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Delicious Orange Glazed Chicken

Category: Lunch

This dish is all about small chicken pieces that get coated and fried until they’re nicely golden and crunchy. Meanwhile, a tasty orange sauce is made by cooking down fresh juice, zest, soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar with minced garlic and fresh grated ginger. It creates a nice balance of tangy and sweet. Then, hot crispy chicken gets mixed into the thick sauce until it’s glossy and flavorful. It’s a great main dish packed with citrus zing and savory goodness in each bite.

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Dana
Recipe Created By Dana
Last updated on Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:26:47 GMT
Plate showing chicken served with rice. Save
Plate showing chicken served with rice. | chefsnaps.com

Crunchy chicken with a zesty orange glaze makes this dish a bright and tasty meal. Every bite mixes crispiness with a sweet tang that makes dinner feel special and fun.

When I first whipped this up, I was shocked at how quickly the sauce came together and how good it tasted. It quickly became my go-to meal for something cozy with a bit of flair.

Needed Ingredients

  • Chicken breast: chopped into small pieces so it cooks fast and stays tender
  • Cornstarch: makes the chicken nice and crispy and holds up well when sauced; pure cornstarch works best
  • Salt and pepper: simple spices to bring out the chicken’s flavor
  • Cooking oil: use something with high smoke point like vegetable or canola oil for frying
  • Fresh orange juice: for that bright, fruity zing; fresh squeezed is ideal but store-bought is fine
  • Orange zest: gives a sharper orange punch and deeper aroma
  • Soy sauce: adds umami and salty notes; low sodium is good if you want less salt
  • Brown sugar: adds sweetness with a touch of molasses flavor; pack it firmly when measuring
  • Rice vinegar: adds a gentle tang that livens up the sauce
  • Fresh garlic cloves: minced to add nice flavor depth
  • Grated ginger: gives a warm, slightly spicy edge

Step-by-Step Cooking

Plate showing crispy orange chicken with rice.
Plate showing crispy orange chicken with rice. | chefsnaps.com

I love fresh orange zest because it brings a punch of brightness you just don’t get from bottled juice. Once I doubled up the ginger for a more powerful spicy smell and everyone loved it.

Easy Storage Ideas

Ingredient Swaps

Great Side Ideas

Orange chicken served with rice on a plate.
Orange chicken served with rice on a plate. | chefsnaps.com

Making this orange chicken never fails to bring a happy vibe to the table. It also inspires me to try more dishes balancing sweet and savory sauces.

Frequently Asked Cooking Questions

→ Which chicken cut works best here?

Chicken breast without bones or skin and cut into pieces cooks quick and evenly.

→ How can I get the chicken nice and crunchy?

Cover the chicken well with cornstarch and fry it in hot oil until golden and fully cooked.

→ What makes the sauce taste so orange-y?

Fresh orange juice and zest mixed with soy sauce, brown sugar, and vinegar give that bright, tangy-sweet flavor.

→ Can this be made without gluten?

Just swap in gluten-free soy sauce and make sure your cornstarch and other stuff don’t have gluten.

→ How do I know when the sauce is done?

Let it simmer until it’s thick and shiny enough to coat the chicken nicely.

Orange Glazed Chicken

Crunchy chicken bits covered in a lively orange sauce with soy, garlic, and ginger twists.

Preparation Duration
20 minutes
Time to Cook
25 minutes
Overall Time
45 minutes
Recipe Created By: Dana

Type of Recipe: Lunch

Cooking Skill Level: For Moderate Skills

Cuisine Style: Chinese-American

Serving Amount: 4 Number of Servings

Dietary Options: No Dairy Included

Ingredients You'll Need

→ Chicken

01 Salt and black pepper, enough to flavor
02 Vegetable oil for frying
03 680 grams chicken breast, cut up
04 240 milliliters cornstarch

→ Orange Sauce

05 67 grams brown sugar
06 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
07 30 milliliters rice vinegar
08 8 grams cornstarch
09 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
10 180 milliliters orange juice
11 80 milliliters soy sauce
12 1 teaspoon orange zest

Detailed Preparation Steps

Step 01

Sprinkle salt and pepper all over the chicken. Then cover each piece with cornstarch so they’re well coated.

Step 02

Whisk orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, orange zest, and cornstarch in a bowl until smooth.

Step 03

Pour that sauce mix into your pan. Keep it on medium heat and stir often until the sauce gets thick.

Step 04

Heat up oil in a big pan or wok on medium-high. Fry the chicken pieces until golden and cooked well.

Step 05

Put the cooked chicken back into the pan. Stir to cover every bit with the sticky sauce.

Step 06

Move the chicken to plates and eat it right away while it’s hot.

Helpful Tips

  1. If you want the chicken extra crunchy, dip it twice in cornstarch before frying.

Essential Kitchen Tools

  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Whisk
  • Big skillet or wok

Allergy Information

Always check labels for allergens and reach out to a healthcare expert if unsure.
  • Has soy so folks allergic to soy should avoid it.

Nutrition Information (Per Portion)

Nutrition facts are provided for reference and don’t replace professional medical advice.
  • Calories: 480
  • Fat Content: ~
  • Carbohydrate Amount: ~
  • Protein Content: ~