Easy Orange Chicken Recipe with Homemade Orange Sauce

Make Orange Chicken the Easy Way with Frozen Chicken

If you love orange chicken but do not always have time to bread and fry chicken from scratch, this easy orange chicken with frozen chicken is such a helpful dinner shortcut. You still get that sweet, tangy, slightly spicy homemade orange sauce, but the chicken part is already done for you.

This recipe is especially nice on busy weeknights because you can use several different kinds of frozen chicken, depending on what you already have in the freezer. Frozen breaded chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken, boneless wings, crispy chicken bites, or breaded chicken patties cut into pieces can all work well. The key is to choose a frozen chicken that bakes or air fries crispy, then toss it with the warm homemade orange sauce right before serving.

The result is a fast, family-friendly dinner that feels a little like takeout, but you can make it at home with simple ingredients. Serve it over rice with green onions and a quick vegetable side, and dinner is done.

Why This Frozen Chicken Orange Chicken Recipe Works

This recipe works because it focuses your effort where it matters most: the sauce. Frozen chicken gives you a crispy, easy base, while the homemade orange sauce brings the fresh flavor.

The sauce is bright from orange juice and orange zest, savory from soy sauce and garlic, and just sweet enough to coat the chicken beautifully. It tastes more homemade than bottled sauce, but it is still quick enough for a busy night.

This is also a great recipe for using what you have. If you grabbed frozen breaded chicken on sale, bought chicken nuggets for the kids, or have a bag of crispy chicken bites sitting in the freezer, this is a delicious way to turn it into a real meal.

Best Frozen Chicken to Use for Orange Chicken

Frozen breaded chicken is the easiest option because it already has the crispy coating you want for orange chicken. I usually like using frozen breaded chicken breast tenderloins, especially when they go on sale at Costco, but you have several good options.

• Frozen breaded chicken tenders: Great for larger pieces. Cook them until crispy, then slice before tossing with sauce.
• Frozen chicken nuggets: A kid-friendly option and easy to coat evenly with orange sauce.
• Frozen popcorn chicken: Probably the closest shortcut to restaurant-style orange chicken pieces.
• Frozen crispy chicken bites: Perfect if you want smaller pieces that cook fast.
• Frozen boneless wings: Use plain or lightly seasoned boneless wings for a heartier version.
• Frozen breaded chicken patties: Cook until crisp, cut into bite-size pieces, and toss with sauce.

For the best texture, cook the frozen chicken according to the package directions until it is hot and crispy. You can bake it on a wire grid cooling rack placed over a baking sheet, or use the air fryer if your chicken package includes air fryer instructions.

Tip: Do not toss the chicken with the sauce until right before serving. That keeps the breading from getting soggy too quickly.

Homemade Orange Chicken Sauce

The homemade orange chicken sauce is what makes this recipe taste fresh instead of like a freezer meal. It is full of orange flavor with a little sweetness, a little garlic, and a little ginger.

I usually use 2 fresh oranges for this recipe. One orange usually gives you enough orange zest, but you may need a second orange for enough juice. You can also use bottled fresh-squeezed orange juice if that is what you have.

Fresh ginger or ginger paste both work well. Ginger paste is especially convenient because there is no peeling or grating, and it keeps this recipe fast.

How to Make Orange Chicken with Frozen Chicken

This is one of those recipes where the steps are simple, but timing makes a difference. Start the frozen chicken first so it can get hot and crispy while you make the sauce.

1. Cook the frozen chicken. Bake or air fry the frozen chicken according to the package directions until fully heated and crispy. For food safety, chicken should reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F according to FoodSafety.gov.
2. Make the orange sauce. While the chicken cooks, combine the sauce ingredients in a saucepan and simmer until thickened and glossy.
3. Cut the chicken if needed. If using tenders, patties, or larger pieces, cut them into bite-size pieces after cooking.
4. Toss right before serving. Add the crispy chicken to the warm sauce and gently toss until coated.
5. Serve immediately. Spoon the orange chicken over rice and top with green onions, sesame seeds, or extra orange zest if desired.

If you prefer a little more heat, leave out the cayenne and use about 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes instead. You can also add more orange zest for a brighter citrus flavor.

What to Serve with Orange Chicken

This orange chicken is delicious over white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, or cauliflower rice. For a quick dinner, add steamed broccoli, green beans, snap peas, or a simple salad.

You can also turn it into an easy rice bowl with cooked rice, orange chicken, green onions, sesame seeds, and a side of vegetables. It is a simple way to stretch one bag of frozen chicken into a full meal.

Orange Chicken with Frozen Chicken FAQ

Can I use frozen chicken nuggets for orange chicken?

Yes. Frozen chicken nuggets work well for shortcut orange chicken. Cook them until crispy, then toss them with the homemade orange sauce right before serving.

Can I use popcorn chicken for orange chicken?

Yes. Frozen popcorn chicken is one of the best shortcuts because the pieces are already bite-size and easy to coat with sauce.

Can I make this orange chicken in the air fryer?

Yes, if your frozen chicken has air fryer directions, you can cook it in the air fryer until crispy. Then make the sauce separately on the stove and toss the cooked chicken with the sauce.

How do I keep orange chicken crispy?

Cook the frozen chicken until crisp and wait to toss it with the orange sauce until right before serving. If the chicken sits in the sauce too long, the coating will soften.

Can I use grilled frozen chicken instead of breaded chicken?

You can, but the texture will be different. This recipe is best with breaded frozen chicken because the crispy coating helps hold the sauce. Grilled chicken will still taste good, but it will not have the same takeout-style texture.

More Easy Recipes

If you love easy chicken dinners, try these next:

• Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat Recipe
• Easy Chicken Parmesan and Penne
• Low Carb Sausage Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Blackened Chicken with Avocado Cream Sauce
• Creamy Baked Chicken Taquitos

Final Thoughts

This easy orange chicken with frozen chicken is one of those shortcut dinners that still feels homemade. The frozen chicken keeps it fast, while the homemade orange sauce gives it that fresh, sweet, tangy flavor everyone loves.

Use frozen breaded chicken tenders, nuggets, popcorn chicken, crispy chicken bites, boneless wings, or whatever breaded chicken you already have in the freezer. Then add rice and a simple vegetable side, and you have a quick dinner that feels a lot more exciting than plain frozen chicken.

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Easy Orange Chicken Recipe

This orange chicken recipe is super easy and delicious! Quick homemade sauce and frozen breaded chicken make it an easy weeknight meal, but delicious enough for guests too.

4.91 / 5 ( 10 Reviews )

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Serves: 4

Adjust Servings: 4

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds frozen breaded chicken breast tenders
• ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
• ¾ cup fresh orange juice
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ⅓ cup white vinegar
• ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger or ginger paste
• 5 teaspoons cornstarch
• pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions

• Cook the chicken according to package instructions.
• Meanwhile, combine all sauce ingredients in a 12-inch skillet. Simmer, stirring often, until thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
• Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces and toss with sauce. Serve with cooked rice, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 523kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 26g | Sodium: 674mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g

Recipe Adapted From: America's Test Kitchen Quick Family Cookbook