Description

This Oven Baked Orange Chicken recipe offers a flavorful and healthier alternative to the traditional fried version. Tender chicken breast pieces are coated in cornstarch and seasonings, baked to perfection, and then tossed in a tangy and sweet homemade orange sauce. It’s an easy-to-make dish that delivers vibrant citrus flavors and pairs wonderfully with rice for a complete meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

2 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
3 tablespoons cornstarch
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 orange, zest only
1 tablespoon minced ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350˚F (175˚C) to prepare for baking the chicken evenly.
Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into even, bite-sized pieces about 1 inch each. Toss the chicken pieces with sesame oil to coat them lightly. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, then toss the chicken in this mixture until all pieces are evenly coated.
Bake the Chicken: Place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer inside a large casserole dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, allowing the coating to set and the chicken to start cooking.
Make the Orange Sauce: While the chicken is baking, whisk together soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, orange zest, minced ginger, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring frequently until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat once thickened.
Combine Chicken and Sauce: After 10 minutes of baking, remove the casserole dish from the oven. Pour the thickened orange sauce over the chicken pieces and toss gently to coat all the chicken evenly with the sauce.
Finish Baking: Return the casserole dish to the oven and bake for an additional 4 to 6 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F (74˚C) and is fully cooked through.
Serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped green onions if desired. Serve warm, ideally alongside steamed rice, for a delicious meal.

Notes

Ensure chicken pieces are cut evenly to guarantee uniform cooking.
Adjust brown sugar amount to taste if you prefer sweeter or less sweet sauce.
Use fresh orange juice for the best citrus flavor; bottled orange juice can work but may alter taste slightly.
Crushed red pepper flakes are optional and can be omitted for a milder sauce.
This recipe pairs well with white rice, brown rice, or steamed vegetables.
Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 16 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American-Chinese

Keywords: oven baked orange chicken, orange chicken recipe, healthy orange chicken, baked chicken, citrus chicken, easy dinner recipes, chicken with orange sauce