Baked Orange Chicken (Print Page)

Succulent chicken baked in a sweet, tangy orange sauce — a lighter take on a takeout classic.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.75 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
02 - Salt and pepper, to taste
03 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch

→ Orange Sauce

04 - 2/3 cup fresh orange juice
05 - 2 tablespoons orange zest
06 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce
07 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
08 - 3 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
09 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
11 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
12 - 1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional, for heat)

→ Garnishes

13 - 2 green onions, sliced
14 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
15 - Orange slices (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then toss with cornstarch until evenly coated.
03 - Arrange the coated chicken in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through.
04 - While the chicken bakes, combine the orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey or brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and chili flakes in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened.
05 - Transfer the baked chicken to a large bowl. Pour the orange sauce over the chicken and toss to coat thoroughly.
06 - Return the sauced chicken to the oven for an additional 5–7 minutes until caramelized.
07 - Garnish with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and orange slices if desired. Serve immediately with steamed rice or vegetables.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The baked method gives you that caramelized edge without the mess and guilt of deep frying.
  • That sauce is a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory that you will want to put on everything.
  • It comes together in about 45 minutes, which is faster than waiting for delivery.
02 -
  • Do not skip the second bake because that is when the sauce transforms from coating to glaze and the magic happens.
  • Leave space between chicken pieces on the pan or they will steam instead of bake and you will lose that chewy caramelized edge.
03 -
  • For the crispiest result, switch the oven to broil for the final 2 minutes and watch it like a hawk because it goes from perfect to burnt in seconds.
  • Roll the oranges firmly on the counter before juicing to get every last drop of liquid out of them.

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