This Orange Chicken Cheesecake Factory is simply amazing. The small bite-sized chicken pieces are first fried and then tossed in a tangy orange sauce in just 35-minutes. Voila!
This Orange Chicken is an all time favorite on the Cheesecake Factory menu, so it was necessary to recreate it at home. And I can proudly say it is even better!
The chicken gets its tangy sweet sour taste from orange juice and zest elevates the taste. So yum!
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This recipe is super easy and takes only 35 minutes to make from scratch.
- Make this recipe using a few basic pantry ingredients.
- Serve it in lunch or a fancy dinner gathering. It is always a hit like my honey lemon pepper wings and buffalo chicken thighs.
- This copycat recipe is the best version of Cheesecake factory Orange Chicken recipe.
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts are best for this recipe. Use boneless and skinless chicken breast and cut the chicken into small pieces about 1 - 1 ½ inch-sized bite size pieces.
- All-purpose flour helps to coat on the chicken pieces and provides crispiness to the fried chicken.
- Spices & Sauces
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Onion powder: Add ½ teaspoon of onion powder in the orange sauce for an added flavor.
How to Make Orange Chicken Cheesecake Factory
- Combine chicken pieces in a large bowl and add all the spices and mix.
2. Fry the chicken pieces in a frying pan.
3. Take out the golden brown fried pieces to a plate with paper towels spread on it to absorb excess oil.
4. In the same frying pan heat oil and add ginger, garlic and red chili flakes and fry for a minute.
5. Add brown sugar, orange juice, orange zest, lemon juice and soy sauce. Let it simmer.
6. Prepare the corn starch mixture by mixing the corn starch with water using a whisk.
7. Add the corn starch in the sauce and keep on simmering until the sauce thickens.
8. Add the fried chicken pieces to the sauce.
9. Add the sesame sauce over the chicken pieces.
10. Serve it hot.
Alternative Cooking Method
- Deep Frying: For deep-frying chicken pieces, heat oil to 360°F in the deep fryer. Add chicken pieces one by one and fry until they turn golden brown. Place fried chicken on paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
Serving Suggestions
- Sprinkle some chopped green onions and sesame seeds on the top.
- Looking at your calorie intake? Serve it with white or brown rice along with a side of salad.
Expert Tips
- Dry Chicken is key for perfect crunchy fried chicken. Pat dry chicken pieces thoroughly with paper towels after cutting them. Ensure they are completely dry before frying.
- Cut Chicken into Even Pieces as they will cook evenly and also look pleasant to the eyes.
Recipe FAQs
Sesame seed oil is optional as many people do not like the smell of this oil. Feel free to omit it as it is about your personal preference.
Yes, add ½ cup of chicken broth and reduce the orange juice to ¾ cup in the sauce recipe. Follow the same procedure for the sauce.
I do not recommend using skinned chicken breasts. I strongly recommend to make it recipe using the boneless and skinless chicken breasts for best possible results.
By all means yes you can double fry the chicken pieces. Although I find single frying works fine too but double frying always work wonders for this recipe and provides the ultimate crispiness.
This is common and the corn starch in the sauce makes it thick. I recommend preparing a fresh batch of orange sauce and then warming the chicken pieces in it to get the perfect sauce consistency.
How to Store
Refrigerator
Store the leftover orange chicken in an airtight container and place it in the fridge for up to 3 days. (You may have a thicker sauce and have to prepare the orange sauce again.)
Freezing Instructions
Store the leftover orange chicken in an airtight container or a ziploc bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating Instructions
Place the left over Orange Chicken in a large saucepan or frying pan and warm is at medium heat for a few minutes on the stove top. You may also place the orange chicken in a bowl and microwave it for 1 - 2 minutes, depending on the power of your microwave.
Did you make this recipe? Give it a 🌟 rating with a comment.
Join The Side Baker newsletter & get a free e-book + weekly recipes.
Connect on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Tiktok.
Related Chicken Recipes
Recipe
Orange Chicken Cheesecake Factory
Equipment
- Frying pan
- Wok
- Deep fryer
Ingredients
Chicken Marination
- 2 Chicken breasts (1.6 lb) cut in cubes
- 3 tablespoon all purpose flour (60 g)
- 4 tablespoon corn starch (40 g)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (2.8 g)
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda (1.25 g)
- 1 egg (large) room temperature
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (13 g)
Orange Chicken Sauce
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (26 g)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (9 g) chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger (6 g) chopped
- ¼ cup brown sugar (50 g)
- 1 tablespoon orange zest (6 g)
- 1 cup orange juice (237 ml) fresh
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder (2 g)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (15 g)
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce (33 g)
- 2 tablespoon corn starch (20 g)
- 3 tablespoon water (45 ml)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil (5 g)
Instructions
Chicken Marination & Frying
- Take a large bowl and add chicken to it. Add all purpose flour, corn flour, baking soda, egg, oil, black pepper and salt. Mix until combined.
- Fry the chicken pieces in a frying pan. Fry each side for 4 - 5 minutes each side.
- Take the chicken pieces out and spread on a plate.
Orange Sauce
- In the same frying pan add oil and saute ginger and garlic to it and add red chili powder and fry for a couple of minutes.
- Add brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, lemon juice and soy sauce and let it boil.
- In a separate bowl, add corn flour and water and mix until combined.
- Pour the corn starch mixture in the sauce and stir until it thickens.
- Add the fried chicken pieces to it.
- Finally, add the sesame seed oil. Serve hot.
Notes
- Dry Chicken is key for perfect crunchy fried chicken. Pat dry chicken pieces thoroughly with paper towels after cutting them. Ensure they are completely dry before frying.
- Cut Chicken into Even Pieces as they will cook evenly and also look pleasant to the eyes.
Leave a Reply