Absolutely! Using chicken thighs makes orange chicken extra juicy and flavorful. Here’s a homemade version with a crispy coating and a tangy, sweet orange sauce.

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Crispy Orange Chicken (with Thighs)

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into bite-sized pieces)

• ½ cup cornstarch

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• 1 egg

• ¼ cup water

• Oil for frying (vegetable or peanut oil)

For the Orange Sauce:

• ½ cup fresh orange juice (about 1 large orange)

• 1 tbsp orange zest

• ¼ cup soy sauce

• ¼ cup honey (or brown sugar)

• 2 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)

• 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (slurry to thicken)

• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger

• 1 tsp minced garlic

• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)

• 1 tbsp sesame oil (for finishing)

• Sliced green onions & sesame seeds (for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Prep the Chicken:

   • In a bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

   • In another bowl, whisk the egg and water.

   • Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture, then coat in the flour mixture.

2. Fry the Chicken:

   • Heat about ½ inch of oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

   • Fry the chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy (about 4-5 minutes per side).

   • Drain on paper towels.

3. Make the Sauce:

   • In a saucepan, mix orange juice, zest, soy sauce, honey, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes over medium heat.

   • Bring to a simmer, then stir in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch + water).

   • Cook until the sauce thickens (about 2-3 minutes).

   • Stir in sesame oil for flavor.

4. Combine & Serve:

• Toss the crispy chicken in the sauce until well coated.

• Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

• Serve over steamed rice or noodles.

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This tastes better than takeout! Want to tweak the flavors, like making it spicier or less sweet?