Crispy Orange Chicken (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Chicken Breading
01 -
1¼ pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat and cut into small chunks
02 -
¼ cup plain flour
03 -
¼ cup cornstarch
04 -
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
05 -
¾ teaspoon sea salt
→ Tangy Orange Sauce
06 -
¾ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice (from 4–5 medium oranges)
07 -
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
08 -
¼ cup soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free)
09 -
3 tablespoons brown sugar, packed tightly
10 -
2 small garlic cloves, minced finely
11 -
½ teaspoon fresh ginger, minced into small bits
12 -
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
13 -
1 teaspoon sesame oil, toasted
14 -
1 teaspoon sriracha (optional kick)
15 -
2 tablespoons cornstarch
16 -
½ teaspoon salt
→ Cooking Oil
17 -
4 tablespoons avocado oil, used in two portions
→ Serving Suggestions
18 -
Steamed white rice
19 -
Thinly sliced green onion tops (green part only)
20 -
Toasted sesame seeds for garnish
# Instructions:
01 -
Cut chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and remove any fatty bits.
02 -
Combine flour, cornstarch, salt, and black pepper in a big bowl. Toss chicken chunks in the mixture until evenly covered.
03 -
In a hot skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of avocado oil. Shake off extra breading from half the chicken and arrange in a flat layer. Cook for about 5 minutes, flip, and cook another 4–6 minutes until crispy and browned. Cool on a plate lined with paper towels.
04 -
Using the remaining oil, repeat the frying process for the second batch of chicken.
05 -
While frying the chicken, mix together orange juice, zest, soy sauce, brown sugar, chopped garlic, minced ginger, sesame oil, vinegar, sriracha (if using), cornstarch, and salt in a bowl.
06 -
Lower the skillet heat to medium after chicken is done. Add the orange sauce mixture, stirring consistently for a couple of minutes until it thickens enough to coat a spoon.
07 -
Turn heat to low and add the cooked chicken back to the pan. Stir well to cover the pieces evenly with sauce. Heat until warm, about 2–3 minutes.
08 -
Serve the saucy chicken on a bed of white rice. Add green onion and sesame seeds on top if you'd like.
# Notes:
01 -
Using fresh orange juice and zest makes the flavor more vibrant, though bottled juice can work in a pinch.
02 -
For super crispy chicken, make sure each piece is coated thoroughly and fry in small batches to keep the oil hot.
03 -
Store the chicken and sauce separately to keep it from going soggy. Reheat the chicken in an oven set at 350°F or in an air fryer at 300°F for crispy results.