Print

Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat Irresistible Crispy Better Than Takeout

Orange Chicken Copycat recipe, served and ready to eat, easy homemade dish

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Enjoy this Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat featuring crispy fried chicken and a sticky homemade orange chicken sauce. It’s an easy dinner perfect for weeknight or family meals, delivering takeout-quality flavor at home.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 10 tablespoons sugar
  • 10 tablespoons white vinegar
  • orange zest from large orange
  • 2 pounds chicken thighs boneless skinless cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil divided plus more for frying
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons ginger freshly minced
  • 2 cloves garlic freshly minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Mix cornstarch, rice wine, water, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, white vinegar, and orange zest together to create the sauce.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the egg, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil for the chicken coating.
  3. Combine cornstarch and flour in another bowl.
  4. Heat oil in a large pan or wok to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  5. Dip chicken pieces into the egg mixture, then coat them in the flour mixture.
  6. Fry chicken batches for 3 to 4 minutes until they turn golden and crispy.
  7. Place cooked chicken on a cooling rack and continue frying remaining pieces.
  8. Drain most of the oil from the pan, leaving about a tablespoon.
  9. Sauté ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes in the pan for around 10 seconds.
  10. Pour in the orange sauce and bring it to a boil.
  11. Turn off the heat, add the cooked chicken, and stir until it is fully coated with the sauce.

Nutrition