Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat
- Total Time: 55 minutes
Ingredients
Scale
**Chicken:**
- 1.5 pounds boneless (skinless chicken thighs)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- Salt and pepper
- 2 large eggs
- Salt and pepper
**Orange Glaze:**
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup water mixed with 3 tablespoons cornstarch
**Other:**
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Optional garnish: green onions and sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.
- In a wide shallow bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, a sprinkle of salt, and a sprinkle of black pepper to taste.
- In a small deep bowl, whisk together eggs, a sprinkle of salt, and a sprinkle of black pepper to taste.
- Dip a few pieces of chicken at a time first in the wet batter, then into the dry mixture, shaking off any excess. Set on a plate and bread all the chicken.
- In a pot over medium-high heat, combine soy sauce, orange juice, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, minced ginger, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer, then add the cornstarch slurry (water and cornstarch whisked together) to thicken into a glaze. Once thickened, remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil to 350°F in a frying pan. Fry the breaded chicken in two batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Fry until golden, about 4 minutes, then drain on a paper towel.
- Toss the fried chicken in the glaze.
- Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, and serve with rice or noodles!
Notes
- You can use chicken breast, tofu, or beef instead of chicken thighs.
- For a stronger orange flavor, add some orange zest into the glaze after it thickens.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer