Oven Baked Orange Chicken Recipe
A flavorful and easy-to-make Oven Baked Orange Chicken recipe that combines tender chicken breast bites with a tangy, sweet orange sauce. This dish offers a healthier twist on a takeout favorite by baking the chicken instead of frying, resulting in a delicious meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken breast
- 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
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Preheat oven. Set your oven to 350˚F (175˚C) to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Prepare chicken. Cut the chicken breast into even, bite-sized pieces about 1 inch in size. Toss the pieces with sesame oil to coat them evenly, then dredge in cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until well-coated.
- Initial bake. Place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in a large casserole dish. Bake uncovered for 10 minutes to start cooking the chicken.
- Make orange sauce. While the chicken bakes, combine soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, orange zest, minced ginger, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a saucepan. Whisk thoroughly to combine.
- Simmer sauce. Bring the sauce mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat once thickened.
- Coat chicken with sauce and finish baking. After the initial bake, remove the chicken from the oven and pour the thickened orange sauce over it. Toss gently to evenly coat all pieces. Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 4-6 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F (74˚C) and is fully cooked.
- Serve. Remove from oven and garnish with chopped green onions if desired. Serve warm, ideally with steamed rice or your favorite side.
Notes
- Ensure chicken pieces are cut evenly for uniform cooking.
- For a spicier kick, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Use fresh orange juice and zest for the best flavor.
- Check internal temperature of chicken with a thermometer to ensure safe doneness.
- For a crispier texture, broil the chicken for 1-2 minutes after the final bake, watching closely to avoid burning.
- This recipe pairs well with steamed rice or sautéed vegetables.
Keywords: orange chicken, baked orange chicken, healthy orange chicken, oven baked chicken, Chinese-American recipe, easy dinner, chicken breast recipe
Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/oven-baked-orange-chicken-recipe/
