Easy Orange Chicken
If I’m being completely honest, I absolutely love Chinese food… or more specifically, American Chinese food. Anytime I go to Panda Express, I almost always order Orange Chicken. There’s just something about that crispy chicken coated in a sweet, tangy, sticky orange sauce that keeps me coming back for more. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and savory with just a little bit of citrus flavor.
The tricky part is finding good Chinese food when you live in a small rural town. Every restaurant has its own spin on Orange Chicken, and not every version hits the mark. Since my family and I live in a rural area, we don’t have a lot of restaurant options nearby. Sometimes that means if I’m craving my favorite takeout meal, I either have to drive a long distance… or figure out how to make it myself.
So naturally, I set out on a mission to create the perfect homemade Orange Chicken recipe.
After several failed attempts and lots of experimenting, I can officially say I finally found the best combination for an easy homemade orange sauce. And trust me, there were plenty of trial-and-error moments along the way.
My sister- in-law mentioned that she makes an orange sauce using BBQ sauce and orange marmalade. Immediately I thought, “Wait… really?” I had never heard of using BBQ sauce in Orange Chicken before, but I was curious enough that I knew I had to try it.
So I did what I always do—I started researching recipes and gathering ideas. I found a recipe that looked promising and gave it a try. It was good… but something still felt missing.
So I tried again.
I adjusted the ingredient amounts and changed a few things around. Again, it was good, but it still wasn’t quite there.
After a few more rounds of experimenting, tweaking, and taste testing, I finally landed on the perfect combination. And honestly? It happened through a complete happy accident… just like Bob Ross would say.
What Makes This Orange Chicken Sauce Special?
This recipe came together one evening when I was trying to get a quick dinner on the table. It was getting late and I remember thinking, “I can throw together Orange Chicken and Fried Rice. Everyone will eat that!”
Everything was going smoothly until I started making the sauce.
I grabbed the BBQ sauce and realized I only had about ¼ cup left in the bottle. The recipe needed ½ cup, and while I had another bottle in the refrigerator, there was one small problem—it was a completely different flavor.
The second bottle was Sweet Baby Ray’s Hickory & Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce.
At first I hesitated because hickory flavor didn’t exactly scream “Orange Chicken” to me. But dinner needed to happen, and I didn’t want to run to the store, so I decided to just go with it.
And you know what?
It ended up being the best Orange Chicken sauce I had made yet.
The combination of Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce and the Hickory & Brown Sugar flavor created this amazing depth of flavor. The sweetness paired perfectly with the orange marmalade, while the smoky brown sugar notes balanced everything out.
It was sweet, tangy, rich, and incredibly flavorful. The sauce tasted like something you’d get from your favorite takeout restaurant—but maybe even better.
Sometimes kitchen mistakes turn into the best recipes.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Homemade Orange Chicken
There are so many reasons this recipe has become a family favorite:
- Uses only 6 simple ingredients
- Made with pantry staples
- Comes together quickly
- Great for busy weeknights
- Kid-approved
- Better than takeout
- Sweet, sticky, and packed with flavor
If you’re looking for a simple Orange Chicken recipe without a long list of ingredients, this one is for you.
The Process
Now, making your own homemade Orange Chicken sauce might sound intimidating, but I promise it is incredibly easy.
This easy orange sauce recipe only uses six ingredients, and chances are you already have most of them sitting in your pantry or refrigerator.
One important tip: make the sauce first.
Once your sauce ingredients are combined, remove it from the heat and let it cool slightly before adding it to your chicken. As it cools, it naturally thickens and develops that delicious sticky texture that makes Orange Chicken so irresistible.
Trust the process—you won’t regret it.
This orange chicken sauce comes together so quickly, which makes it perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast. I like to pair it with breaded chicken bites that I can grab from my local grocery store or from Costco. It keeps this easy homemade Orange Chicken recipe simple and cuts down on prep time. One of these days I’m determined to learn how to make my own crispy breaded chicken bites from scratch. But until then, the store-bought version works perfectly and makes this recipe even easier. Sometimes shortcuts are worth it—especially when everyone is hungry and dinner needs to happen now!
What to Serve with Orange Chicken
One of my favorite ways to serve this homemade Orange Chicken is with a side of Easy Fried Rice. The flavors complement each other perfectly, and together they create a delicious restaurant-style meal right at home. Add a few steamed vegetables or egg rolls, and dinner is complete!
What you’ll need for this recipe:
Simple ingredients. Big flavor. One delicious homemade Orange Chicken recipe your family will ask for again and again.
Instructions
- In a small sauce pan, combine BBQ sauce, Orange marmalade, sesame seed oil, soy sauce, and garlic powder.
- Bring sauce to a simmer, stirring often to making sure the marmalade melts and everything combines.
- Once sauce is done set sauce aside to cool and thicken.
- While sauce is cooling, preheat oven according to package instructions on the bag of breaded chicken. Spread chicken on a pan.
- Once oven had preheated place chicken in oven and cook according to package instructions.
- Once chicken is done. Serve on a plate and pour orange sauce on top.
- Serve with your favorite side and enjoy!
If You Loved This Recipe…
If you enjoyed this homemade Orange Chicken recipe, don’t stop there! Pair it with my Easy Fried Rice for a delicious takeout-style meal you can make right at home. It’s quick, family-friendly, and the perfect side to soak up every last drop of that sweet and tangy orange sauce.
Easy Orange Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Small Sauce Pan
Ingredients
- 1/4 Cup Sweet Baby Rays Original BBQ Sauce
- 1/4 Cup Sweet Baby Rays Hickory Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce
- 1 18 oz Orange Marmalade
- 1 TBSP Sesame Seed Oil
- 3 TBSP Soy Sauce
- 1/8 tsp Garlic Powder, more to taste if needed
Instructions
- In a small sauce pan, combine BBQ sauce, orange marmalade, sesame seed oil, soy sauce and garlic powder.
- Bring sauce to a simmer, stirring often to making sure the marmalade melts and everything combines.
- Once sauce is done set sauce aside to cool and thicken.
- While sauce is cooling, preheat oven according to package instructions on the bag of breaded chicken. Spread chicken on a pan.
- Once oven had preheated place chicken in oven and cook according to package instructions.
- Once chicken is done. serve on a plate and pour orange sauce on top.
- Serve with your favorite side and enjoy!
Simply amazing! Love the orange sauce!!