We’re thrilled to share this recipe with you! You can now make PF Chang’s Orange Chicken recipe at home. It’s a perfect mix of sweet and tangy orange flavors, just like the original.
PF Chang’s is famous for its Chinese-American food. Their orange chicken is a top favorite among diners. Now, you can make your own, complete with crispy chicken and a yummy orange sauce.
This dish has fried chicken breast pieces in a special orange sauce. The sauce has fresh orange juice, rice vinegar, sugar, and spices. It brings a burst of citrus, sweetness, and a bit of heat together.
Key Takeaways
- Enjoy the signature sweet and tangy orange flavor of PF Chang’s famous orange chicken at home.
- Recreate the crispy chicken bites coated in a homemade orange sauce.
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients to create a more flavorful dish than the restaurant version.
- Customize the sweetness and spice level to suit your personal taste preferences.
- Serve the orange chicken with steamed rice, fried rice, or noodles for a complete Chinese-inspired meal.
Introduction to PF Chang’s Orange Chicken
PF Chang’s Orange Chicken mixes crispy chicken pieces with a tangy, sweet orange sauce. It has small, fried chicken pieces lightly covered with a special orange sauce.
Delicious Chinese-American Dish
The sauce blends sweet orange juice and sugar with tangy rice vinegar. Plus, it adds a little kick with red pepper flakes. These flavors make the dish delicious and addicting, making it a favorite at PF Chang’s.
Crispy Chicken Bites in Sweet and Tangy Sauce
In this dish, the crispy chicken bites are the real heroes. They’re crunchy on the outside and soft inside. This pairs perfectly with the flavorful orange sauce.
A Favorite for the Whole Family
PF Chang’s Orange Chicken is a top pick for anyone wanting Chinese food. It’s loved by the whole family. The mix of crispy chicken and tangy, sweet sauce is a hit from kids to grandparents.
Why Make Copycat P.F. Chang’s Orange Peel Chicken at Home
Making PF Chang’s Orange Chicken yourself gives a fresher, more flavorful dish than the restaurant. This way, you can pick top-quality ingredients. You also tailor the taste just the way you like it.
Fresher and More Flavorful than Restaurant Version
Creating your own orange chicken lets you control how sweet, spicy, or flavorful it is. Unlike the restaurant, you can skip preservatives at home. This makes a healthier meal.
Control Ingredients and Customize to Your Taste
Making it at home means you call the shots on ingredients and flavor. This makes your meal tastier than getting it at the restaurant.
Ingredients for Crispy Chicken
The crispy chicken recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts. It’s coated with cornstarch and dipped in eggs before frying. This makes the chicken crispy on the outside but juicy inside.
Boneless Chicken Breasts
For crispy chicken, we cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks. This creates the perfect texture and size for the dish.
Cornstarch for Coating
To get that crispy coating, we cover the chicken in cornstarch. It makes a crunchy outside that keeps the chicken juicy inside.
Eggs for Dipping
Beaten eggs are used to help the cornstarch stick to the chicken. This leads to a consistently crispy texture.
Spices and Seasonings
We make the chicken flavorful with garlic salt, kosher salt, and black pepper. These seasonings prepare the chicken for the tasty orange sauce.
Ingredients for Orange Chicken Sauce
The key ingredients for the orange sauce are fresh orange juice, rice vinegar, granulated sugar, ground ginger, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes.
Orange juice gives it that citrus kick, and rice vinegar makes it tangy. Sugar balances the sour, creating a tasty mix.
Ground ginger and garlic powder add their special scents to the sauce. You can add crushed red pepper flakes for more heat.
Lastly, a cornstarch slurry comes in to thicken the sauce just right.
Preparing the Chicken
First, cut the boneless, skinless chicken into small pieces. Then, marinate it in orange juice. Finally, coat it in cornstarch for a crispy crunch when fried.
Making the Orange Sauce
In a saucepan, combine orange juice, rice vinegar, sugar, ginger, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Simmer this mix for 5 minutes. Then, add a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
Frying the Chicken
Now, heat canola oil in a skillet to 350°F. Dip chicken in eggs and fry in batches for about 5 minutes. The chicken will turn golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
Baking with the Sauce
Combine the fried chicken with the orange sauce. Pour it over the chicken in a baking dish. Then, bake for a few minutes until the sauce thickens more. Serve your PF Chang’s Orange Chicken hot.
Serving Suggestions
To make Copycat PF Chang’s Orange Chicken meals more enjoyable, try our serving tips. This dish goes well with many classic Chinese-American sides. Pairing it right can really lift your dining experience.
Steamed Rice
A top choice to have with our orange chicken is fluffy steamed rice. Use Jasmine or brown rice for a scented base. It makes the zesty orange sauce even better, turning your meal into a perfect mix.
Fried Rice or Lo Mein Noodles
For a proper Chinese meal, add fried rice or lo mein noodles to your plate. This mix of crispy chicken, sweet sauce, and filling carbs is a great match. It balances flavors and textures for a satisfying dish.
Vegetable Sides
For a healthier option, combine orange chicken with steam or stir-fried veggies. Think broccoli, carrots, or a mix. They freshen up the meal, adding balance and nutrients to the table.
Choose from steamed rice, fried rice, noodle dishes, or veggie sides for the Orange Chicken. It’s an enjoyment for your taste buds. Plus, it keeps the Chinese-American vibes alive.
Tips and Tricks
Let’s learn some secrets to make amazing PF Chang’s Orange Chicken at home. These tips will help your dish turn out perfectly.
Adjusting Spice Level
Love spicy food? You can make the dish hotter by adding more crushed red pepper flakes. Just start with a little and add more until it’s just right for you.
Double the Sauce Recipe
Need extra sauce for your meal or for dipping? It’s easy to double the recipe. Double the sauce to ensure your chicken is fully coated and extra flavorful.
Test Oil Temperature
Before frying the chicken, make sure the oil is at the right temperature. Keeping it at 350°F will give your chicken a perfect, crispy crunch. This step is vital for a great texture.
Variations and Substitutions
We know everyone has different tastes and needs when it comes to PF Chang’s Orange Chicken. So, we’ve looked into various variations and substitutions. This way, you can make the dish just the way you like.
Gluten-Free Options
For those who avoid gluten, you can change the cornstarch with arrowroot powder or a gluten-free flour blend. This change keeps the chicken crispy but without gluten.
Adding Vegetables
To make the dish healthier and add more flavors, try adding julienned carrots, sliced bell peppers, or water chestnuts. Cook these veggies and mix them into the orange sauce for a nutritious meal.
Adjusting Sweetness Level
How sweet you want the orange sauce is up to you. To make it less sweet, decrease the amount of sugar in the recipe. If you love extra sweetness, increase the sugar for more of that citrusy-sweet flavor.
Taking My Orange Chicken To Go!
This PF Chang’s Orange Chicken recipe lets us enjoy a favorite dish at home. Making it at home means we choose the ingredients and adjust the taste. Also, it’s fresher and more delicious than what we get at the restaurant.
The recipe includes easy steps and helpful hints. We can make crispy chicken with sweet and tangy orange sauce. It’s a hit with everyone. We can pair it with rice or noodles. This homemade dish meets our need for tasty Chinese-American food.
In 2019, this recipe was the 3rd most popular. People love making PF Chang’s Orange Chicken at home. It’s in good company with other top picks like Texas Roadhouse Rolls and Pizzeria Uno Chicago. This means making it lets us enjoy PF Chang’s anytime we want that special orange chicken taste.
FAQs on How To Make Orange Chicken PF Changs Copycat Recipe
What is the key feature of this copycat PF Chang’s Orange Chicken recipe?
This recipe lets you make your own PF Chang’s Orange Chicken. You can enjoy the sweet and tangy flavor at home.
What is PF Chang’s Orange Chicken known for?
PF Chang’s Orange Chicken is famous for crispy chicken bites. They’re covered in a delicious orange sauce.
How does this homemade version compare to the restaurant dish?
Making it at home means you get a fresher, flavorful dish. You control the ingredients. This lets you match the taste to what you love.
What are the key ingredients for the crispy chicken in this recipe?
The crispy chicken needs chicken breasts, cornstarch, and eggs. These are used to make the chicken crispy.
What are the main ingredients in the orange sauce?
The orange sauce uses orange juice, vinegar, sugar, ginger, and garlic. It also has a kick from red pepper flakes.
How is the orange chicken dish prepared?
This dish is prepared by first making the crispy chicken. Then, the orange sauce is made. Finally, they’re combined to make the meal.
What are some serving suggestions for the PF Chang’s Orange Chicken?
Serve it with rice, noodles, or veggies. It goes well with steamed broccoli or mixed vegetables.
Can this recipe be customized or adjusted?
Yes, it’s easy to adjust. You can change the spice level. You can also kick up the sauce or add more veggies.
Is there a gluten-free option for this recipe?
It’s possible to make a gluten-free version. Just switch the cornstarch with arrowroot or gluten-free flour.
The Best Copycat PF Chang’s Orange Chicken Recipe You Ever Did Try
Equipment
- Large skillet or wok
- Cutting board and knife
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Tongs or spatula
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup orange juice for marinating
- 2 tablespoons canola oil for frying
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
For the Orange Sauce
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar distilled or apple cider vinegar can be used
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water for thickening
- Optional: Crushed red pepper flakes for extra heat
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken pieces in a bowl and cover with 1 cup of orange juice. Let it marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
- Prepare the Chicken: In a mixing bowl, toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch until evenly coated.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of canola oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in batches until golden and crispy, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Make the Sauce: In a saucepan, combine the orange juice, rice vinegar, sugar, ground ginger, garlic powder, soy sauce, and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Thicken the Sauce: Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and add to the sauce. Stir until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
- Combine and Cook: Add the fried chicken pieces to the sauce and toss until evenly coated. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow the chicken to absorb the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer the chicken to a serving dish and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot with steamed rice or noodles.
Notes
- Healthier Options: You can bake or air fry the chicken instead of frying for a lighter version.
- Spice Level: Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes to control the heat level.
- Add-ins: Try adding bell peppers, onions, or even pineapple chunks for extra flavor and texture.
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