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Oven Baked Orange Chicken Recipe

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4.3 from 90 reviews

  • Author: Ezabella
  • Total Time: 28 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Description

This Oven Baked Orange Chicken recipe offers a healthier take on the classic Chinese-American favorite. Tender bites of chicken breast are coated with a light cornstarch crust and baked to perfection before being tossed in a flavorful, tangy orange sauce made with fresh orange juice, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. Easy to prepare and perfect for a weeknight dinner, this dish brings sweet, savory, and zesty flavors together without deep frying.

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 2 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
  • 3 tablespoons corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Orange Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • ¾ cup orange juice
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350˚F (175˚C) to prepare for baking the chicken.
  2. Prepare Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into even, 1-inch bite-sized pieces. Toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil to coat them evenly. Then, in a separate bowl, mix the chicken bites with 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper until the pieces are well coated with the seasoning and starch.
  3. Bake Chicken: Transfer the coated chicken pieces into a large casserole dish, spreading them out in a single layer to ensure even cooking. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.
  4. Make Orange Sauce: While the chicken is baking, prepare the orange sauce. In a saucepan, whisk together the soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, orange zest, minced ginger, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and 2 tablespoons cornstarch to combine all ingredients smoothly.
  5. Simmer Sauce: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Once thickened, remove from heat.
  6. Combine Chicken and Sauce: After the chicken has baked for 10 minutes, remove it from the oven and pour the prepared orange sauce over the chicken. Toss gently to coat all the pieces well in the sauce.
  7. Final Bake: Return the casserole dish to the oven and bake for an additional 4-6 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F (75˚C) and is fully cooked through.
  8. Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with chopped green onions if desired. Serve the orange chicken warm with steamed rice or your favorite side dish.

Notes

  • You can substitute chicken thighs for a juicier result if preferred.
  • Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the spiciness.
  • To make this dish gluten-free, use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce alternative.
  • Ensure the chicken pieces are coated evenly with cornstarch for a crispy texture after baking.
  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 18 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Chinese-American

Find it online: https://kitchenloving.com/oven-baked-orange-chicken-recipe/