Orange Chicken and Fried Rice
Orange Chicken and Fried Rice is my family’s favorite takeout order from our local Chinese restaurant. This Orange Chicken and Fried Rice recipe is a one pan version of that favorite my family loves. This Orange Chicken and Fried Rice can be easily made on a weeknight and once you have your ingredients prepped it’ll cook in about 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and chili powder
- 2 tbsp butter
- Sesame oil (or any oil)
- 4 strips of bacon
- 2 cups uncooked long grain white rice
- 12 oz frozen mixed vegetables
- Soy sauce
- 4 eggs
- Chopped green onions
- Orange Sauce (Store Bought)
Prep Orange Chicken and Fried Rice
Prior to cooking this recipe you will cook 2 cups of long grain white rice. Just cook the rice following the directions on the package. This can be done earlier in the day or the night before and kept in the refrigerator.
To begin making the orange chicken you will cut 1 pound of chicken breast into bite sized pieces. This can also be done ahead of time to save on total cook time. Next, you will season the chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup of all purpose flour and 1/2 cup of corn starch. Season with 1 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and chili powder. I like to use the Better Breader Bowl (commissionable link) for this part to make it a little easier. This is my amazon affiliate/commisionable link for that product.
Cooking the Orange Chicken
Place a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Once it’s hot add in 2 Tablespoons each of butter and sesame oil. If you don’t have sesame oil you can use whatever oil you have on hand. Add your chicken to the pan and cook until golden. You can use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken has reached 165 degrees.
Remove the chicken from the pan and set it to the side while the rice is cooking. I like to wait until the rice has been cooked to toss the chicken in the Orange sauce.
Cooking the Fried Rice
In the same large pan as before cook four strips of cut up bacon until crisp. Once the bacon is cooked add in your cooked rice. Drizzle some additional oil over the rice and stir over medium high heat. Next, stir in a bag of frozen mixed vegetables. Season the rice with salt, pepper, garlic, and low sodium soy sauce.
As the rice begins to toast up form a small well in the center of your pan. In a bowl whisk together four eggs and pour them into the center of the pan. Stir the eggs in the center of the pan allowing them to scramble. Once they’ve firmed up mix them into the rice.
Serving Orange Chicken and Fried Rice
Toss your cooked chicken in your favorite bottled Orange sauce. Just use enough of the sauce to coat the chicken. Pour the chicken over the top of your cooked fried rice. Top with chopped green onions serve and enjoy!
We like to serve this with some additional orange sauce, soy sauce, or sweet and sour. Crunchy lo mein noodles are also the perfect topping for some extra crunch!
If you like this easy dinner recipe check out some of my other favorite one pan meals!
- Chicken Cheese and Rice
- One Pan Taco Spaghetti
- Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi
- Unstuffed Pepper Skillet
- Homemade Lasagna Hamburger Helper
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
- Use a large pan, Wok, or divide the fried rice between two skillets to ensure it gets crispy and golden brown.
- I prefer sesame oil for this recipe, but you can use a different oil if that is all you have on hand.
- To prevent having “gummy” fried rice cook your rice ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator.
- To reduce cooking time I like to have my chicken and bacon cut up ahead of time. I usually do this when I am cooking the rice and store it all in the refrigerator.
- I’ve found that my family likes the store bought Orange sauce best, but you could also make your own.
- This would also be a great recipe to cook on a griddle outside if you have one! On the griddle you could cook everything at once.
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Equipment
- 1 Stove
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
- Salt pepper, garlic powder
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp each of salt pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and chili powder
- 2 tbsp butter
- Sesame oil or any oil
- 4 strips of bacon
- 2 cups uncooked long grain white rice
- 12 oz frozen mixed vegetables
- Low Sodium Soy sauce
- 4 eggs
- Chopped green onions
- Orange Sauce Store Bought
Instructions
- Prior to cooking this recipe cook 2 cups of uncooked rice following directions on the package. Let rice cook and put in a container in the refrigerator.
- Cut one pound of chicken into small cubes and season with some salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- In a large container combine flour, cornstarch, 1 tsp each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and chili powder.
- Toss chicken around in the flour and cornstarch mixture. Shake off excess and set aside on a plate.
- In a skillet over medium high heat add 2 tbsp of oil and 2 tbsp of butter. Once butter has melted add the chicken to the skillet.
- Cook chicken on both sides until chicken is cooked through and golden brown. Once fully cooked remove the chicken from the pan.
- Add 4 slices of bacon that have been chopped into small pieces to the hot skillet. Stir bacon around in the pan until cooked.
- Add cooked rice and frozen mixed vegetables to the skillet. Add more oil to the rice as needed. I usually add 2-3 more tablespoons.
- Stir well. Season with some salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add soy sauce. I like to start with 2 tbsp of low sodium soy sauce. (You can also add in some fish sauce here, but I typically don't have it on hand.)
- Create a well in the middle of the rice and add 4 whisked eggs. Stir eggs around until cooked and mix the eggs with the rice mixture.
- Stir well and if needed spread the rice mixture between two large skillets if you really want the crispy texture of โfried riceโ. If you have a large wok that would be ideal.
- Keep cooking and stirring rice until itโs cooked to your liking. Taste and season with more salt, pepper, garlic powder, or soy sauce if needed.
- Toss the chicken in Orange sauce and pour the chicken over the top of the fried rice.
- Add chopped green onions and serve!
Can you please let me know what orange sauce do you use? Thank you.
I used Panda Express Orange Sauce for this recipe.
Can I make this on my Blackstone?
Yes this can be made on a blackstone!
What else can I use instead of orange. It looks awesome
I made this tonight and it was so good!! It made more than I thought so now I will have extra to do freezer lunches! Came together quick by cooking the rice, and cutting the chicken up a head of time. The seasonings and orange sauce were perfectโค
Soooooo yummy! I have made this probably 7 times now. Itโs in our weekly rotation. I use the orange sauce on mine and hubs uses hibachi sauce. But this is a def keeper and so easy to make. Great job Luke. Your recipes are so dang good!!
This turned out amazing. I used 1/2 orange sauce and 1/2 sweet and sour. Absolutely a hit at my house!
Made this last night. Was really good everyone went in for seconds. Will be Lee this in the dinner rotation. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
So happy to hear that!
Would love to know if i can do this for a group of 50-60 guests easily. Any ideas? We cook at our Church on Tuesday evenings for anyone in need of a meal, it is a wonderful way to help the community and meet new friends or those who need a little help.