Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe

Orange chicken was invented in the 1980’s by Panda Express and has since become one of the most popular Chinese food restaurant dishes in America. And for good reason! The combination of sweet and tangy orange sauce with crispy chicken is just irresistible.

Why I Love This Recipe

If you’re looking for an easy and delicious way to get dinner on the table, look no further than this Crockpot Orange Chicken! The sweet tangy sauce will make your mouth water with every bite.

Easy to make
Perfect for picky eaters
Fills the house with a delicious aroma

If you love slow cooker recipes, try this Slow Cooker Asian Pot Roast recipe.

an overhead view of Crockpot Orange Chicken in a white bowl on a gray cloth, next to an orange, green onion, wooden chopsticks

Ingredients

While this ingredient list may seem a little long for this recipe, you most likely have most of these simple ingredients on hand in your pantries already. The other ingredients should be easy to find at your local grocery store.

boneless skinless chicken breasts
cornstarch
salt
black pepper
olive oil

For the sauce

orange zest
freshly squeezed orange juice
sugar
honey
cornstarch
low-sodium soy sauce
rice wine vinegar
garlic, minced
sesame oil
ground ginger
red pepper flakes

Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe ingredients

Substitutions

Boneless skinless chicken thighs: This is my preferred substitution for chicken breasts in this recipe. I find that chicken thighs stay moist and juicy much better than chicken breasts when cooked in a crockpot.

Cornstarch: If you are looking for a gluten-free substitution for cornstarch, you can use arrowroot powder or tapioca flour.

Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

You only need a few basic kitchen tools to help you make this family dinner recipe.

slow cooker liner or nonstick cooking spray
gallon sized ziploc bag
measuring cup and spoon
large skillet
medium bowl
whisk
slow cooker

How to Make This Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe

This slow cooker orange chicken recipe comes together in a few simple steps. Just follow the instructions below and you will have a family favorite meal in no time at all.

Step 1: Prepare the slow cooker

Prepare the slow cooker by either spraying it with nonstick cooking spray or inserting a liner.

Step 2: Shake together the dry ingredients

In a gallon-sized freezer bag, shake together the cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken and toss to coat.

Cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a gallon-sized freezer bag next to raw chicken in a glass bowl

Step 3: Brown the chicken pieces

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and brown the chicken in batches until browned on both sides. Place chicken in the crock pot.

Olive oil and chicken in a large skillet

Step 4: Stir together the sauce

In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Pour it over the chicken in the slow cooker.

Step 5: Cook the chicken

Cover the slow cooker and cook for 2 hours on low or 1 hour on high, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Step 6: Garnish and serve

Serve over rice and garnish with sliced green onions.

Variations / Options / Add-Ins

There are a few variations that you can make to this crockpot orange chicken recipe.

Add vegetables: You can easily add some vegetables to this recipe. Just chop them up and add them in with the chicken before cooking. Some great options are broccoli, carrots, and bell peppers.

Make it spicier: If you like your food with a little bit of a kick, you can add some more red pepper flakes to the sauce.

Make it gluten-free: To make this recipe gluten-free, just use a gluten-free soy sauce and substitute the cornstarch for arrowroot powder or tapioca flour.

overhead view of Crockpot Orange Chicken in a white bowl next to chopsticks on a gray cloth, with an orange, green onions, and a crockpot in the background

Tips

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you make the best crockpot orange chicken recipe:

Be sure to brown the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker. This will help to seal in the juices and make for a juicier chicken.
If you want to save some time, you can prepare the sauce the night before. Just whisk it all together and store it in a jar in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
It is important to use fresh orange juice and zest for this recipe. The flavor will not be the same if you use bottled orange juice.
Add a little crunch to this recipe by garnishing it with sesame seeds.

FAQs

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.

How to store

Leftover orange chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How to reheat

To reheat, heat it up in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through, or in the microwave on 50% power for 1 or 2 minutes.

Can I freeze this recipe?

Yes, you can freeze this recipe. Just store the leftovers in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Crockpot Orange Chicken and wooden chopsticks in a white bowl next to an orange and green onions

More Crockpot Recipes

If you like slow cooker recipes, give these recipes a try: