Better Orange Chicken

A delicious homemade version of Panda Express's famous orange chicken, featuring crispy chicken coated in a tangy and sweet orange sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Cooked rice, for serving

Instructions:

Toss the chicken pieces in cornstarch in a bowl until they are well covered

Put the vegetable oil in a big skillet and heat it over medium-high heat

Before adding the chicken, make sure it's golden brown and crispy

This should take about 4 to 5 minutes per side

Take it out of the pan and set it aside

Put garlic and ginger in the same pan

This will take about one minute of cooking

If you want, you can add red pepper flakes, orange zest, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and orange juice

Bring to a low boil

Add the cooked chicken back to the pan and mix it around in the sauce

Keep cooking for two to three minutes more, until everything is hot and the sauce has thickened

Serve hot over cooked rice with sliced green onions on top