Easy Orange Chicken with Chicken Nuggets
A good orange chicken is usually a bit of a project. Batter, frying, a sink full of dishes and more effort than a Tuesday night really calls for. This version skips all of that. I use shop-bought chicken nuggets instead, which means you still get that crispy bite without any of the faff.
Ingredients
- 600 grams (22oz) shop-bought chicken nuggets
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water (to make a slurry)
- 1⅓ cups pure orange juice or roughly 4 squeezed oranges
- 3 tablespoons Thai sweet chilli sauce
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons ginger paste or grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons garlic paste or crushed garlic
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
Instructions
- Cook the chicken nuggets according to the packet instructions until hot and crispy.600 grams (22oz) shop-bought chicken nuggets
- In a small bowl, mix the cornflour and water until completely smooth to make a slurry.2 teaspoons cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
- Pour the orange juice into a medium saucepan. Add the sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar and honey. Stir to combine.1⅓ cups pure orange juice, 3 tablespoons Thai sweet chilli sauce, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 teaspoons ginger paste, 2 teaspoons garlic paste, 2 teaspoons rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey
- Pour the orange juice into a medium saucepan. Add the sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar and honey. Stir to combine.
- Cook for 10–15 minutes until the sauce thickens and turns glossy. It should coat the back of a spoon.
- Add the cooked nuggets to the sauce and toss until evenly coated.
- Serve immediately with rice or noodles and garnish with sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Top tips:
- The sauce is meant to be sweet and sticky, so expect that classic orange chicken-style flavour.
- If you prefer more control, add the sauce to the nuggets gradually and stop when they’re coated to your liking.
- For a less sweet version, simply reduce the honey slightly.
- Add the nuggets at the end and toss quickly so they stay as crisp as possible.
Nutrition
Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 969mg | Potassium: 396mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 254IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
