Master the ultimate 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken recipe, a quick orange chicken dinner that brings irresistible flavor to your table with minimal effort, whether you use frozen chicken or crispy fresh chicken.
Are you ready for a weeknight dinner game-changer? Our 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken is about to become your new favorite recipe. Forget complicated takeout, this easy orange chicken over rice delivers all the sweet, tangy, and savory flavors you crave in a fraction of the time. It’s perfect for busy evenings, spontaneous gatherings, or whenever you need a fast dinner recipe. This versatile dish can be made truly in 3 ingredients with frozen chicken nuggets, or elevated with fresh chicken for an incredibly delicious homemade meal. For more easy dinner recipes, explore our full site.
Making flavorful meals from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you have the right tools in your kitchen. For crisping up your frozen chicken nuggets or even freshly breaded chicken pieces to perfection, we highly recommend the Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze Air Fryer 6 Qt. Its large family capacity ensures perfectly roasted chickpeas and vegetables for sides too, making it a versatile kitchen essential. If you are preparing fresh chicken and want to quickly chop your ingredients or even blend a dressing for a refreshing side like a Salad Pasta, a powerful tool like the Cuisinart 8 Cup Food Processor can be an absolute lifesaver, speeding up your meal prep significantly. And for storing any delicious leftovers or prepped ingredients, the Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Storage Set of 9 is fantastic for meal prep, keeping everything leak-proof and stackable. To extend the freshness of your ingredients even further, preventing freezer burn on your chicken or preserving homemade sauce components, consider a FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine. While not directly for this 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken, having a powerful blender like the Ninja BN751 Professional Plus DUO Blender in your kitchen allows you to explore making perfect tahini sauce, harissa paste, or even smoothies for dessert, broadening your culinary horizons.
Ingredients for Your 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken
Core 3-Ingredient Sauce
- Orange Marmalade: 1 cup (sweet orange marmalade is commonly specified; some recipes suggest ½ cup or ¾ cup)
- BBQ Sauce: 1 cup (Sweet Baby Ray’s is a frequently recommended brand; other quantities include ½ cup or ⅓ cup)
- Soy Sauce: 2-3 tablespoons (low-sodium soy sauce is a common recommendation)
Chicken, Choose Your Approach:
A. For a truly 3-ingredient dish (using pre-cooked chicken):
- Frozen Chicken Nuggets/Tenders/Popcorn Chicken: 24-30 oz bag, or about 5 cups.
B. For crispy chicken from scratch (more than 3 ingredients total):
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken: 1-2 pounds (breasts or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces or cubes
- Eggs: 2 large, beaten
- Flour or Cornstarch (or a mix): 1-1.5 cups for coating
- Vegetable Oil (or Canola Oil): For frying, about ½ inch in the pan or 1 cup
Optional & Enhancement Ingredients:
- Sesame Oil: 2 teaspoons, optional for the sauce
- Red Pepper Flakes/Sriracha Sauce: For added heat
- Orange Zest/Fresh Orange Juice: To boost orange flavor
- Season-all Seasoning: For the chicken coating
- Milk: 1 cup, for the egg wash when coating chicken
- Salt and Pepper: To season eggs and flour for chicken coating
- Ginger and Garlic: For additional flavor in the sauce or chicken marinade
- Cornstarch Mixture (slurry): To adjust sauce thickness
Serving Suggestions:
- Cooked Rice: White, brown, jasmine, or cauliflower rice
- Steamed/Sautéed Vegetables: Broccoli, bell pepper, snow peas
- Noodles
- Sesame Seeds: For garnish
- Chopped Green Onions/Scallions: For garnish
Step-by-Step Instructions: Mastering Your 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken
This 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken recipe can be adapted to your preference, whether you’re looking for a quick and easy solution or a crispy, homemade experience. Choose the approach that best suits your time and taste!
Approach 1: Quick & Easy (Using Frozen Chicken Nuggets)
- Prepare the Chicken: Cook the frozen chicken nuggets according to the package instructions. This can be done in an oven, air fryer, or by frying them until golden brown and crispy.
- Make the Sauce: In a medium microwave-safe bowl or saucepan, combine the orange marmalade, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce. Whisk until smooth. (Optional, add sesame oil for extra flavor, or red pepper flakes for heat.)
- Heat the Sauce: If using a microwave, cover the bowl with a damp paper towel and microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute, then stir well until warm and smooth. If using a saucepan, simmer over low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors meld and the sauce slightly thickens.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Place the hot, crispy chicken nuggets into a large mixing bowl. Pour the warm orange sauce over the chicken and toss until every piece is evenly coated in the sticky, glossy glaze.
- Serve: Serve immediately over white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice, and with steamed vegetables. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions if desired.
Approach 2: Crispy Fresh Chicken (Using Chicken Breasts/Thighs)
- Prepare the Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the orange marmalade, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce. Whisk until smooth. Simmer over low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, to blend flavors and allow the sauce to thicken slightly. Set aside.
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut 1-2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken (breasts or thighs) into 1-inch bite-sized cubes or strips. This method creates a delicious chicken thigh orange chicken.
- Set up Breading Stations:
- In one bowl, beat 2 large eggs (optionally with 1 cup milk), and season with salt and pepper.
- In a separate bowl, mix 1-1.5 cups of all-purpose flour or cornstarch (or a mix of both), optionally with 1 tablespoon of Season-all seasoning, and salt and pepper.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each chicken piece into the beaten egg mixture, letting any excess drip off. Then, dredge the chicken in the flour/cornstarch mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat about ½ inch to 1 cup of vegetable or canola oil in a large frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, fry the coated chicken pieces for 3-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F/74°C). Transfer the cooked chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Once all the chicken is cooked and still warm, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Pour the prepared orange sauce over the chicken and toss until evenly coated. This is the perfect orange chicken recipe easy skillet method.
- Serve: Serve the saucy chicken over white rice and with steamed vegetables. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions if desired.
Healthy Variation (Stovetop, with Orange Juice)
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup 100% orange juice and ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos.
- Cook Chicken and Sauce: Pour the sauce into a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb chicken breast pieces and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and cooked through. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for another 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
- Serve: This makes a great healthy dinner recipe. Serve with steamed rice and vegetables, optionally topped with sesame seeds or green onions.
Frequently Asked Questions About 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken
Here are answers to common questions about making this delightful 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken:
- What are the 3 main ingredients for the orange chicken sauce?
The three core ingredients for the sauce are orange marmalade, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce. - Can I use frozen chicken nuggets for this recipe?
Yes, many recipes specifically call for or recommend using frozen chicken nuggets for a quick and easy meal, making it truly a 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken dish. - Can I make this recipe with fresh chicken?
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs can be cut into pieces, coated in egg and flour/cornstarch, and then fried for a crispier texture. - How can I make the sauce spicier?
To add a kick, simply stir in some red pepper flakes or a dash of sriracha sauce to the orange chicken sauce. - What can I serve with 3-ingredient orange chicken?
Steamed rice (white, brown, jasmine, or cauliflower), steamed or sautéed vegetables (like broccoli, bell peppers, snow peas), or even noodles are popular choices to serve with your easy orange chicken. You can even combine it for an Orange Chicken And Fried Rice Recipe. - Can I make this recipe healthier?
Yes, for a healthier take, some variations use orange juice instead of marmalade and BBQ sauce, and cook fresh chicken in a skillet, avoiding deep frying. Roasting chicken in the oven or using an air fryer for the chicken are also great options for a healthy dinner recipe. Discover more fantastic Orange Chicken Recipe Easy Skillet variations or other quick weeknight solutions on our site. - How can I thicken the orange chicken sauce?
Allowing the sauce to simmer on low heat for a bit longer helps it thicken naturally. If it’s still too thin, a cornstarch slurry (equal parts cornstarch and cold water) can be whisked in gradually. - What kind of BBQ sauce should I use?
Any sweet and smoky BBQ sauce works wonderfully, with Sweet Baby Ray’s being a frequently mentioned and highly recommended brand for this 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken. - Can I prepare this dish in a slow cooker or Instant Pot?
Some variations exist for slow cooker methods, where cooked chicken and sauce are combined and warmed, or even cooking raw chicken in the slow cooker with the sauce. Instant Pot can also be used as a faster alternative for this orange chicken recipe. - Is this recipe gluten-free?
By using gluten-free soy sauce (like tamari) or coconut aminos and ensuring all other ingredients are certified gluten-free, you can easily adapt this 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken recipe to be gluten-free.
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