Description
Baked Orange Chicken made with Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat Sauce. An easy baked recipe that’s healthier than frying in 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons rice wine (white wine works too)
- 1/4 cup orange juice, fresh after zesting orange
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 10 tablespoons sugar
- 10 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 orange, zested
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and add the panko to a food processor and pulse until the crumbs are much smaller, like regular breadcrumbs.
2. Add the panko to one bowl, the chicken (cut into small chunks) in a second bowl, the eggs in a third bowl, and the flour in a fourth bowl.
3. Dip the chicken pieces into the flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs and place on baking sheet, then spray with cooking spray (or brush lightly with vegetable oil).
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes. While the chicken is baking, make the sauce.
5. Add the remaining tablespoon vegetable oil, ginger, garlic, and crushed red pepper to a saucepan on medium heat and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
6. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients, bring to a boil until it thickens then turn off the heat and wait for the chicken to finish baking, then toss the chicken with the sauce and serve.
Notes
The first time you make this recipe, use the original sauce to enjoy its full flavor, similar to Panda Express. For variation, try General Tso’s or Sesame Chicken sauce using the same baking method.
Grinding the panko finer removes the usual spiky texture and gives the baked coating a more classic orange chicken feel.
Make the sauce while the chicken bakes to save time. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, or extra crushed red pepper.
Serve with steamed rice, Crab Rangoon, Spring Rolls, Potstickers, or even Beef Teriyaki.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 424
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 524mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.05g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 206mg