Orange Chicken and Fried Rice

Orange chicken and fried rice is a delicious main dish meal and fun to cook on the weekend. Orange zest gives it a true orange flavor.

Orange chicken with fried rice is a favorite dish in our household. It is fun to cook and makes a satisfying meal.

My husband and I both enjoy cooking and this is a fun recipe to spend time together in the kitchen. A good date night meal!

Orange Chicken Preparation

To make your prep easier, prepare the fried rice first, then marinate the chicken. While the chicken is marinating, make the sauce and toast the sesame seeds. Then cook your chicken and add the sauce when cooked.

Orange Chicken Recipe

Print Recipe

Orange Chicken with Fried Rice

Orange chicken with fried rice is a favorite dish in our household. It is fun to cook and makes a satisfying meal.
To make your prep easier, prepare the fried rice first, then marinate the chicken. While the chicken is marinating, make the sauce and toast the sesame seeds. Then cook your chicken and add the sauce when cooked.

Prep Time1 hour hr

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken, rice

Servings: 4

Author: Laura Warnke

Ingredients

Fried Rice

• 2 Cups cooked long grain rice Prepare according to package directions
• 2 eggs beaten
• 3 Tablespoons butter split use
• 1 Cup frozen peas and carrots thawed
• 1/4 Cup yellow or white onion diced
• 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil or more to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 1 green onion diced

Chicken Marinade

• 1 to 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast or tender strips
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg beaten
• 1/2 cup cornstarch to be used later (Do not add in to the marinade)

Orange Sauce

• 2 Tablespoons fresh grated orange zest from 1 orange
• 1 cup orange juice
• 4 Tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 Tablespoons white cooking wine
• 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons corn starch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Stir Fry

• 1/2 to 2/3 cup vegetable oil for frying
• 3 green onions diced
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds optional

Instructions

Fried Rice

• Prepare enough long cooking rice as directed on package to yield 2 cups of cooked rice. (It can be prepared earlier in the day). Measure out 2 cups cooked rice into a large bowl and set aside.
• In a skillet frying pan, scramble the eggs with 1 Tablespoon of butter. After the eggs are cooked hard, chop them into small size bits with a knife or spatula.
• Stir the chopped eggs into the bowl of cooked rice. Add in the thawed peas and carrots and the diced yellow onion.
• Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter into a large deep skillet.
• Once sizzling, add the rice mixture to the skillet. Sauté the rice mixture for 2 minutes.
• Sprinkle the soy sauce and sesame oil evenly over the rice.
• Saute the mixture for about 8 minutes, being sure to stir and turn frequently using a spatula until it is lightly browned.
• Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place in a large serving bowl and garnish with the diced green onion.

Chicken Marinade

• Cut chicken into small 1 inch pieces and place in a glass bowl.
• Add in the vegetable oil, salt, and beaten egg.
• Mix together until all the pieces are coated. Cover, set aside, and let marinate 15-20 minutes.

Orange Sauce

• Zest 2-3 Tablespoons of orange peel. In a medium saucepan combine all sauce ingredients and stir together. Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir constantly until thickened.

Toasted Sesame Seeds

• Place 2 teaspoons of raw sesame seeds in a small frying pan with 1 teaspoon butter. Cook over medium heat until toasted, approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat, cool, and set aside.

Cooking the Chicken

• Add the 1/2 cup cornstarch to the bowl of marinated chicken. Stir to coat evenly so all pieces are coated.
• Heat oil in a large heavy duty skillet until a few drops of water bead off of it (approx. 350 degrees F.)
• Add the chicken a few pieces at a time forming a single layer of chicken in the pan. Use tongs to keep separated. Cook the chicken on the first side until golden, about 3 minutes. Flip and brown the other side, 2-3 minutes longer. Transfer the cooked chicken to a big plate.

Stir Fry and Sauce

• Remove the skillet from the stove and let cool down 2-3 minutes.
• Place the pan back on the heat along with 1-2 Tablespoons of the remaining oil from frying the chicken. If you don't have enough oil in the pan, add more vegetable oil to make 1-2 Tablespoons.
• Add the diced green onion and minced garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes to release its fragrance.
• Pour the orange sauce into the frying pan. Let it warm up 1-2 minutes.
• Add the chicken pieces back in to the pan and stir to coat with the orange sauce. Add in the toasted sesame seeds and stir together.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and serve over the hot fried rice.

Notes

You can make the rice earlier in the day to save on prep time.

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