Oven Baked Orange Chicken

Tender pieces of chicken are baked—not fried—then coated in a glossy, sweet, citrusy orange sauce that delivers all those classic takeout flavors you love. It’s sticky, savory, slightly tangy, and incredibly satisfying.

👉 The best part? It’s made with simple pantry ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes!

💛 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Tastes just like takeout (or better!)
Baked, not fried = lighter and easier
Made with simple, real ingredients
Quick and perfect for busy nights
Family-friendly and crowd-approved

🛒 Ingredients

For the Chicken:

2 lbs chicken breast (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces

3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon sesame oil

For the Orange Sauce:

3 tablespoons soy sauce
3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
Zest of 1 orange
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons cornstarch

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2️⃣ Prepare the Chicken

Cut chicken into even bite-sized pieces
Toss with sesame oil
Add cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, and pepper
Mix until fully coated

3️⃣ Bake the Chicken

Spread chicken in a single layer in a baking dish.
Bake for 10 minutes.

4️⃣ Make the Orange Sauce

In a saucepan, whisk together:

soy sauce
orange juice
brown sugar
orange zest
ginger
garlic
red pepper flakes
cornstarch

Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat until thickened, then remove from heat.

5️⃣ Coat the Chicken

Remove chicken from oven and pour the sauce over it.
Toss to coat evenly.

6️⃣ Final Bake

Return to oven and bake for 4–6 minutes, until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).

7️⃣ Serve

Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds.
Serve warm with rice and enjoy!

Craving takeout but want something homemade and healthier? This Oven Baked Orange Chicken is exactly what you need!