Posted by Tastefully Simple on April 21, 2022
Honestly, it’s hard to beat Chinese take-out.
Sweet and sour chicken. Hunan beef. Shrimp lo mein. General Tso’s chicken. From the entrees to the egg rolls,
there are so many deliciously crunchy-crispy items on the menu. But what if you don’t feel like leaving the house or tipping for delivery? It’s easy to put your own twist on take-out, right at home!
Stay in your slippers, friends. Today we’re making … Baked Orange Chicken!
With tender chunks of chicken, sweet red bell peppers and sticky orange sauce, this home-cooked dish is filled with bright, fresh flavor. Serve over rice or noodles, and you’ll have a perfect dinner that always delivers!
How to Make Baked Orange Chicken
Here’s how to make it, complete with step-by-step photos. You can also see the full recipe here >
Step 1: Dredge & Dip Chicken
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Cut 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1½-inch cubes.
In a small bowl, place 1 cup cornstarch. In a separate medium bowl, combine 4 beaten eggs, ½ teaspoon Garlic Pepper Seasoning and ½ teaspoon salt.
Step 2: Fry Golden Brown
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, preheat 1 cup vegetable oil. Working in 3-4 batches, coat chicken pieces in cornstarch, then dip in egg mixture before frying (about 1-2 minutes per side). Drain on paper towels.
Alternate Air Fryer Prep: Don’t want to use traditional frying? Check out the tips at the end of this blog post if you’d like to use your air fryer instead!
Step 3: Finish in the Oven
Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil; spray lightly with no-stick cooking spray. Add chicken pieces and 1 red sweet bell pepper, sliced into large chunks. Toss with ¾ cup Orange Pepper Sauce to coat.
Bake 15 minutes, stirring halfway through. Drizzle with additional Orange Pepper Sauce, and serve over hot white, brown or jasmine rice. (I made instant coconut jasmine rice with ours – it was perfect!)
Alternate Air Fryer Prep: Coat chicken as directed with cornstarch, followed by egg mixture. Set air fryer to 400°F (do not preheat). Working in batches, spray chicken and fryer basket generously with olive oil cooking spray. Air fry 10-12 minutes, turning halfway through and spraying with additional cooking spray. Repeat with remaining batches. Toss chicken with 1 cup Orange Pepper Sauce to coat; serve over prepared rice.
Whichever method you choose, your chicken will be perfectly tender inside and crispy-crunchy on the outside – complete with a sticky-sweet sauce and just a hint of heat.
Oh, and you’ll still be in your slippers. Take that, take-out!
– Jen