Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken is crispy, tangy, and ready in 30 minutes. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to a restaurant-quality sauce at home. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe and Easy Cajun Sweet Potato Rice Bowl with Black Beans.
Why This Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Authentic takeout flavor at home
- Crispy chicken with a tangy, sweet sauce
- Ready in 30 minutes for a quick dinner
What You'll Need for Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- oranges
- garlic
- ginger
- soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- brown sugar
- cornstarch
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- pepper
- red pepper flakes
- Optional: green onions
- Optional: sesame seeds
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: Cut into bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant-read meat thermometer — Ensures perfectly cooked chicken every time. → See on Amazon
- High-quality non-stick skillet — Prevents chicken from sticking and ensures even cooking. → See on Amazon
How to Make Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
- Prepare the chicken: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Cook the chicken: Cook chicken in a skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, combine orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Bring to a boil and simmer until thickened.
- Toss the chicken in the sauce: Add chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcrowd the skillet when cooking the chicken. Cook in batches if necessary to prevent steaming.
- Pro tip: For a spicier sauce, add red pepper flakes to the sauce while it's simmering.
- Pro tip: To make this recipe ahead, cook the chicken and make the sauce separately. Store in the fridge and reheat in the skillet before serving.
Storing & Reheating Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
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: The sauce can be made ahead and reheated before adding the chicken.
Freezing Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts for even more flavor.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and make the sauce separately. Store in the fridge and reheat before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce isn't thickening, try adding a slurry of 1 tbsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp water to the skillet.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality citrus juicer — Makes extracting orange juice a breeze for a smooth, seed-free sauce. → Check price on Amazon
Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- oranges
- garlic
- ginger
- soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- brown sugar
- cornstarch
Seasonings
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- pepper
- red pepper flakes
Optional Toppings
- green onions
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Cook the chicken: Cook chicken in a skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, combine orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Bring to a boil and simmer until thickened.
- Toss the chicken in the sauce: Add chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts for even more flavor.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and make the sauce separately. Store in the fridge and reheat before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce isn't thickening, try adding a slurry of 1 tbsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp water to the skillet.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Make ahead: The sauce can be made ahead and reheated before adding the chicken.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 1800mg
- Cholesterol: 75mg
- Sat. Fat: 2g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe FAQs
Yes, prepare the chicken and make the sauce separately. Store in the fridge and reheat before serving.
Overcooking the chicken can cause it to become dry. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it's cooked to 165°F.
While you can freeze the cooked chicken, the texture may not be as crispy upon reheating.
Yes, cook the chicken in the air fryer at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, then toss in the sauce.
In a pinch, you can use a combination of grapefruit juice and pineapple juice as a substitute for orange juice.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken Recipe 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!
