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With this amazing Easy Orange Chicken Recipe, you’ll have a delicious Chinese dinner on the table in a snap! Make it an easy meal with chicken nuggets as the base with a simple homemade sweet orange glaze.
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So much awesome flavor for such a simple recipe! I added steamed broccoli and sliced water chestnuts. Also used cut up boneless chicken thighs. The whole family LOVED it !
4-Ingredient Orange Chicken
Tired of takeout? Make your own takeout-worthy dinner at home with this super easy 4 Ingredient Orange Chicken recipe. Serve it over steamed rice and you have a perfect meal.
Orange chicken is a sweet and savory dish that became popular from the restaurant Panda Express. it’s an American adaptation of sweet and sour chicken. This version is the easiest recipe you will ever make and just as good!
Love easy dinner recipes! Don’t miss these: Crockpot Chicken and Gravy | Sheetpan Steak Fajitas | Tuscan Salmon Recipe | Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes | Mini Meatloaf Recipe
The Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need – (the exact measurements and full recipe instructions are below in the easy to print recipe card):
- Frozen chicken nuggets – get a big bag because you’ll need 5 cups. The chicken nuggets will need to be cooked according to the package directions. You could also use chicken fingers if you prefer larger cuts.
- Orange marmalade – find this with the rest of the jams and jellies in the grocery store. Any brand will work well.
- BBQ sauce – any variety that you like will work, but a Kansas City-style sauce is a good choice. I know this ingredient might sound strange, but it blends so well with the other ingredients.
- Soy sauce – to reduce the sodium you can use a low sodium soy sauce.
How to Make Orange Chicken
In a medium microwave-safe mixing bowl, whisk together the orange marmalade, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce.
Heat in the microwave on high heat for 45 seconds, then whisk the sauce until smooth (there will be small chunks from the orange rind in the orange marmalade).
Pour the sauce over the fully cooked chicken nuggets (be sure the nuggets are freshly cooked and hot) and toss to coat.
Tips for the Best Orange Chicken
- Spicy Orange Chicken – Want to heat this recipe up a bit? Try using spicy chicken nuggets or add hot sauce to the glaze. Make it as spicy as you like!
- Other Meats: the orange sauce isn’t only great with chicken, but with other meats, too, such as pork, beef, fish fillets, and shrimp.
- Thickness: If the sauce is way too thick for your liking, stir in orange juice to the thickness you prefer.
- Garnish: Top the dish with sesame seeds and chopped scallions. You can even add a few orange slices.
Crock Pot Orange Chicken
You can also make this in the slow cooker and it turns out great! The only difference is we use chicken breasts and you’ll use chicken broth as an added ingredient.
- Place 4 chicken breasts and 1 cup of chicken broth in the crock-pot and cook for 5 to 6 hours on low or 3 hours on high.
- Drain and then add the sauce ingredients to the pot. Cook for 15-20 minutes.
- Shred the chicken with a fork. Serve with rice.
How to Serve:
Serve the orange chicken over steamed white or brown rice. It also goes well with steamed or stir-fried veggies. Rice is the best because it absorbs the sauce and the combination is perfect!
How to Store Leftovers
Keep the leftover chicken in an airtight food storage container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave.
Other Easy Chicken Recipes
Add as Google Trusted Source4 Ingredient Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 5 cups frozen chicken nuggets, cooked according to the package directions
- 1 cup orange marmalade
- 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
Instructions
- In a medium microwave-safe mixing bowl, whisk together the orange marmalade, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce. Heat in the microwave on high heat for 45 seconds, then whisk the sauce until smooth (there will be small chunks from the orange rind in the orange marmalade).
- Pour the sauce over the fully cooked chicken nuggets (be sure the nuggets are freshly cooked and hot) and toss to coat.
- Serve the orange chicken hot over steamed rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Is there a a more healthier way of making this with not so much sugar. I have type 2 diabetes and have to watch my sugar intake.
Hi Jody. Several readers have had success using low sugar or sugar-free orange marmalade and BBQ sauce.
THE ORANGE CHICKEN PICTURE SHOWS THE NUGGETS VERY CRISPY AND DARK ORANGE. I CUT MY FRESH BREAST IN NUGGET SIZE. WHAT DIPPING MIXTURE DO I MAKEUP TO GET THE CHICKEN CRISPY BROWN. I LOVE USING ORANGE MARINADE FOR THE SAUCE. PLEASE HELP.
Hi Barry. This recipe used frozen breaded chicken. If you wanted to use fresh chicken breast and get the same results you would need to bead the chicken and fry first.
Sounds awesome
So good & easy!
My husband & family are sooo happy!
(I would have given 5 stars, but the 5th star wouldn’t allow me to select it)
Thank you Michelle!
Cant wait to try it!!! Simple yet looks delicious! I plan to pour it on top of the pre cooked/hot nuggets and put it back in the airfryer to goooo it up a bit. Yum
What kind of sides do you fix with this recipe
Hi Kasandra. Rice or noodles and a vegetable like broccoli or stir fried vegetables go well with this.
Hi! I am going to make this tonight in a crockpot. For the chicken nuggets, it says to microwave the sauce ingredients then mix. If I am using a crockpot and chicken breasts, I assume I should just dump the sauces as is in there after the 5-6 hours on low? Or do I still need to microwave and mix still before putting in the crockpot for the 15-20 mins?
Hi Davey. If you are using un-breaded chicken breasts and are just wanting the orange chicken flavor with no breading you should be ok. Probably 4-5 hours depending on how many breasts. If using frozen and breaded breasts, you would just need to cook those according to the package.
I haven’t tried this yet and it may be a stupid question, but if using chicken breasts or tenders, do they need to be breaded like the nuggets do? Thanks much!
Hi C. Not a stupid question. Yes, for best results you’ll want to use a breaded tender or breast.
Easy and very good. Plenty of sauce. Served over rice. Fed 2 adults with leftovers
Thank you Pat!
I love this recipe. I serve it with egg rolls. It’s so easy and good. !!!!
Thanks Dalene!