Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken – Crispy, Sticky, Sweet
Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken is a crispy chicken dish coated in a sweet and tangy orange sauce.It features deep-fried chicken pieces for a crunchy texture.The sauce combines orange juice, sugar, soy sauce, and spices.It delivers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavors.Easy to recreate at home with simple ingredients.Perfect for serving with rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Ingredients
For Chicken:
- 2 boneless chicken breasts (cubed)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- Oil for frying
For Orange Sauce:
- ½ cup orange juice (fresh preferred)
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (mixed with 2 tbsp water)
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk egg, then add chicken pieces and coat well.
- Mix cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper in another bowl.
- Heat oil and fry chicken until golden and crispy. Remove and drain.
- In a pan, sauté garlic and ginger briefly.
- Add orange juice, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and chili flakes.
- Bring to a simmer, then add cornstarch slurry to thicken.
- Toss fried chicken in the sauce until well coated.
- Garnish with orange zest and serve hot.
Notes
- Fresh orange juice gives the best flavor.
- Double fry chicken for extra crispiness.
- Adjust sugar to control sweetness.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce if preferred.
- Do not overcrowd the frying pan.
- Sauce thickens quickly—monitor closely.
- Serve immediately for best texture.
- Can substitute chicken thighs for juicier meat.