Imagine biting into a piece of chicken that’s been fried to crispy, golden-brown perfection. But instead of just being delicious on its own, that chicken is then tossed in a sauce so amazing, so full of bright and zesty flavors, that it’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.
That’s exactly what you get with this pf chang’s spicy orange chicken recipe. This traditional Chinese-American meal combines the mouthwatering crunch of fried chicken with a sauce that strikes the ideal balance of tart, sweet, and spicy flavors.
The sauce is where the real magic happens – a vibrant orange juice base gets jazzed up with zesty vinegar, savory soy sauce, and just the right kick of heat from red chili flakes. But then it’s taken over the top with aromatic ginger, garlic, and orange zest that makes it smell just as good as it tastes.
The best part? While this dish delivers bold, crave-worthy flavors, the recipe itself is surprisingly easy to follow. With just a few simple steps and basic ingredients, you’ll be recreating this famous restaurant-quality meal right in your very own kitchen.
So get ready to impress everyone from the fussiest eaters to the most seasoned food critics! This pf chang’s spicy orange chicken is about to become a new family favorite.
PF Chang's Spicy Orange Chicken Recipe
- 1 pound of skinless, boneless chicken breasts, divided into 1-inch portions
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Vegetable oil for frying (about 2-3 cups)
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons grated orange zest
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-2 teaspoons red chili flakes (adjust to your spice preference)
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 teaspoons of water combined
- Cooked white or brown rice
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Split the chicken into 1-inch chunks and save.
Set up three shallow bowls – one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs.
To achieve a good crunchy coating, lay out the chicken pieces and coat them with flour, egg, then panko breadcrumbs in that sequence.
In a large skillet or pot, heat 2-3 inches of vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
Carefully add the breaded chicken pieces in a single layer and fry for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Work in batches if needed.
Remove the fried chicken pieces to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
In a saucepan, combine the orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, orange zest, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and red chili flakes.
Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat and let it bubble for 2-3 minutes.
Make a slurry by mixing the cornstarch with water. Whisk this into the simmering sauce until thickened.
Add the fried chicken pieces to the orange sauce and gently toss to coat completely.
Serve the spicy orange chicken immediately over steamed rice. Add sliced green onions and sesame seeds as garnish if desired.
That’s it! This dish has the perfect combination of crispy fried chicken in a zesty, sweet and spicy orange sauce.
Tips for PF Chang’s Spicy Orange Chicken Recipe
For the crunchiest chicken:
- Let the chicken pieces sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before breading. This helps the coating stick better.
- When breading, use one hand for the dry ingredients and one for the wet to avoid getting gummy breading.
- Fry the chicken in batches so the oil stays hot and each piece gets crispy all over.
For the sauciest sauce:
- Use fresh orange juice, not from concentrate. The flavor is so much brighter!
- Don’t skip the orange zest – it adds amazing aroma.
- Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes so the flavors can blend together nicely.
- The cornstarch slurry at the end is key for getting that signature glossy, thick sauce texture.
Other tips:
- Have all your sauce ingredients prepped before frying the chicken so the sauce comes together quickly.
- Adjust the chili flakes up or down depending on how spicy you like it.
- For a restaurant-quality appearance, add sliced green onions and sesame seeds as garnish.
- Serve over steamed rice or fried rice to soak up all that yummy sauce.
Serving Tips
Rice:
- Have a big pot of fluffy, steamed white or brown rice all ready to go when the chicken is done frying and tossed in that delicious orange sauce. The rice acts like a little sponge to soak up every last drop of that yummy sauce, so you won’t want to miss out!
Veggie Sides:
- Stir-frying some simple veggies will give the orange chicken an extra pop of color, nutrition, and crunch. Things like fresh broccoli florets, sliced carrots, crisp snap peas, or water chestnuts would be so yummy mixed in with each saucy bite of chicken and rice.
Plating:
- When you’re ready to serve it up, use a pair of tongs or chopsticks to grab the crispy chicken pieces and arrange them nicely over that bed of hot rice you made. Then spoon all that bright orange, glossy sauce generously over the top so it coats everything. It’ll look just like it came from a fancy restaurant!
Garnishes:
- For an extra pop of fresh flavor, thinly slice up some green onions and sprinkle them over the top of the plated dish. You can also give it a little nutty crunch by sprinkling some sesame seeds over top too. So simple but adds such nice flavors!
Serving Style:
- One fun way to serve it is family-style, right out of the pan or on a big platter. Then everyone can use a big spoon to scoop out their desired portion of the saucy orange chicken and rice. This way, folks can go back for seconds (or thirds) whenever the craving hits!
Extras:
- You’ll definitely want to have some napkins on hand when eating this dish because that delicious sauce can get a little drippy and messy (but in the absolute best way possible!). Some forks on the table are also a good idea so people can scoop up any extra sauce from the bottom of their plates.
Leftovers:
- The best advice I can give you is to make extra of this orange chicken so you have leftovers for the following day! The flavors are just as amazing, if not better when you reheat the saucy chicken and rice for lunch. It’s the kind of dish that’s hard to get enough of.
Ingredients substitutes of PF Chang’s Spicy Orange Chicken Recipe
Chicken:
- Skinless, boneless chicken thighs can be used in place of chicken breasts if you don’t have any. Just cut them into 1-inch pieces like the breasts.
- In a pinch, you could even use frozen chicken nuggets or strips and skip the breading step.
Breading Ingredients:
- If you don’t have panko breadcrumbs, you can use regular dry breadcrumbs or even crushed up crackers or cereal to get that crunchy coating.
- For the flour, you can substitute cornstarch or even rice flour if you need it to be gluten-free.
Orange Juice/Zest:
- You can use normal orange juice from a bottle or carton if you don’t have any fresh oranges. Just add a touch of vinegar to give it some zing.
- For a different citrus note, you could use the zest of lemon or lime instead of orange.
Soy Sauce:
- In a pinch, you can even use a little beef or chicken broth with a splash of vinegar.
Spice Level:
- Reduce or leave out the chili flakes completely for a less spicy option.
- For more heat, you can add some dried chili peppers or cayenne pepper.
P.F. Chang’s Orange Chicken Nutrition
Nutrition
Conclusion
At the end of the day, this PF Chang’s Spicy Orange Chicken Recipe is all about getting that amazing sweet, tangy, and spicy flavor combo in every single bite. From the crispy fried chicken pieces that get tossed in that bright, glossy orange sauce – it’s simply irresistible!
With just some basic ingredients and a little bit of time, you’ll have recreated one of the most craveable Chinese-American classics out there.
Just imagine opening up those takeout containers, but instead of spending a bunch of money, you get to dig into a homemade version that’s fresh, piping hot, and customized to your exact tastes. Maybe you want it a little spicier or a bit more orangey – you’re in control!
Whether you’re serving it up over a bed of fluffy rice, loaded with stir-fried veggies, or just devouring the sweet and sticky chicken by itself, it’s downright delicious.
So don’t settle for the same boring weeknight dinners. Fire up this PF Chang’s copycat recipe and get ready to taste the sweet, spicy, crispy magic for yourself! It’s easier than you think to master this iconic dish right in your very own kitchen.
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