Crispy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Recipe for Dinner

Crispy gluten-free orange chicken is a better-than-takeout dinner that’s easy to make and full of flavor. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to a perfect crispy coating is to toss the chicken in cornstarch first. The result is a juicy, tangy chicken that’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Chicken Avocado Wrap Recipe for Quick Dinner and Easy Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Grilled Cheese Recipe.

What You'll Need for Crispy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Recipe for Dinner

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp ginger powder
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Optional: Green onions, chopped
• Optional: Sesame seeds
• Optional: Orange slices

How to Make Crispy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Recipe for Dinner

1. Step 1: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and ginger powder. Toss chicken pieces in the mixture until evenly coated.
2. Step 2: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, combine orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Step 4: Add chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Serve hot, garnished with green onions, sesame seeds, and orange slices if desired.

Storing & Reheating Crispy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Recipe for Dinner

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.

Freezing Crispy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Recipe for Dinner

Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in the cornstarch mixture for 30 minutes before cooking.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version.
• Make-ahead: The chicken can be cooked ahead of time and reheated in the sauce when ready to serve.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
• Troubleshooting: If your chicken is sticking to the pan, try adding a little more oil.

Crispy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Recipe for Dinner

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

20 mins

⏳

Total

35 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-Free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp ginger powder
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Seasonings

• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Optional Toppings

• Green onions, chopped
• Sesame seeds
• Orange slices

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and ginger powder. Toss chicken pieces in the mixture until evenly coated.
2. Step 2: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, combine orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Step 4: Add chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Serve hot, garnished with green onions, sesame seeds, and orange slices if desired.

Notes

• Chef tip: For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in the cornstarch mixture for 30 minutes before cooking.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version.
• Make-ahead: The chicken can be cooked ahead of time and reheated in the sauce when ready to serve.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
• Troubleshooting: If your chicken is sticking to the pan, try adding a little more oil.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
• Make ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 12g
• Carbs: 28g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 12g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 70mg
• Sat. Fat: 2g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Crispy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Recipe for Dinner FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Recipe for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!