Hot Orange Chicken (Panda Express Copycat): A Fiery Feast Made Easy
Craving a deliciously spicy and sweet meal? This Hot Orange Chicken (Panda Express Copycat) is your go-to recipe for an irresistible dining experience. Juicy, crispy chicken pieces are coated in a fiery orange sauce, blending the perfect balance of sweetness and heat. With its crunchy texture and vibrant flavors, this dish is ideal for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun gathering with friends. Best of all, it’s simple to make, requiring just a handful of ingredients and 40 minutes of your time. Whether served over rice, on a bed of greens, or tossed with noodles, this homemade delight will have everyone coming back for seconds!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Serves approximately 4 people 1x
- Category: Main
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup cornstarch
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp oil for egg wash
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp white pepper
- Oil for frying
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 orange zest
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 4 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch for sauce
- 1 tbsp green onions sliced (plus more for garnish)
- 2 tbsp oil for stir-frying
- ½ cup dried whole red chili peppers
- 6 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp sesame oil for stir-frying
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp ginger grated (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken coating by mixing cornstarch, flour, salt, and white pepper in one bowl; whisk eggs with oil in another.
- Dip chicken pieces in egg wash and coat thoroughly in the dry mixture.
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat and fry the chicken until golden brown for about 5-7 minutes per batch.
- For the orange sauce, combine orange juice, zest, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, and cornstarch in a saucepan until thickened.
- Sauté garlic and chili peppers in another pan; add fried chicken and pour over the sauce. Toss to coat well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (245g)
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg