Panda Express-Style Ground Orange Chicken

This ground orange chicken is the better, homemade version of the renowned Panda Express dish.

Ground orange chicken has become a famous dish at Panda Express because of its perfectly balanced flavors.

It’s fragrant with garlic and ginger, sweet from the orange and honey, and salty from the dark soy sauce.

This main is very quick and easy to make so you’ll nail it even if you are an inexperienced cook.

From beginning to end, this dish takes just 25 minutes to make so it’s quicker than ordering Panda Express and waiting for it to be delivered! It’s a win-win situation.

Why you will love this Ground Orange Chicken recipe…

Panda Express-Style Ground Orange Chicken

This sticky ground orange chicken is the perfect copycat of the Panda Express classic. It's tasty, quick, and better than takeout.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Servings 4

Calories 289 kcal

Ingredients

  

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For the Chicken:

• ▢ 1 lb ground chicken
• ▢ 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• ▢ 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
• ▢ ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)

For the Orange Sauce:

• ▢ ½ cup fresh orange juice
• ▢ 1 tbsp orange zest
• ▢ 2 tbsp honey
• ▢ 2 tbsp dark soy sauce (or substitute with 1 tbsp regular soy sauce + 1 tbsp mushroom soy sauce)
• ▢ 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• ▢ 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
• ▢ 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (for thickening)

For Garnish:

• ▢ 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• ▢ 2 green onions, sliced
• ▢ ¼ cup roasted peanuts or cashews (optional)

Instructions

 

Ingredients

• 
• Heat vegetable oil and sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground chicken and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until golden brown and slightly crispy (about 5–7 minutes).
  
• Add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
  
• In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, orange zest, honey, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, and Shaoxing wine.
  
• Pour the sauce into the skillet, stirring to coat the chicken. Bring to a gentle simmer. Mix the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch + water) and stir it into the sauce. Let it cook for 2–3 minutes until thick and glossy.
  
• 
• Remove from heat and stir in toasted sesame seeds. Garnish with green onions and roasted peanuts for extra crunch. Serve over steamed jasmine rice or crispy noodles.
  

Nutrition

Calories 289kcal (14%)Carbohydrates 15g (5%)Protein 22g (44%)Fat 16g (25%)Saturated Fat 4g (25%)Polyunsaturated Fat 5gMonounsaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0.1gCholesterol 98mg (33%)Sodium 576mg (25%)Potassium 737mg (21%)Fiber 1g (4%)Sugar 12g (13%)Vitamin A 166IU (3%)Vitamin C 20mg (24%)Calcium 64mg (6%)Iron 2mg (11%)

Keyword Orange Chicken

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Serving Suggestions

This Panda Express copycat Ground Orange Chicken pairs wonderfully with fluffy white rice or egg noodles. For a low-carb option, serve it with cauliflower rice.

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