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 few secret ingredients you can whip up a delicious, restaurant-style meal in only 15 minutes!
Love chicken recipes? Be sure to try my Chicken Schnitzel, Easy Chicken Enchiladas, and Greek Chicken Gyros next!
🔍 Quick Look: Easy Orange Chicken Recipe
- 🕒 Ready In: 15 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 4
- 🔥 Calories: ~562 per serving
- ⭐ Main Ingredients: Popcorn chicken, orange chicken sauce
- 📖 Dietary Info: Dairy-free
- 👩🍳 Method: Air fryer or oven, frying pan
- ⭐ Difficulty: Beginner
This super easy 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 it tastes just like the real thing!
Serve it over rice (check out my Instant Pot Rice Recipe and make my Easy Egg Fried Rice Recipe!), add some steamed broccoli on the side, and you've got a takeout-style meal without even leaving the house.
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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!
🛒Key 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.
*Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the recipe card, which includes the full list of ingredients and quantities.
🔄 Substitutions & Variations
- Frozen Popcorn Chicken: Use unbreaded chicken for a lower-carb, lower-sodium version.
🍊How to Make This Easy Orange Chicken Recipe
- 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.
Want to cook the chicken in the oven instead?
Ask AI how to adjust the recipe:
🌟Expert Tips
- Don't overcook the sauce. Let the sauce simmer for just a couple of minutes to thicken and coat the chicken without burning or getting too thick.
- Add sweetener. 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 garnishes. Top with sesame seeds, green onions, or even crushed peanuts for extra texture and flavor.
- Add spice. 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.
Serve over steamed white rice or my Easy Fried Rice for the ultimate Panda Express experience. You can also try it with my Curry Fried Rice for a new flavor 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.
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.
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.
🍗 More Chicken Recipes to Try
📋 Recipe
Easy Orange Chicken Recipe (Panda Express Copycat)
Equipment
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.
Notes
- Baking Instructions: If you don't have an air fryer, you can also bake the chicken on a baking sheet at 375F for 23 minutes (this is based off of Just Bare chicken breast bites.) Instructions may vary depending on what brand of chicken you use.
- Storage Info: 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.
Ashley Amundsen says
I love Panda Express' orange chicken! But takeout is so darn expensive nowadays it can be hard to justify the cost of it. This recipe is cheap and easy to make and always satisfies my cravings for that sweet and crispy chicken. It's definitely a winner in my book!