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Double Crunch Orange Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 404 reviews

This Double Crunch Orange Chicken recipe features tender chicken breasts with a flavorful, crispy coating and a tangy, sweet orange sauce. The chicken is double-dredged in a seasoned flour mixture and fried to golden perfection before being coated in a homemade orange glaze packed with garlic, honey, and a touch of chili for a subtle kick. Perfect served with rice or noodles, this dish combines classic Chinese-American flavors with a satisfying crunch.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Orange Sauce

  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 3 tbsp peanut oil or other vegetable oil
  • 3 cups orange juice
  • Finely grated zest of one small orange
  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp chili flakes or 2 tsp crushed chili paste (use 1/4 amount if less spicy)
  • 1 1/2 to 2 rounded tbsp corn starch
  • 1/4 cup water

For the Chicken and Coating

  • 2 eggs
  • 4 tbsp water
  • 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 cups flour
  • 4 tsp salt
  • 4 tsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp ground ginger
  • 1 tbsp freshly ground nutmeg
  • 2 tsp ground thyme
  • 2 tsp ground sage
  • 2 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • Canola oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Prepare Chicken: Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet to an even 1/2 inch thickness. Alternatively, slice the breasts horizontally to get thinner pieces for quicker, even cooking.
  2. Mix Dry Coating: Sift together the flour, salt, black pepper, ground ginger, nutmeg, thyme, sage, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. This seasoned flour mixture will coat the chicken and can be stored frozen for later use.
  3. Make Egg Wash: Whisk the eggs together with 4 tablespoons of water in a separate bowl until combined thoroughly.
  4. Dredge Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Dip each breast first into the flour and spice mixture, then into the egg wash, and finally back into the flour mixture, pressing it firmly to ensure a thick, even coating.
  5. Fry Chicken: Heat about half an inch of canola oil in a skillet over medium-low heat, around 4.5 out of 10 on your burner dial. Fry the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. The thin breasts will cook through by the time the exterior is perfectly browned.
  6. Drain Chicken: Remove the fried chicken and set it on a wire rack to drain excess oil for a couple of minutes.
  7. Start Orange Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add garlic and peanut oil. Sauté until garlic is softened but not browned, about 2 minutes.
  8. Add Sauce Ingredients: Add orange juice, orange zest, honey, rice wine vinegar, salt, black pepper, and chili flakes or paste to the pan. Simmer gently for about 20 minutes, reducing the volume by half and skimming off any foam or film that forms on the surface.
  9. Thicken Sauce: Mix the corn starch with 1/4 cup of water until smooth. Slowly pour this mixture into the simmering sauce, stirring constantly to thicken it to a glaze-like consistency. Boil for an additional minute and then remove from heat.
  10. Coat Chicken with Sauce: Dip the drained fried chicken breasts into the orange sauce to coat them evenly or spoon the sauce over the chicken breasts before serving.
  11. Serve: Serve the double-crunch orange chicken hot with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.

Notes

  • The seasoned flour mix can be made in advance and stored in a sealed bag in the freezer for quick preparation next time.
  • Adjust the chili flakes or chili paste to your preferred spice level, starting with less if you prefer it milder.
  • Maintaining a medium-low oil temperature is key to properly cooking the chicken through without burning the coating.
  • Use a wire rack to drain fried chicken to keep the crust crispy and avoid sogginess.
  • This recipe yields enough sauce to coat the chicken nicely without excess; adjust cornstarch amount slightly if you prefer a thicker or thinner glaze.

Keywords: orange chicken, double crunch chicken, fried chicken recipe, orange glaze, Chinese-American recipe, crispy chicken, homemade orange sauce

Find it online: https://busyrecipe.com/double-crunch-orange-chicken-recipe/