Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken is crispy, tangy, and sweet, with a homemade flavor that beats takeout any day. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the balance of sweet and sour, and the trick I discovered is using a combination of orange juice and zest for a fresher, more vibrant flavor. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy High Protein Berry Cottage Cheese Bowl and Refreshing Watermelon Coconut Popsicles.

What You'll Need for Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

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

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup orange zest
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cornstarch
• Optional: Green onions
• Optional: Sesame seeds

How to Make Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

1. Step 1: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, mix orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
3. Step 3: Cook chicken in a hot skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
4. Step 4: In the same skillet, add the orange juice mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer until thickened.
5. Step 5: Stir in cornstarch mixed with a little water to thicken the sauce. Add chicken back to the skillet and coat in the sauce. Garnish with green onions and serve.

Storing & Reheating Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the sauce up to 1 day ahead. Cook chicken just before serving.

Freezing Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

Freeze cooked chicken in the sauce for up to 2 months.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a faster cooking time, use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts thin.
• Best substitution: Substitute chicken with firm tofu for a vegetarian version.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce up to 1 day ahead. Cook chicken just before serving.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, simmer it longer or add more cornstarch. If it's too thick, add a little water.

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

30 mins

⏳

Total

45 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup orange zest
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Seasonings

• Salt
• Pepper
• Cornstarch

Optional Toppings

• Green onions
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, mix orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
3. Step 3: Cook chicken in a hot skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
4. Step 4: In the same skillet, add the orange juice mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer until thickened.
5. Step 5: Stir in cornstarch mixed with a little water to thicken the sauce. Add chicken back to the skillet and coat in the sauce. Garnish with green onions and serve.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a faster cooking time, use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts thin.
• Best substitution: Substitute chicken with firm tofu for a vegetarian version.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce up to 1 day ahead. Cook chicken just before serving.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, simmer it longer or add more cornstarch. If it's too thick, add a little water.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken in the sauce for up to 2 months.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
• Make ahead: Prepare the sauce up to 1 day ahead. Cook chicken just before serving.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 35g
• Fat: 10g
• Carbs: 25g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 15g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 95mg
• Sat. Fat: 2g

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

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken FAQs

A Warm Final Note

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