Easy Orange Chicken Recipe – 20 Minute Meal For Two!

When life gets busy, finding time to cook a delicious and satisfying meal can feel like a challenge, that’s where quick and easy recipes like this Orange Chicken come to the rescue. Bite size pieces of chicken coated in an easy to make, homemade orange sauce and served over cooked white rice.

It’s the perfect meal for those nights when you want something flavorful but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. And it is also a great dish to make when you are craving your favorite menu item from your local Chinese restaurant but you don’t have the time to order take out.

Best of all, it is incredibly simple to make, it requires just a handful of ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen. And it all starts off with frozen popcorn chicken, which you can find pre-made in the frozen aisle at the grocery store.

However, the star of the dish is the homemade orange sauce. It’s a tangy, sweet, and slightly savory sauce that perfectly compliments the crispy popcorn chicken. You don’t need any fancy ingredients or expensive store bought sauces, just a few pantry staples and about 10 minutes of time to make the sauce.

Easy 20 Minute Meal

Whether you have a busy schedule or you simply don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, meals that can be made in 20 minutes are a lifesaver. This Orange Chicken recipe is a perfect example of how you can create something that tastes like it came from a restaurant, but without a lot of time or effort.

The prep time is minimal since the popcorn chicken is already cooked, and the sauce comes together in just a few minutes. In fact, as the popcorn chicken is heating in the oven you can make the sauce so everything comes together at the same time.

Take it one step further and start your meal by making your long grain white rice. I use my 3 quart Mini Instant Pot to make my rice which takes a total of 18 minutes. However, if you want to make it in less time, purchase a ‘ready to heat’, rice in a bag that takes only 90 seconds to heat in the microwave.

Serving Suggestions

Once your Orange Chicken is ready, there are a few ways you can serve it to make a complete meal. As mentioned above, one of the most popular options is to serve it over steamed white or brown rice.

However, for a lighter option, try serving the Orange Chicken over a bed of steamed vegetables like broccoli. The fresh veggies add a nice crunch and balance out the richness of the sauce. You can also go for a combination of rice and vegetables if you want the best of both worlds.

Tips for Making Orange Chicken Even Easier

One of the best things about this Orange Chicken recipe is how customizable it is. For instance, if you’re short on time, you can make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week. That way, when it’s time to make dinner, all you have to do is cook the popcorn chicken and heat up the sauce.

And instead of heating up your oven, cook the popcorn chicken in your air fryer. It will still be crispy and cook in less time. You can even heat the popcorn chicken in the microwave, however, it will be less crispy than when made using the other two options.

You can also adjust the sweetness and tanginess of the orange sauce to suit your taste. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add a little more sugar. If you like it tangier, squeeze in some extra orange juice or an extra splash of rice vinegar.

My favorite way to customize the sauce is to add extra red pepper flakes to give it a little heat. The spicy flakes add a nice contrast to the sweetness of the sauce.

Another way to simplify the meal is by serving it with microwaveable rice or steamed vegetables. These shortcuts cut down on prep time and make this dish even easier, without compromising on taste.

Double This Orange Chicken Recipe

Although this recipe is designed for two servings, if you want leftovers for lunch later in the week, or if you want to share this recipe with another couple, it is easy to double the ingredients in this Orange Chicken recipe.

In fact, while you are already making the sauce, go ahead and double the ingredients and store half of it in the refrigerator. This will allow you to have the sauce on hand for the next time that you want to make this delicious recipe.

And trust me, this will become a go-to recipe that you’ll find yourself making again and again.

Easy Orange Chicken Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

• 20 pieces of frozen Popcorn Chicken
• 2/3 cup long grain white rice, uncooked

Orange Sauce:

• 1/2 cup Orange Juice
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar 
• 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon Ground Ginger
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional, more to taste)
• Orange Zest from 1/2 orange
• 1/2 Tablespoon Cornstarch
• 1 Tablespoon Water

Optional Garnish:

• Diced green onions
• Orange Zest (from the the other half of the orange)

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook the popcorn chicken per package directions. Cook the white rice using the stove method, rice cooker, or instant pot. *If you are using a microwaveable bag of rice wait until right before serving to heat the rice.

While the chicken and rice are cooking prepare the orange sauce. In a medium pot, add orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Heat for 3 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with water to form a paste. Add to orange sauce and whisk to combine. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken. Once the sauce is thickened, remove from heat and stir in the orange zest.

Toss the cooked popcorn chicken with the orange sauce until evenly coated. Serve over a bed of rice and garnish with diced green onion and orange zest, if desired.

There you have it! If you are looking for a quick, easy, and delicious meal, give this Orange Chicken a try. In just 20 minutes, you’ll have a dish that’s bursting with flavor and sure to satisfy your cravings.

If you are looking for a great orange chicken recipe that uses boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs be sure to check out this recipe that gives you a low-carb option: Orange Chicken & Rice Recipe.

Enjoy! Mary

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