I have always been a fan of Chinese takeaway and learning to cook Instant Pot Orange Chicken in the pressure cooker was both exciting and fun. Enjoy this Homemade Orange Chicken recipe. It's easy, simple and tastes delicious.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Flavorful Feast: The tangy, sweet, and spicy orange sauce makes every bite delightful.
- Effortless Cooking: The Instant Pot ensures a fuss-free preparation and quick cleanup.
- Restaurant Quality: Enjoy a homemade version of your favorite Chinese takeout dish.
📋 Ingredients
For the Chicken and Batter
- Chicken Breast: The protein base of the dish, it's lean and absorbs flavors well.
- Vegetable Oil: Helps create a crispy, golden exterior on the chicken.
- Cornstarch & All Purpose Flour: Form the batter that gives the chicken its crispy coating.
- Eggs: Help the batter adhere to the chicken and add richness to the dish.
Orange Chicken Sauce Ingredients
- Orange Juice: Provides a fresh, tangy sweetness that is the hallmark of orange chicken.
- Fresh Ginger & Minced Garlic: Add aromatic, spicy notes that balance the sweetness of the sauce.
- Rice Wine Vinegar: Adds acidity, balancing out the sweetness and enhancing the overall flavor profile.
- Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: Create a sticky, caramel-like sauce that coats the chicken.
- Soy Sauce: Adds a savory, umami depth to the sauce.
- Sriracha Sauce & Red Pepper Flakes: Add heat to the dish, which can be adjusted to taste.
Cornstarch Slurry Ingredients
- Cornstarch & Orange Juice: This mixture thickens the sauce so it clings to the chicken, intensifying the flavor in every bite.
Garnish
- Green Onions: Add a fresh, sharp contrast to the rich, sweet and spicy sauce.
- Fresh Orange Zest: Enhances the orange flavor and adds a bright, citrusy note to finish the dish.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Protein Alternatives: Swap chicken with shrimp, tofu, or even pork for a different take on this citrusy dish.
- Citrus Variations: Use a mix of fresh orange juice and zest for a more natural flavor, or experiment with mandarin oranges, blood oranges, or even a splash of pineapple juice for a tropical twist.
- Sweetener Adjustments: Replace sugar with honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar to modify the sweetness while keeping the sauce rich and flavorful.
- Spicy Kick: Add a bit of heat by stirring in red pepper flakes, Sriracha, or a touch of chili paste to balance the sweetness with a spicy contrast.
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Orange Chicken?
Here are the step-by-step instructions for pressure cooker orange chicken:
Cut your chicken breast or chicken thighs into small 1-2 inch chunks.
Add 2 eggs to a small bowl and whisk. In a separate bowl add your corn starch and all-purpose flour and mix to combine.
Dip the chicken chunks into the whisked eggs and then into the flour mixture.
Shake off any excess flour and set to the side. Repeat until all your chicken pieces are coated.
Turn your pressure cooker onto Saute Mode. Add the oil to the inner pot. Once the oil has heated, add the chicken and saute for 2-3 minutes.
Turn your tender chicken over and over for an even cook. Cook until it just starts to get golden brown.
Remove the coated chicken and set it to the side. Deglaze the pot with ¼ cup orange juice and scrape any brown bits with a wooden spoon.
Add all the sauce ingredients to the Instant Pot. This includes orange juice, fresh ginger, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, sriracha and red pepper flakes.
Stir gently until all the ingredients are combined. Add the chicken to the Instant Pot and toss until the chicken pieces are coated in the sticky Orange sauce.
Close the Instant Pot Lid, seal the vent and select the manual button. Pressure cook your orange chicken recipe for 5 minutes on High pressure followed by 10 minutes of natural release.
Release the remaining pressure from your Instant Pot by opening the vent. Open the lid and select the Sauté function again.
In a medium bowl combine 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with the 2 Tablespoons of orange juice. Whisk until all is combined with no lumps.
Add the mixture to the Instant Pot and gently stir to combine.
Simmer the orange chicken recipe for 2-3 minutes. Then turn the Instant Pot off. Allow the chicken to thicken for 5 minutes.
Serve this Orange chicken Instant Pot recipe over rice and garnish with fresh chopped green onion, red chilis, and extra orange zest. I also like to add a spoonful of toasted sesame seeds.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Sauté for Depth: Lightly brown bite-sized chicken pieces using the Instant Pot’s sauté mode to develop flavor before pressure cooking.
- Balance the Sauce: Combine fresh orange juice, zest, soy sauce, honey, and garlic for a sweet-savory sauce that thickens beautifully after cooking.
- Quick Pressure Cook & Glaze: Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes with a quick release, then use sauté mode to thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry for a glossy, flavorful finish.
💭 FAQs
Orange Chicken is a popular Chinese dish made from bite-sized pieces of chicken that are usually pan-fried until crispy, and then coated in a sweet and tangy sauce.
This version of orange chicken is made using the Instant Pot and tastes just as good as Panda Express Orange Chicken.
No. You’ll need to use fresh skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, as frozen chicken breasts won’t coat properly for cooking.
When making Instant Pot Orange Chicken, you’ll want to use a high-quality fresh orange juice variety that is free from additives and preservatives.
Some great options include Ocean Spray, Naked Juices, or Simply Orange. You can also make orange juice by squeezing two cups of orange juice from fresh oranges.
If you need to thicken the orange sauce, place the cooked meal on Saute mode for 2-3 minutes. Whisk together cornstarch and ¼ cup water in a small bowl.
Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of corn starch slurry to the sauce. Mix into the sauce and thicken for 1 minute, then leave to thicken naturally. If the sauce thickens too much, add another ¼ cup of water and mix well.
To store orange chicken, let it cool to room temperature. Then, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. If you want to store it for a longer period, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Orange Chicken:
Orange chicken is delicious on its own, but to truly round out your meal, you can pair it with a variety of side dishes.
- Some great options include steamed or stir-fried vegetables, Green Beans or Steamed Broccoli.
- You can also include other familiar Asian-inspired dishes like pot stickers or Instant Pot Chow Mein.
- Orange chicken pairs well with Instant Pot Rice, Brown Rice or Cauliflower Fried Rice.
- If you're looking for something a bit heartier, try pairing orange chicken with small portions of your favorite protein such as Grilled Shrimp or Chinese Pork.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Orange Chicken
Ingredients
Battered Chicken
- 2 lbs Chicken Breast
- 2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
- ½ cup Cornstarch thickener
- 1 ½ cups Flour
- 1 Egg
Orange Sauce
- 1 cup Orange Juice
- 1 tbsp. Ginger
- 1 tbsp. Minced Garlic
- 1 tbsp. Rice Wine
- 1 cup Sugar
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- ½ cup Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp. Sriracha
- 1 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper
- 2 tablespoon Cornstarch Slurry
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon Green Onion
- 1 tablespoon Orange zest
Instructions
- Cut your chicken breast or chicken thighs into small 1-2 inch chunks.
- Add 2 eggs to a small bowl and whisk.
- In a separate bowl add your corn starch and all-purpose flour and mix to combine.
- Dip the chicken chunks into the whisked eggs and then into the flour mixture.
- Shake off any excess flour and set to the side. Repeat until all your chicken pieces are coated.
- Turn your pressure cooker onto Saute Mode. Add the oil to the inner pot. Once the oil has heated, add the chicken and saute for 2-3 minutes.
- Turn your tender chicken over and over for an even cook. Cook until it just starts to get golden brown.
- Remove the coated chicken and set it to the side. Deglaze the pot with ¼ cup orange juice and scrape any brown bits with a wooden spoon.
- Add all the sauce ingredients to the Instant Pot. This includes orange juice, fresh ginger, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, sriracha and red pepper flakes.
- Stir gently until all the ingredients are combined.
- Add the chicken To the Instant Pot and toss until the chicken pieces are coated in the sticky Orange sauce.
- Close the Instant Pot Lid, seal the vent and select the manual button.
- Pressure cook your orange chicken recipe for 5 minutes on HIgh pressure followed by 10 minutes of natural release.
- Release the remaining pressure from your Instant Pot by opening the vent. Open the lid and select the Sauté function again.
- In a medium bowl combine 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with the 2 Tablespoons of orange juice. Whisk until all combined with no lumps.
- Add the mixture to the Instant Pot and gently stir to combine.
- Simmer the orange chicken recipe for 2-3 minutes. Then turn the Instant Pot off. Allow the chicken to thicken for 5 minutes.
- Serve this Orange chicken Instant Pot recipe over rice and garnish with fresh chopped green onion, red chilis, and extra orange zest.
Notes
- Place the cooked meal on Saute mode for 2-3 minutes.
- Whisk together cornstarch and ¼ cup water in a small bowl.
- Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of corn starch slurry to the sauce.
- Mix into the sauce and thicken for 1 minute and leave to thicken naturally.
- If the sauce thickens too much, add another ¼ cup of water and mix well.
Can I use fresh squeezed orange juice?
yes sure.
Did you cook broccoli with the chicken or separately!
Hi Heather. I cooked the broccoli separate. 🙂