Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

Easy Healthy Orange Chicken is crispy, tangy, and ready in just 30 minutes. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to a perfect, non-soggy crust. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Fresh Green Bean and Tomato Salad with Tangy Vinaigrette and Easy Spring Zucchini Basil Soup Recipe for Dinner.

What You'll Need for Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp ginger powder
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp Sriracha (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Ginger powder
• Soy sauce
• Orange juice
• Rice vinegar
• Honey
• Sesame oil
• Sriracha (optional)
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Optional: Sesame seeds
• Optional: Chopped green onions
• Optional: Sliced orange

How to Make Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

1. Step 1: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and ginger powder. Add chicken and toss to coat.
2. Step 2: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add garlic and ginger. Cook for 1 minute. Add soy sauce, orange juice, rice vinegar, honey, and Sriracha (if using). Stir to combine.
4. Step 4: Add chicken back to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
5. Step 5: Garnish with green onions and serve with steamed rice.

Storing & Reheating Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the chicken and sauce up to 2 days in advance.

Freezing Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

Freeze cooked chicken and sauce separately for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes until warmed through. Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a gluten-free version, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
• Best substitution: If you don't have orange juice, you can substitute it with apple juice or chicken broth.
• Make-ahead: You can prepare the chicken and sauce up to 2 days in advance.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and add it to the skillet. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

15 mins

⏳

Total

30 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free, Low-carb

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp ginger powder
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp Sriracha (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped

Seasonings

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Ginger powder
• Soy sauce
• Orange juice
• Rice vinegar
• Honey
• Sesame oil
• Sriracha (optional)
• Garlic
• Ginger

Optional Toppings

• Sesame seeds
• Chopped green onions
• Sliced orange

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and ginger powder. Add chicken and toss to coat.
2. Step 2: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add garlic and ginger. Cook for 1 minute. Add soy sauce, orange juice, rice vinegar, honey, and Sriracha (if using). Stir to combine.
4. Step 4: Add chicken back to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
5. Step 5: Garnish with green onions and serve with steamed rice.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a gluten-free version, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
• Best substitution: If you don't have orange juice, you can substitute it with apple juice or chicken broth.
• Make-ahead: You can prepare the chicken and sauce up to 2 days in advance.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and add it to the skillet. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken and sauce separately for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes until warmed through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes until warmed through. Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
• Make ahead: You can prepare the chicken and sauce up to 2 days in advance.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 12g
• Carbs: 20g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 8g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 70mg
• Sat. Fat: 2g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken in 30 Minutes 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!