Easy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken (Dairy-Free)

What is Orange Chicken?

Orange chicken is big hit and the signature dish at the American Chinese franchise Panda Express (and it’s probably a favorite Chinese take-out for many, such as the Panda Express honey sesame chicken!).

It involves coating chicken pieces in a batter and then frying the chicken until it is golden brown and crispy, before drizzling it in a sweet orange sauce that is glossy and looks more like a glaze.

Is Orange Chicken Gluten-Free?

Typically, the batter used for orange chicken is made with normal wheat flour (which contains gluten), and the orange glaze is made with soy sauce (which also contains gluten).

Hence, most orange chicken sold at restaurants is not safe for Celiacs, unless it is specifically said to be gluten-free.

Today, we’re making a copycat version of Panda Express orange chicken that’s both gluten-free and dairy-free. Let’s dive right into this copycat recipe and I’ll show you how to make homemade orange chicken!

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: The ingredients required for making this gluten-free dairy-free orange chicken recipe are easily accessible at the local grocery stores (nothing fancy required!).
• Easy to Make: Making the batter for this easy gluten free orange chicken is uncomplicated, and then all you need to do is coat the chicken in the batter before frying it and then preparing the spicy orange sauce.
• Totally Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free: The best part is that this healthy orange chicken recipe os 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy it without issues.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this gluten-free orange chicken recipe.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Recipe Notes + Substitutions:

• Chicken: I used chicken breast but you can also use any other chicken parts you prefer, such as chicken thighs or chicken legs etc.
• Egg: The egg helps to bind the flour mixture to the chicken. If you are allergic to egg, or would simply prefer to keep the recipe egg-free, go ahead and use acquafaba or an egg-replacer instead.
• Gluten-Free Flour: I recommend using a good-quality gluten-free flour blend that is made up of lighter flours/starches (such as rice flour, tapioca starch, corn starch, or potato starch). I do NOT recommend a gluten-free blend that is made up of heavier flours (such as a garbanzo bean flour).
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch is important as it results in a lighter crust once the chicken is fried. If you don’t have corn starch, you can use tapioca starch or arrowroot starch instead.
• Oil: You can use any oil you prefer for frying. I like using sunflower oil because I always have it on hand. However, you may use another vegetable oil instead (such as canola oil, olive oil, avocado oil, melted coconut oil etc).
• White Wine: I used white wine, but if you rather keep this recipe wine free, you can also use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar instead.
• Orange Juice: I prefer using fresh orange juice for the best flavor. Alternatively, if you don’t have freshly oranges on hand, feel free to use bottled orange juice instead.
• Orange Zest: Make sure to grate the orange zest just before using it to maintain the orange flavor.
• Sesame Oil: Sesame oil adds a unique flavor to this recipe and I do not recommend swapping it out for another oil.
• Gluten-Free Tamari: I used gluten-free tamari (which is gluten-free soy sauce) to keep this recipe gluten-free. However, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, feel free to use use regular soy sauce instead. Alternatively, if you prefer to make orange chicken without soy sauce, you can use coconut aminos instead.
• Brown Sugar: I used brown sugar but you can also use normal cane sugar or even coconut sugar if you prefer. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend that you use granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute that is zero glycemic-index and will not raise your blood sugar).
• Red Chili Flakes: Chili flakes are a signature part of the orange sauce, but you may also use chili powder instead. If you aren’t a fan of heat, feel free to leave out the chili.
• Minced Garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds a deliciously savory flavor. So make sure you use fresh garlic.
• Minced Ginger: Fresh ginger adds depth of flavor to this gluten-free orange chicken, so make sure you don’t skip it.
• Sesame Seeds: I like sprinkling white sesame seeds over the orange chicken for garnish. You can also use black sesame seeds or a mixture.
• Green Onions: Chopped green onions add a nice contrast in color to the orange chicken, but you could also use chopped fresh chives or cilantro if you prefer.

How to Make Gluten-Free Orange Chicken (Step by Step):

1. Dip Chicken in Egg Mixture

Whisk the egg with salt and pepper. Dip the chicken pieces in it.

2. Coat Chicken in Flour Mixture

Whisk the cornstarch and gluten-free all-purpose flour in a bowl until well combined. Then roll the chicken pieces in the flour mixture, coating them evenly before shaking off any excess flour from the chicken.

3. Place Chicken in Skillet

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer, on the pan.

4. Cook Until Golden Brown

Fry the chicken pieces until they are golden brown and crispy, stirring occasionally, 6-7 minutes over medium heat. Then transfer to a plate and set aside.

5. Sauté Ginger and Garlic

Add some oil to the pan and sauté the garlic, ginger and chili flakes for a minute, stirring occasionally.

6. Add Wet Ingredients

Pour soy sauce, white wine, orange juice, brown sugar and orange zest into the pan. Heat for 1 minute, stirring.

7. Add Corn Starch Mixture to Make Orange Sauce

Mix water with cornstarch and whisk well so that there are no lumps. Pour into the pan, also add sesame oil. Stir until the gluten-free orange chicken sauce thickens (approximately 1-2 minutes).

8. Toss Chicken with Sauce

Transfer the chicken pieces to the skillet and toss until each is covered in the glossy orange sauce.

9. Serve and Enjoy

Serve the gluten-free orange chicken with sesame seeds and green onions.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:

• Substitute Chicken with Another Protein: If you prefer not to use chicken, feel free to swap out the chicken for pieces of tofu, pork or fish.
• Serve with Rice: I like eating this gluten-free orange chicken recipe with rice, but you can also use cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.

Recipe FAQs:

Asian Recipes to Enjoy:

• Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Cashew Chicken (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Easy Fried Rice (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Shrimp Pad Thai (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Inside Out Egg Roll (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Beef and Broccoli (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Other Gluten-Free Chicken Recipes You’ll Enjoy:

• Easy Chicken Meatballs (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Easy Chicken Casserole (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Gluten-Free Fried Chicken (Dairy-Free)
• Creamy Chicken Salad (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Buffalo Chicken Dip (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Other Main Dishes You’ll Love: