Panda Express has lots of great dishes, but none is as legendary as the orange chicken. This restaurant copycat recipe lets you make your own version of their delicious favorite.
Panda Express Orange Chicken is a popular dish that combines crispy chicken pieces with a sweet and tangy orange sauce. The dish is known for its flavorful combination of textures and flavors, making it a favorite among many Panda Express customers.
To make Panda Express Orange Chicken, you will need boneless chicken breast, cornstarch, flour, egg, salt, pepper, and vegetable oil for frying. The chicken is first coated in a mixture of cornstarch, flour, egg, salt, and pepper, then deep-fried until golden and crispy. This creates a deliciously crispy exterior that contrasts with the tender chicken inside.
The orange sauce is made with a combination of soy sauce, sugar, white vinegar, orange zest, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. These ingredients come together to create a sweet and tangy flavor profile with a hint of spiciness. The sauce is cooked until thickened, and then the fried chicken is tossed in the sauce to coat each piece evenly.
The result is a dish that is bursting with flavor, with the crispy chicken perfectly complemented by the rich and tangy orange sauce. Panda Express Orange Chicken is typically served with steamed rice or noodles, creating a complete and satisfying meal.
Whether enjoyed as a quick and delicious lunch or as part of a Chinese-inspired dinner, Panda Express Orange Chicken is sure to satisfy your cravings for bold flavors and comforting textures. It has become a beloved dish for fans of Panda Express and is often recreated at home to enjoy anytime you want a taste of this popular Chinese-American classic.
SERVES: 6
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breast
- 1 egg
- Dash of salt
- Dash of pepper
- Vegetable oil
- ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
- Zest from 1 orange
- 1½ tablespoons soy sauce
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 5 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon rice wine
- ¼ cup water
- 1½ tablespoons water
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat oil in a wok or deep skillet to 375°F.
- Cut chicken into small squares and place in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, add egg, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of oil, and mix well. Add cornstarch and flour, and mix well. Add chicken to the mixture and coat well.
- Cook chicken until the pieces are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and drain.
- In a clean skillet or wok lightly greased with 1 tablespoon of oil, add ginger and garlic and heat for a few seconds until you can smell the mixture.
- Add red pepper flakes and green onions to the ginger and garlic mixture and sauté for 15 seconds. Add orange zest. Add the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and rice wine, and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Combine the chicken with the orange sauce and mix well.
- Add water to the remaining 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and mix well. Combine the cornstarch mixture with chicken and orange sauce and heat for about 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened up. Stir in sesame oil.
- Remove from the heat and serve immediately.
