Craving takeout but short on time? This super easy Orange Chicken recipe is the perfect solution! By using crispy frozen popcorn chicken, Panda Express orange chicken sauce, and a touch of sesame oil, ginger, and garlic you can whip up a delicious, restaurant-style meal in just a few minutes!
Love chicken recipes? Be sure to try my Chicken Schnitzel and Greek Chicken Gyros next!
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❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Super Easy & Quick – With a bag of frozen chicken and a few simple ingredients, you can have a delicious, takeout-style meal ready in under 20 minutes!
- Budget-Friendly – No need to spend extra on takeout when you can make this restaurant favorite at home for a fraction of the price.
- Customizable – Serve it with rice, veggies, or a little extra spice, while still keeping that classic Panda Express flavor!
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I love a good takeout night, but sometimes I just don’t feel like driving 20 minutes to pick it up—or paying the expensive delivery fees. That’s why this super simple orange chicken recipe has become one of my go-to meals when I’m craving that sweet, tangy, crispy goodness of Panda Express! It’s ridiculously easy to throw together, and the best part? It tastes just like the real thing with minimal effort.
All you need is a bag of frozen popcorn chicken, a bottle of Panda Express orange chicken sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic for that extra touch of flavor. I like to air fry the chicken to get it extra crispy (but it can be easily baked too), then toss it in a hot pan with the sauce so it caramelizes and clings to every little crispy morsel. Serve it over rice, add some steamed broccoli on the side, and you've got a takeout-style meal without even leaving the house. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll never want to wait in a drive-thru line again!
🥘 Ingredients
- Frozen Popcorn Chicken - I love using the Bare Chicken Breast Bites.
- Panda Express Orange Chicken Sauce - You can usually find this in the Asian food aisle at grocery stores.
- Sesame Oil - Gives the sauce a rich, nutty flavor to help balance out the flavor.
- Garlic - Adds depth.
- Ginger - Gives the sauce warmth.
- Green Onions and Sesame Seeds - optional garnish
*Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the recipe card, which includes the full list of ingredients and quantities.
🔪 Instructions
- Air Fry the Chicken: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Spread the frozen popcorn chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the chicken is crispy and heated through.
- Sauté the Garlic & Ginger: While the chicken is cooking, heat sesame oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, stirring for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Coat the Chicken in Sauce: Add the crispy popcorn chicken to the pan and toss to coat in the sesame oil. Pour in ½ cup of orange chicken sauce and stir well, cooking for another 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
- Serve & Garnish: Remove from heat and serve over rice, noodles or with steamed veggies. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds for garnish, if desired.
🧂 Serving Ideas
Here are some ideas for what to serve with your orange chicken:
- Serve over steamed white rice or fried rice for the ultimate Panda Express experience.
- Add a side of steamed broccoli, snap peas, or bok choy for a balanced meal.
- Swap rice for cauliflower rice to keep it lighter.
- Serve in lettuce wraps with chopped green onions and sesame seeds for a fresh twist.
- Make orange chicken bowls with rice, roasted veggies, and a drizzle of extra sauce.
- Use as a filling for orange chicken tacos with shredded cabbage and a squeeze of lime.
- Toss with lo mein or chow mein noodles for a takeout-style stir-fry.
- Serve with beef wontons with sweet and sour sauce on the side.
🍴Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate: Let the chicken cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container. Store for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Or for a crispier texture, reheat in a pan on the stove over medium heat. Add a splash of water to prevent it from drying out.
🌟 Recipe Tips
- For the crispiest chicken, air fry (or bake) the frozen popcorn chicken instead of microwaving it. This will give it a perfect crunchy texture that holds up well with the sauce.
- When tossing the chicken in the sauce, don’t overcook it. Let the sauce simmer for just a couple of minutes to thicken and coat the chicken without burning or getting too thick.
- If the sauce is too tangy for your taste, balance it out with a little brown sugar or honey (about 1-2 teaspoons). You can also add a splash of soy sauce for extra depth.
- Add a side of steamed or stir-fried vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, or snap peas to complement the sweetness of the sauce.
- Top with sesame seeds, green onions, or even crushed peanuts for extra texture and flavor.
- Orange chicken is best served with steamed white rice or fried rice to soak up all that flavorful sauce.
- If you like some heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a squirt of sriracha to the sauce for a spicy kick.
💭 FAQs
To keep the chicken crispy, store the sauce separately and only toss the chicken in it right before serving. You can also re-crisp the chicken in the air fryer before serving if it has softened.
Yes! You can prep the chicken and sauce separately and store them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. When you’re ready to serve, heat the chicken and toss it in the sauce on the stovetop to warm through.
🍗 More Chicken Recipes
If you make this recipe, let me know what you think! I’d love it if you could add a star rating ★ and a comment below. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too!
📋 Recipe
Shortcut Orange Chicken (Panda Express Copycat)
Ingredients
- 24 ounces frozen popcorn chicken
- 1 ½ cups Panda Express orange chicken sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoons grated ginger
- green onions for garnish, optional
- sesame seeds for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (cooking temperature and time may vary by brand of chicken used.) Spread the frozen popcorn chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the chicken is crispy and heated through.
- While the chicken is cooking, heat sesame oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, stirring for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in 1 ½ cups of Panda Express Orange Chicken Sauce and stir well, simmering for another 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens. Add the chicken and gently toss to evenly coat the pieces in the sauce.
- Remove from heat and serve with a side of rice and/or steamed veggies. Optionally, top with green onions and sesame seeds for an extra touch of flavor.
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