Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (2024)

Whether you miss the food court at the mall, your college campus, or one of the other roughly 2,200 places you can find the fast-food American Chinese restaurant Panda Express, we have the solution.

Yes, it does require some work – and a deep fryer (or substitute) – but in these somewhat lonely days at home when you’ve earned comfort food just for getting through the day, let’s just say that the ingredients and tools might not be a bad investment.

In fact, this might just be so delicious that you save yourself some money by making it at home forever!

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (1)

Ready to make that sticky sweet, sauce-covered chicken?

If it helps, the recipe is straight from Chef Jimmy Wang of Panda Express himself, so you know it’s going to be good!

We have one important word of advice:

Read the whole recipe first to see what you’re getting into! There are 3 parts and you have to be ready for things to move quickly towards the end. (There is a video version at the end.)

INSTRUCTIONS

Your prep time is a mere 20 minutes and your cook time is just 15 minutes.

Total cooking time: 1 hr 5 min
(Ok, so it’s an investment, but plenty of good meals are! We promise 30 of those minutes are time you can use to zone out.)

This batch is for 8 servings. At least according to Chef Wang, but he’s not watching, so do what you need to do.

To make the fried chicken, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of white pepper
  • 1 cup of cornstarch
  • 3 cups of flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ cups of water
  • 2 tablespoons of oil
  • 6 cups of oil, for frying in your deep fryer (peanut or canola works best)

But that’s not all. This delicious meal is all about the ooey-gooey Orange Sauce. So here’s what you’ll need to make that (but don’t make it ahead of time!):

  • 1 tablespoon of oil
  • ¼ teaspoon of chili flakes
  • 1 tablespoon of garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon of ginger, minced
  • ¼ cup of sugar
  • ¼ cup of brown sugar
  • ¼ cup of orange juice
  • ¼ cup of white distilled vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of water
  • 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon of sesame oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Here’s how you’ll prep the ingredients:

1. Get out your cutting board and measuring cups.

In fact, this might be a time for a mise en place. That’s a trick culinary students use to give their full attention to cooking by laying out all the pre-measured ingredients. It will also help avoid any last-minute bad news that you’re missing something you need. And it looks pretty, so you’re bound to feel classier about making Orange Chicken at home.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (2)

2. Now, begin cutting your chicken into 1×1 inch cubes and place them in a large bowl. Trim off the fat you don’t want first, then set them aside.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (3)

3. Use a medium mixing bowl to combine your dry ingredients – the salt, white pepper, cornstarch, and flour. Then, use a whisk (or a fork) to combine them thoroughly.

4. Next, add your wet ingredients – the egg, water, and oil – to the same mixing bowl as the dry ingredients.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (4)

It should look like pancake batter when you’re done with it. See?

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (5)

5. Now grab your cut up chicken and toss it in the bowl of batter. Stir to coat is all.

This will be the “breading” on your deep-friend chicken.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (6)

6. Cover the bowl in plastic wrap and stick it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill.

This is an important step, so don’t skip it! It really helps with the deep-frying!

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (7)

7. While your chicken is chilling get your deep fryer ready. The temperature should be about 350˚F (or 180˚C).

Everyone has a different set-up for their deep fryers and some folks feel safe using a hot wok or deep pan. Follow the directions for what you choose carefully, paying special attention to the kind of oil you use.

The oil you use for deep-frying should have a high smoke point! You’re going to need something like peanut or canola oil for this. Some insist vegetable oil and other oils are fine, but do your research first (aka just Google it) and stay safe and smoke-free.

8. Once you heat up your oil (as per the instructions of your frying setup), you’ll take some tongs and gently drop in your chicken piece by piece. If you pour in a whole bunch, they’ll stick together.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (8)

Do this in batches so things cook evenly. For example, quickly put in 12-15 pieces at a time, let them cook, and then add the next batch.

When a batch finishes cooking for 5-6 minutes, it’ll be lightly golden brown (so watch it AND time it).

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (9)

You’re doing great! This part is stressful for novices, but once you do it you’ll realize it was pretty easy to master after 1 or 2 tries.

9. Now, get your mesh or slotted spoon and retrieve your cooked chicken. Then gently place it onto a cookie sheet covered in paper towels to soak up any excess oil.

Making sure the chicken isn’t oily on the outside will also help the sauce stick.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (10)

You should have a sheet pan/cookie sheet full of delicious chicken. And we wouldn’t blame you if you popped one in your mouth to taste test (as long as it was one from the first batch that had time to cool off).

Now you’re ready for the final round – the orange sauce! And it’s almost time to eat!

10. Get your ingredients for the orange sauce out and ready. Then put a heavy-bottomed non-stick pan on the stove and turn it on medium-high heat.

11. Add your oil and give it a moment to heat up. Once you can tilt the pan and the oil becomes runny, you’re ready for more ingredients.

12. Next, add your red pepper flakes, ginger, and garlic and cook them for 30 seconds, stirring them with a wooden spoon or spatula.

13. After that, you’ll add the white and brown sugars and stir those in as well.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (11)

Things will be getting a little bubbly, and that’s ok. Just don’t leave it alone at this point!

14. Next, you’ll add your orange juice, which will cool things off a bit. This will allow the sugars to dissolve, so stir this with your spoon or spatula to give it a chance to do that. Stir until you can’t see the sugar crystals anymore.

15. Things will get bubbly again and it’s all good! Just continue by adding your vinegar and soy sauce. Then, combine those into your sauce.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (12)

16. Now, grab a separate bowl and mix your cornstarch and water together with a whisk. It’s VERY important to stir it until you get the lumps out because if you add lumps to the hot pan, it’s going to be nearly impossible to get a smooth sauce.

17. Add the smooth cornstarch mixture from your bowl to the pan of hot ingredients and continue to stir.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (13)

18. Keep heating the sauce until you get a consistency that looks like maple syrup.

19. Finally, add all of your fried chicken to the pan in batches with your tongs. Stir gently until each piece is completely coated in the sauce.

If you stir too aggressively, you might tear some of the breading off the chicken.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (14)

20. Then simply top it all with sesame oil and you’re done!

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (15)

YOU DID IT!

It’s going to be delicious. Now all you have to do is slide it onto a plate and admire your creation, which should look a little something like this:

Bon appétit!

Watch the video recipe to get an idea of what all of this looks like in action!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Article Sources:

To learn more read our Editorial Standards.

Share this article

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (19)

By Jessica

[emailprotected]

Jessica is a contributor at SBLY Media.

Panda Express chef shares original orange chicken recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the original orange chicken panda? ›

The most famous dish at Panda Express is the Orange Chicken. Inspired by flavors of the Hunan Province in China, Chef Andy Kho developed it in 1987, and it has been a consistent part of the menu ever since. Distinguished with its orange-flavored chili sauce, it has spawned several 'copycat' recipes.

Who originally made orange chicken? ›

The ubiquitous restaurant offering, while deceptively simple, marries a host of Chinese regional flavors with American ingredients. It all started in Hawaii. In 1987, executive chef Andy Kao invented orange chicken on a business trip to open the state's first Panda Express restaurant.

Does Panda Express use peanut oil in orange chicken? ›

One of the ingredients left out of Panda's display menu is the oil used in its dishes. Panda Express primarily cooks their dishes in soybean oil.

What makes Panda Express orange chicken spicy? ›

All of the flavor in the Asian chicken dish comes from the Panda Express signature orange chicken sauce, which features orange peel, soy sauce, vinegar, and red chili peppers. This gives the dish a citrusy sweet and tangy flavor with just a hint of heat.

Why did panda stop Beyond orange chicken? ›

Why this petition matters. Panda Express have discontinued serving the Beyond Meat orange chicken, the only vegan/vegetarian entree option. They have said this was due to the entree being a limited time item, but the popularity should make them change their minds.

Does Panda Express use real chicken for orange chicken? ›

And when prepared correctly, a boneless, skinless chicken breast can be a thing of beauty. But dark meat has its benefits, too, and Panda Express realizes this. Perhaps that's why dark meat chicken is the star of their orange chicken.

What is the Beyond Original orange chicken? ›

By the fall of 2022, Panda Express fans had something new to clamor about at all of its 2,300 locations with the national launch of Beyond the Original Orange Orange Chicken (BTOOC), a plant-based take on its most popular dish made together with vegan company Beyond Meat.

What is the difference between orange chicken and Gen? ›

What is the difference between orange chicken and General Tso? Orange chicken is crispy fried with a fruity, sweet, and tangy sauce that's caramelized into a glaze. General Tso is stir-fried in a sweet, sour, and spicy umami sauce.

Who owns Panda Express? ›

Andrew and Peggy Cherng are cofounders of the $3.5 billion (sales) Chinese fast food chain, Panda Express, which has over 2,200 locations. The Cherngs also run famed ramen house, Ippudo, in Berkeley, CA and have investments in chains that sell everything from pizza, salad and cheesecake.

Is Panda Express orange chicken healthy? ›

Unfortunately, if it's a nutritious meal you're on the hunt for, this one isn't it. "Panda Express's Orange Chicken and Chow Mein are considered unhealthy due to their high levels of sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats," says Young.

Does Panda Express use real meat? ›

The real “meat” of the Panda Express menu is in the form of chicken. There are more chicken-based dishes than any other protein on the menu. Here, you will find everything from lean meats with vegetables to fried, battered choices loaded with sugary sauce.

Is orange chicken from Panda fried? ›

Orange chicken is a Chinese-American takeout dish made popular by the popular strip mall restaurant, Panda Express. It's deep-fried pieces of chicken, tossed in a sweet and tangy orange citrus sauce.

Is there corn syrup in Panda Express orange chicken? ›

Looks like I'll just have to do it for them. The results include uncooked, battered frozen dark meat chicken chunks with binders added, high fructose corn syrup, potassium chloride, sodium benzoate, disodium guanylate, guar gum, nonfat dry milk, dried whole eggs, and disodium inosinate.

Is Panda Express orange chicken like General Tso? ›

Andrew Cherng, owner and founder of Panda Express, said that orange chicken is just a variation of General Tso's chicken, another dish that is almost unknown in China. Journalist Jennifer 8. Lee says that both "General Tso's chicken and Orange Chicken are Americanized mutations of sweet and sour dishes found in China."

Is the original orange chicken spicy at Panda Express? ›

Our signature dish. Crispy chicken wok-tossed in a sweet and spicy orange sauce.

What is real orange chicken? ›

This Chinese Orange Chicken is made with boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces, dredged, and then fried until golden and crispy. The orange sauce is divine! It is a sweet orange sauce made with orange juice, vinegar, garlic, sugar, soy sauce, ginger, red chili flakes, and orange zest.

Where was the first Panda Express? ›

After a decade of success with Panda Inn restaurants, Andrew Cherng opens the first Panda Express at the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California. Peggy Cherng customizes the restaurant's operating systems to assure the very best food and service.

How did General Tso chicken get its name? ›

Peng named the chicken after the Hunanese Qing Dynasty General Tso Tsung-t'ang (now transliterated as Zuo Zongtang). The future general began his military career fighting for the Qing in the Taiping Rebellion, a 14-year civil war waged by the Han Chinese against the Qing emperor.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Tish Haag

Last Updated:

Views: 5464

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tish Haag

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 30256 Tara Expressway, Kutchburgh, VT 92892-0078

Phone: +4215847628708

Job: Internal Consulting Engineer

Hobby: Roller skating, Roller skating, Kayaking, Flying, Graffiti, Ghost hunting, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.