Description
Crispy oven-baked chicken tossed in a sticky, sweet, and tangy orange sauce made with fresh citrus, garlic, and ginger. A healthier twist on a takeout classic that’s packed with bold flavor and easy to make at home.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
0.5 cup cornstarch
2 large eggs, beaten
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
0.75 cup fresh orange juice
0.5 tablespoon orange zest
0.33 cup low-sodium soy sauce
0.33 cup rice vinegar
0.5 cup brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon sesame oil
0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Sliced green onions
Toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper.
2. Set up two bowls: one with beaten eggs, one with cornstarch. Dip chicken into egg, then coat in cornstarch.
3. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease or line a large baking dish or sheet pan.
4. Spread chicken in a single layer and drizzle lightly with oil.
5. Bake for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through until golden and cooked through.
6. Meanwhile, whisk together orange juice, zest, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes in a saucepan over medium heat.
7. In a small bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water to make a slurry.
8. Add slurry to sauce and stir until thickened and glossy, about 2–3 minutes.
9. Remove sauce from heat.
10. Once chicken is baked, pour the sauce over and gently toss to coat.
11. Return to the oven for 10–12 more minutes to set the glaze.
12. Optional: Broil the chicken for 2–3 minutes to caramelize the top.
13. Remove, garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, and serve hot.
Notes
Use fresh orange juice for the best flavor — it makes a huge difference in brightness.
Chicken thighs offer more moisture, but breasts work great if you prefer lean meat.
For extra crispy chicken, broil for a few minutes at the end but watch closely to prevent burning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
Keywords: baked orange chicken, takeout at home, orange sauce chicken