Hot Orange Chicken (Panda Express Copycat)
Craving a delicious takeout experience? Try this Hot Orange Chicken (Panda Express Copycat): A Fiery Feast Made Easy! This dish features crispy chicken pieces enveloped in a tangy and spicy orange sauce that’s irresistibly flavorful. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or gathering with friends, this recipe is quick to prepare and will leave everyone asking for seconds. With its delightful blend of textures and vibrant flavors, this homemade version allows you to enjoy your favorite restaurant dish right at home, all while controlling the ingredients for a healthier meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves approximately 4
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup cornstarch
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup orange juice
- 4 tbsp rice apple vinegar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- Dried whole red chili peppers
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken coating by mixing cornstarch, flour, salt, and white pepper in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk eggs with oil.
- Coat the chicken pieces first in the egg wash and then in the dry mixture.
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry coated chicken until golden brown (about 5-7 minutes). Drain excess oil on paper towels.
- For the sauce, combine orange juice, soy sauce, rice apple vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, and orange zest in a saucepan. Bring to simmer.
- Thicken sauce by mixing cornstarch with water; add to simmering sauce while stirring until thickened (about 2 minutes).
- Toss fried chicken in the sauce until well-coated and serve immediately.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximately 240g)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 120mg