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes 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!