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Crispy Orange Chicken

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This orange chicken is bright, sticky, and satisfyingly crunchy, a weeknight favorite that cooks up faster than takeout.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 2 cups vegetable oil, for frying
  • 1 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 0.5 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 0.5 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch, mixed with 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tsp ginger, grated
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 1 tbsp green onions, sliced, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
  2. In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, and black pepper. Dredge each chicken piece so it is evenly coated, shaking off the excess flour.
  3. Pour the vegetable oil into a large skillet or wok to a depth of about 1 inch and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Fry the chicken in batches, being careful not to crowd the pan, until pieces are golden brown and cooked through, about 4 to 6 minutes per batch. Transfer to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  4. In a clean medium saucepan, combine the orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, grated ginger, minced garlic, and orange zest. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring so the sugar dissolves.
  5. Stir the cornstarch slurry, then gradually add it to the simmering sauce while whisking. Continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glaze consistency. Remove from heat.
  6. Add the fried chicken to the saucepan and toss gently to coat every piece in the orange glaze. Return to low heat for 30 seconds if needed to warm through.
  7. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with sliced green onions and extra orange zest. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a lighter version, reduce the sugar or swap half the sugar for honey. Use low sodium soy sauce to control saltiness. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free flour blend and tamari.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.simplefamilydishes.com/orange-chicken-recipe/