What is Panda Express orange chicken sauce made of?

The classic Panda Express orange chicken sauce combines a blend of sweet, tangy, and savory ingredients. The base includes orange juice , orange zest , soy sauce , rice vinegar , sugar , ginger , and garlic . Some versions add chili flakes or sriracha for a kick and cornstarch slurry for thickening. It’s this balance that gives the dish its signature sticky glaze.

How does Panda Express make their chicken so tender?

Panda Express uses boneless, skinless chicken thighs — which are naturally more tender than breast meat. In many professional kitchens, chicken is also velveted — a technique involving marinating in a mix of soy sauce, cornstarch, and egg white, which breaks down proteins and creates that juicy texture. For your copycat Panda Express orange chicken , a simple soy sauce and cornstarch marinade works wonders.

Why is Panda Express orange chicken so spicy?

While not extremely spicy, Panda Express orange chicken does carry a mild heat from crushed red chili flakes or sriracha in the sauce. Some batches may be spicier depending on location or seasonal variation. You can easily adjust this in your homemade version by reducing or omitting the heat sources altogether.

How unhealthy is Panda Express orange chicken?

The original is delicious — but not exactly a light dish. A single serving of Panda Express orange chicken contains around 500 calories , with high sugar and sodium levels . It’s also deep-fried. The good news? With this copycat Panda Express orange chicken recipe, you can bake or air fry the chicken and reduce sugar content in the sauce, making it significantly healthier.

Can you use Panda Express sauce as a marinade?

Yes, but with a caveat. The orange chicken sauce is best used as a glaze due to its high sugar content. If used as a marinade , it may burn during cooking — especially over high heat. For better results, use a simplified version of the sauce (minus sugar and cornstarch) to marinate, then finish with the thickened glaze after cooking.

Does Panda Express use sesame in their orange chicken?

Nope — there’s no sesame oil or seeds listed in the official Panda Express orange chicken recipe. However, many homemade versions add toasted sesame oil to enhance the flavor or sesame seeds as a garnish. If you have a sesame allergy, this copycat Panda Express orange chicken recipe is a safe and easily modifiable choice.

Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken – The Best 1-Step Recipe

Name: Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces; 1 egg; 1/2 cup cornstarch; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1/4 tsp salt; Vegetable oil, for frying; 1/2 cup fresh orange juice; 1 tbsp orange zest; 1/4 cup sugar (or honey); 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tsp grated ginger; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional); 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (for slurry)

Description

This copycat Panda Express orange chicken recipe delivers crispy, juicy chicken bites coated in a sticky, tangy orange glaze. Better than takeout and perfect for weeknight meals or family dinners!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken:

1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 egg
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp salt
Vegetable oil, for frying

For the Orange Sauce:

1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1 tbsp orange zest
1/4 cup sugar (or honey)
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp grated ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (for slurry)

Instructions

Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, combine chicken, soy sauce, and a pinch of salt. Let marinate for 20–30 minutes.
Make Batter: In a separate bowl, whisk egg, cornstarch, and flour to coat the chicken pieces.
Fry Chicken: Heat oil in a pan or wok to 350°F. Fry chicken in batches for 3–4 minutes, or until golden brown. For extra crunch, double-fry briefly at 375°F. Drain on a paper towel or wire rack.
Prepare Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, zest, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer.
Thicken Sauce: Stir in cornstarch slurry and simmer until the sauce thickens into a sticky glaze.
Combine: Add fried chicken to the sauce and toss until evenly coated.
Serve: Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds. Serve hot over steamed rice or veggies.

Notes

You can bake or air-fry the chicken for a lighter version.
Use tamari or coconut aminos to make it gluten-free.
Adjust sugar and chili flakes to balance sweetness and heat.
Sauce can be doubled and stored separately for quick use.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop, Deep Frying, Wok
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, American-Chinese

Keywords: copycat panda express orange chicken, orange chicken recipe, panda express recipe, homemade orange chicken, sticky chicken, crispy chicken bites, sweet and tangy chicken, Chinese takeout copycat