Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Mandarin chicken is one of my favorite takeout meals. Between the tender chicken and the sweet & savory sauce, it’s hard to get enough of it! This easy at-home version gives you that same delicious dish but lets you control the ingredients so it always comes out just the way you like it.This recipe really couldn’t be easier. The glaze comes together quickly – just whisk the ingredients together! Spend a few minutes browning the chicken, then pour the glaze over it and let the heat work its magic.You don’t need any fancy sides to compliment the Mandarin chicken. I prefer it over a bed of white rice, but you could also use cauliflower rice. Broccoli would also go with it really well!
Key Ingredients
Orange Juice – OJ gives the recipe a little sweetness and an amazing hint of orange flavor. It’s not too strong that it overpowers the other flavors in the sauce, though. If you’re watching your sugar intake, you can use a reduced or no sugar added orange juice.Chicken Breasts – You could also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.Ginger – A small, 1-inch piece of ginger is all you need to bring another layer of incredible flavor to this Mandarin chicken.Cornstarch – Just a little, to help the sauce thicken.
Chef’s Tips
Feel free to play around with the ingredient quantities in the Mandarin chicken sauce to get your perfect blend of flavors. If your orange juice is very sweet, you might not need as much brown sugar. If you like a more savory flavor overall, you might add a touch more soy sauce.Don’t overcook the sauce. You want it to thicken but not burn. As soon as you see it begin to bubble, turn the heat down to low and let everything simmer. Stir periodically to keep the chicken and sauce from sticking to the pan.On that same note, don’t overcook the chicken, either. Because you’ll be adding it back to the pan and cooking it more with the sauce, you only want to brown it at first. I mean, 1 to 2 minutes or so per side. The exact cooking times will vary based on your stove, your skillet, and the thickness of your chicken.If you really like orange flavor, try adding actual Mandarin orange pieces to your Mandarin chicken! You can use a drained can of Mandarin oranges, stirred in with the chicken and the sauce in step 4 of the instructions below.
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