Orange chicken sauce is a beloved condiment that adds a burst of sweet, tangy flavor to the classic American-Chinese dish. But what exactly goes into this popular sauce that makes it so addictively delicious? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients that make up orange chicken sauce.
A Brief History of Orange Chicken Sauce
Orange chicken as we know it today was invented in the United States, not China The dish was created by Chinese immigrant Chef Andy Kao in Hawaii in the late 1960s Kao went on to open a restaurant in California in 1987, where his orange chicken became immensely popular.
The dish was further popularized in the 1990s when fast food chain Panda Express began serving their version of orange chicken using Chef Kao’s recipe. Since then, orange chicken doused in the sweet and tangy orange sauce has become a staple menu item at Chinese restaurants across America.
Common Ingredients in Orange Chicken Sauce
While recipes can vary slightly, most orange chicken sauces contain a similar base of ingredients that create the signature flavor.
Orange Juice
Freshly squeezed orange juice provides the vibrant color and citrusy flavor. Bottled orange juice can also be used with similar results.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce adds an umami, savory flavor as well as saltiness. Regular soy sauce or low-sodium soy sauce both work well.
Rice Vinegar or White Vinegar
Rice vinegar contributes a mild tanginess and sweetness. White vinegar adds straightforward acidity to brighten up the sauce.
Brown Sugar
Brown sugar gives orange chicken sauce its characteristic sweetness and subtle molasses notes. White sugar can also be used.
Garlic and Ginger
Minced garlic and grated ginger provide aroma and spice. Garlic and ginger powders make suitable substitutions.
Cornstarch
A slurry of cornstarch mixed with water thickens and binds the sauce so it coats the chicken. Arrowroot powder makes a good gluten-free alternative.
Vegetable Oil
A small amount of vegetable, canola, or peanut oil is used to cook the aromatics and bloom the sauce. Sesame oil is also sometimes used.
Optional Ingredients
Common extras include sesame oil, red chili flakes, orange zest, green onions, and chicken broth.
How Orange Chicken Sauce Is Made
Making homemade orange chicken sauce is simple. Here is a basic overview of the key steps:
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Sauté aromatics: Mince the garlic and ginger and sauté in oil over medium heat until fragrant.
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Simmer sauce ingredients: Add the orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and any other wet ingredients. Let simmer for a few minutes.
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Make slurry: In a separate bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water.
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Thicken sauce: Add slurry to simmering sauce while whisking. Cook until sauce thickens to a syrupy consistency.
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Toss with chicken: Cool sauce slightly and toss with crispy fried chicken pieces until coated.
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Garnish and serve: Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy immediately!
How to Use Orange Chicken Sauce
Beyond tossed with crispy fried chicken, orange chicken sauce has many versatile applications:
- As a dipping sauce for potstickers, egg rolls, or spring rolls
- Tossed with sautéed or baked shrimp, beef, or pork
- As a flavorful stir-fry sauce for meats and vegetables
- Drizzled over rice or cauliflower rice
- As a glaze or marinade for chicken wings or chicken thighs
- Added to a veggie noodle or zoodle stir fry dish
- Thinned with broth for a quick and easy noodle soup
- Swirled into Greek yogurt as a tangy dip or salad dressing
The possibilities are endless with this sweet and zesty sauce! Adjust the ratio of wet to thickening ingredients to make the sauce thinner or thicker as desired.
Tips for the Best Homemade Orange Sauce
Follow these tips for restaurant-quality orange chicken sauce at home:
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice for the brightest flavor
- Add orange zest for extra citrus oomph
- Use chicken or vegetable broth instead of water for deeper flavor
- Simmer sauce uncovered to reduce and concentrate flavors
- Add honey or agave to make the sauce a little sweeter
- Use arrowroot instead of cornstarch for glossy sheen
- Toss the sauce with the chicken right before serving to avoid sogginess
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions
Satisfy Your Cravings with Homemade Orange Sauce
When a craving for orange chicken hits, skip the takeout and make a batch of homemade sauce instead. With a few pantry staples, you can whip up a quick and tasty sauce to bring this American-Chinese classic to life. Experiment with ingredients to craft your ideal balance of sweet, sour, and salty flavors. Orange you glad to know the secret behind this irresistible sauce?
How to Make Orange Chicken Sauce
I love how easy this recipe is! Just throw all of the ingredients into the pan, simmer, and let it cool! Here’s how to make it in four easy steps:
1. Combine: In a medium saucepan, add the orange juice, water, coconut aminos, coconut sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Stir until combined. Bring the sauce to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and let it cook for 2 minutes.
2. Thicken: In a separate bowl, whisk the arrowroot and water together. Add the arrowroot mixture to the sauce and stir well. Simmer the sauce until it starts to thicken, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Toss: Remove the pan from the heat and let the sauce cool. Toss immediately with cooked chicken, beef, or roasted vegetables, or store it in a sealable glass container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- While I love using fresh oranges for the juice, you can purchase freshly squeezed bottled orange juice from the grocery store and get the same result.
- This recipe can be cooked up in a small 1.5 quart saucepan.
- Want to make this recipe more spicy? Start with the ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and add a pinch more at a time to taste.
- This recipe is easy to double! When doubling the recipe, you’ll get 1 ½ cups of sauce. You can split the recipe in half and store the extra in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- When using this sauce, you can use sesame seeds or diced green onion as a garnish.
No. Orange sauce is a little sweet and tangy with a hint of savory. It’s my favorite stir fry sauce because the flavors work with so many different foods. If you want to make it more spicy, start with the ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and add a pinch more at a time to taste.
If your sauce looks a little brown in the pan, that’s perfectly OK! Coconut sugar tends to darken the sauce slightly. It will still look orange on the chicken once thinned out slightly.
Orange sauce contains the perfect ratios of sweet, sour, and savory, but most people love it because it’s sweetened and has a fresh, orange flavor. It also pairs perfectly with many different foods, including meats, starches, and veggies!
You must add a thickener to the orange sauce, like arrowroot or orange sauce. Make sure to mix the thickener separately in water so it dissolves properly, then add it to your sauce. Once you add the thickener, let it simmer for at least 5 minutes to thicken.
What‘s in Orange Chicken Sauce?
Traditionally, orange sauce is made with fresh orange juice, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and orange zest. It also includes a thickener like cornstarch or arrowroot. It’s a sauce that is associated with orange chicken, which is and Chinese-American dish created by Panda Express. The dish was actually created in the US, and is rarely found in Chinese restaurants in China.
In this recipe, I’ve made a few simple swaps to make it fresh, easy, and healthy. It’s made with fresh orange juice, unseasoned rice vinegar, coconut aminos (or soy sauce), garlic powder, dried ginger, and sweetened with coconut sugar. You can thicken it with arrowroot or cornstarch—whatever’s in your pantry!
- Fresh orange juice – For the best flavor, use orange juice that you’ve squeezed yourself or purchase freshly squeezed juice from the store
- Coconut sugar – This is a natural sugar available at most grocery stores. It’s dark brown and has a nice maple color. Coconut sugar is sourced from the coconut palm tree.
- Unseasoned rice vinegar – Make sure to grab unseasoned rice vinegar, which doesn’t have any adding flavorings or sweeteners.
- Red pepper flakes – this is optional for kick! When I’m making this for my kids, I leave it out.
- Arrowroot flour – This is a white powdery starch extracted from the root of a tropical plant. You can find this in the baking section in most grocery stores. Arrowroot is corn free and acts similar to cornstarch as a thickener.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
If you find yourself short, you can make a few easy swaps to make the recipe fit your needs:
- Coconut aminos: Totally fine to also use soy sauce! Low sodium works best, but either will work.
- Coconut sugar: Use brown sugar, cane sugar, or any other granulated sugar.
- Arrowroot flour: As a thickener, this can be swapped easily for corn starch.
Panda Express Orange Chicken Made Easy!
FAQ
What is orange sauce made of?
Orange sauce, often associated with dishes like orange chicken, typically includes a combination of orange juice, orange zest, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a thickening agent like cornstarch.
What are the ingredients in orange chicken sauce?
Orange chicken sauce typically includes orange juice and zest, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar (often brown sugar), ginger, and garlic.
Is sweet and sour sauce the same as orange chicken?
While the two dishes share some similar ingredients and flavors, orange chicken often tastes much sweeter since it does not have the acidic component that sweet and sour chicken does. Another key difference is orange chicken uses orange juice, while sweet and sour chicken often leans on pineapple juice.
What is 4 ingredient orange chicken sauce?
How to Make 4-Ingredient Orange Chicken. The recipe starts with cooking up one pound of your favorite chicken nuggets. While the nuggets bake, you warm up a sauce made with orange marmalade, barbecue sauce, and soy sauce. Once the nuggets are fully cooked, you transfer them to a large bowl then drizzle with the sauce.