This Panda Express Orange Chicken copycat recipe is crispy, flavorful, and a little bit tangy. It tastes just like the Panda Express dish.
This recipe serves 6 and costs about $9.10 to make. That’s just around $1.52 per serving!
One of our biggest monthly expenses is food. We are constantly reviewing our budget and looking for ways to decrease our monthly food bill. One of the easiest ways to do this is to cut back on eating out.
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You will love this Orange Chicken Recipe (Panda Express Copycat!)
Our solution to this dilemma is Copycat recipes! You can make the same great-tasting food at home for a better price. Our orange chicken recipe serves 6 and costs approximately $9.10 to make. Our chow mein recipe serves 6 and costs $4.26 to make.
This means you can serve your family one of their favorite meals for just about $13.36!
Our recipe shows you exactly how to make this Orange Chicken at home so you can avoid the cost of eating out without sacrificing the taste of your favorite Panda Orange Chicken.
Panda Express Orange Chicken Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- 1 egg – $0.10
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt – $0.01
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs – $5.84
- 1 pinch black pepper – $0.01
- 3 cups + 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil – $1.53
- 1/2 cup + 3 Tablespoons cornstarch – $0.29
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour – $0.05
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes – $0.02
- 2 garlic cloves – $0.12
- 2 teaspoons ginger root – $0.01
- 1/2 cup brown sugar – $0.24
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar – $0.12
- 2/3 cup orange juice – $0.27
- 1/2 cup white vinegar – $0.11
- 1/4 cup soy sauce – $0.18
- 1/4 cup water – $0.00
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil – $0.20
The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in May 2020.
How to Make Panda Express Orange Chicken Recipe:
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
- First, make the sauce.
- Next, make the chicken by dipping pieces of chicken into the prepared egg mixture and then into the flour.
- Then, fry the chicken in oil in small batches. Drain on paper towels and set aside. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
- Finally, add the fried chicken into the sauce and stir until completely coated in the sauce and serve.
How to get the kids involved with this recipe:
- Ages 2-3: Let them help you measure out the ingredients for the sauce.
- Ages 4-5: Let them help you measure and mix the ingredients for the egg and flour mixtures. They can also help line the baking sheet with paper towels.
- Ages 6-8: Teach your kiddo to dip the chicken in the egg and flour mixtures. Have them help you take the temperature of the oil with an instant-read thermometer. Teach them safety when frying food in oil.
- Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
- Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Panda Orange Chicken variations
- If you like an extra flavor kick, then add orange zest to the sauce.
- If you like the orange sauce on the spicier side, then add in more red pepper flakes.
What to serve with Panda Express Orange Chicken
- Serve over rice or with our copycat chow mein.
Panda Orange Chicken storage
- Serve: You can keep this recipe at room temperature for up to 2 hours before you need to refrigerate it.
- Store: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: It’s best to freeze the fried chicken and sauce separately in freezer-safe bags. Frozen this way, they will keep for 3 months. Reheat the sauce in a saucepan until warmed through. For the chicken, place it in a 400 degrees F oven for 15 minutes or until crisp and heated through.
Orange Chicken Panda Express FAQs
Orange Chicken does have a little spice to it, but it would not win any competition for the spiciest dish out there! In comparison to other Chinese-American dishes, General Tso’s chicken is known for being spicy.
We use chicken thighs for our orange chicken recipe. Chicken thighs are classified as dark meat. Dark meat is generally more tender than white meat, creating a juicier piece of meat.
One serving has 576 calories. It is a good source of protein but also has a pretty high sodium and fat content. Therefore, it is not typically considered an overall healthy dish.
The cornstarch paste is the key to helping to thicken the orange chicken sauce. You may need to stir in more, one tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
You can substitute the orange juice at a 1:1 ratio with either lemon or lime juice.
Through trial and error, we have created the perfect ratio of ingredients to create the best-tasting orange chicken. If any of these measurements are off, it can alter the overall taste, which could result in bitter chicken. We’ve shared our measurements here with you so you don’t make the same mistakes we did.
Orange Chicken is known for having a sweet and savory taste in comparison to other spicy dishes like General Tso Chicken. However, you can add more red pepper flakes if you want the sauce to have a little more spice.
Cook’s Tools for this Panda Express Orange Chicken Recipe
- slotted spoon
- wok
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- medium mixing bowls
- large bowl
- instant-read thermometer
Orange Chicken Panda Express FAQs
We use chicken thighs for our orange chicken recipe. Chicken thighs are classified as dark meat. Dark meat is generally more tender than white meat, creating a juicier piece of meat.
More Copycat Recipes:
Panda Express Orange Chicken Sauce
Recipe Cost 9.10 Serving Cost 1.52Equipment
- slotted spoon
- wok
- measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- medium mixing bowls
- large bowl
- instant-read thermometer
Ingredients
FOR ORANGE SAUCE:
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 large garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons ginger root peeled and minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅔ cup orange juice
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup water
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
FOR CHICKEN:
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1inch pieces
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
MAKE SAUCE:
- Preheat 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil in a large saucepan or medium pot over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is simmering, add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Cook while stirring constantly for 30 seconds.
- Whisk in brown sugar, granulated sugar, and orange juice. Cook while stirring often until the sugars are almost all dissolved, about 2-4 minutes.
- Whisk in vinegar and soy sauce.
- In a small bowl whisk together water and cornstarch until it makes a paste. Then, whisk the paste into the sauce.
- Cook and stir the sauce until it thickens to the consistency of syrup (it will thicken more as it cools).
- Whisk in the sesame oil.
PREP FOR FRYING:
- In a shallow bowl or pie plate whisk together egg, salt, pepper, and 1 Tablespoon of oil.
- In a second shallow bowl or pie plate whisk together cornstarch and flour.
- Pour the oil into a large pan or wok. Heat the oil over high heat until it registers 375 degrees with an instant-read thermometer.
- Line a baking sheet with 3-4 layers of paper towels.
FRY CHICKEN:
- Place a ⅓ of the chicken pieces into the egg mixture, and then dredge the chicken in the flour mixture.
- Add the chicken to the oil and fry for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown.
- Move chicken to paper towel-line baking sheet to drain.
- Repeat the process with the remaining chicken, frying in 2 more batches.
FINISH THE ORANGE CHICKEN:
- Transfer the chicken to the sauce and stir to coat.
- Serve with chow mein or white rice.
Video
Nutrition
This Panda Express Orange Chicken copycat recipe is crispy, flavorful, and a little bit tangy. It tastes just like the Panda Express dish. This recipe serves 6 and costs $9.10 to make. That’s just $1.52 per serving!
Amanda says
This Panda Express Orange Chicken is an instant hit with my family. They couldn’t get enough.
Mandy says
Not usually a fan of vinegar in recipes. If left out does it significantly alter the flavor?
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Mandy, the vinegar is a big part of the sauce so it will alter the flavor significantly if you do not include it in the recipe.
Mary says
OMGosh! I went about following the recipe for the sauce and honestly did not expect much. Boy howdy, was I wrong! Gave tasting samples to myself, of course, and my family, beforebi started the chicken. it turned out SUPER!
I did not have ginger root, so I Googled for a substitute and it gave a suggestion of cinnamon, which I used. I thank you so much, this will be a recipe the Grandkids will want.
Jess Jankowski says
This is awesome Mary! Thank you for letting us know your experience! Glad you were able to find a substitute for the ginger root.
Clarissa says
This tastes nothing like PE Orange Chicken, but it is still delicious! I strongly recommend giving it a try.
Jimmy says
This is great. The orange flavor is not overpowering and I can make it spicier!
Jess Jankowski says
Thanks for stopping by to let us know how you liked it! I like to add a little more spice to it too!
elizabeth says
This was soo good. It even looked picture perfect and tasted even better.
Jess Jankowski says
Elizabeth, that’s awesome! Thanks for letting us know.
Michelle says
Omg. This is my favorite at Panda Express! I can’t wait to try it at home!
Jess Jankowski says
You are going to love it!
Jacque Hastert says
This was way better than anything I have ever had at Panda Express! I can’t believe how flavorful it was and how simple it was to create at home.
Jess Jankowski says
So happy you enjoyed it Jacque!
Jamie says
Oh yum! This is just like the real version and I love how I can make it at home so I know exactly what goes in it. Delicious!
Jess Jankowski says
Yes Jamie! It is so much better to make it at home!
Angela says
This is better than Panda Express!! I absolutely loved it and my family did too! Definitely will make again. Thanks for the great recipe!
Jess Jankowski says
Thanks so much for your review Angela. So happy your family loved it!
Tawnie Kroll says
SO much better than Panda! omg I am soo happy I found this recipe. This will be on rotation in our house now!
Jess Jankowski says
That’s awesome Tawnie! Thanks for stopping by.
Iva Tomic says
You should have your cookbook. I would buy it. Chicken looks so good.
Jess Jankowski says
Iva that is our dream! Thank you!
Ron Weinberg says
WHEN YOU USE REAL WHITE MEAT FROM THE CHICKEN & NOT COMMERCIAL CHICKEN THEN YOU HAVE A DISH!
Jess Jankowski says
Agreed!
Katie Bellamy says
You make this sound so easy! Looks delicious!
Jess Jankowski says
Katie, it really is easy! Enjoy!