EASY SLOW COOKER ORANGE CHICKEN — Better than take-out orange chicken made in the slow cooker!
As far as I’m concerned, nothing beats an easy, slow cooker recipe that the whole family loves. If you agree, then you’ve got to try this Easy Slow Cooker Orange Chicken.
My 12 year-old is definitely my pickiest eater, so if he goes back for seconds, I know it’s a keeper.
He went back for thirds of this orange chicken and asked to eat the leftovers the next day!
Made this twice now. It’s so good!!! Looking forward to more posts. ~ Kimberly
This chicken dish has lots of great flavor thanks to fresh orange juice and zest, along with ginger and red pepper flakes for a bit of spice.
Sauteing the meat before adding it to the slow cooker is an extra step, but it adds so much flavor. Don’t be tempted to skip it. It only takes a few minutes and is totally worth it!
I recommend serving this orange chicken over hot cooked rice, but rice noodles are great too.
We like to garnish ours with some sesame seeds and diced green onion. You could even add red peppers or snow peas to the mix.
One thing is for sure–my family loved this and I’ll be making it again and again.
You’ll definitely want to add this Slow Cooker Orange Chicken Recipe to your collection of easy family dinners that are perfect for busy week nights.
Be sure to save this Easy Slow Cooker Orange Chicken recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Easy Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
- Chicken breasts
- Cornstarch
- Spices: salt and pepper, ground ginger, red pepper flakes
- Vegetable oil
- Chicken broth
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Vinegar
- Produce: Garlic, green onions
- Sesame oil
Easy Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1-2 tablespoons orange zest
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons water + 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Sesame seeds and green onions for garnish
- Cooked rice for serving
Instructions
- In a large zip-top bag, toss the chicken with the cornstarch salt and pepper. Shake to coat well.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in batches for 5-6 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer chicken to a lightly greased slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, whisk together chicken broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, orange juice and zest, vinegar, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes and sesame oil. Pour sauce over chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- About 30 minutes before serving, whisk together the 2 tablespoons of water and cornstarch in a small bowl and stir mixture into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for another 20-30 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds, green onions and serve over cooked rice.
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Nutrition
Never miss a Let’s Dish Recipe:
Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
If you love this recipe, you might also like:
More Asian Inspired Recipes
Easy Black Pepper Beef
Tender chunks of beef are sauteed with bell peppers, onions and lots of black pepper in this delicious Asian recipe that's so easy to make at home!
Ham Fried Rice
Fried rice tossed with soy sauce, scrambled eggs, diced ham and veggies. Even better than take-out!
Baked Kung Pao Chicken
Savory chicken baked in a sweet and spicy sauce then garnished with peanuts and green onions!
Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken
Healthier than take out, this baked sweet and sour chicken is sure to become a family favorite!
Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein
Featuring seasoned ramen noodles with cabbage and celery, this easy copycat recipe will make you feel like you're eating at your favorite fast food Chinese restaurant.
Easy Sesame Chicken
Tender chicken sauteed with spices and coated in a sweet and spicy honey teriyaki sauce. Better than take-out!
Easy Peanut Chicken Stir Fry
Rice noodles, chicken and vegetables are tossed in a zippy peanut sauce in this Asian inspired recipe that's on the table in about 30 minutes.
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup
This flavorful Chinese soup, featuring peppery spices and tangy vinegar, is the perfect accompaniment to any Asian meal. Try adding meat or tofu for an even heartier dish.
Who Dished It Up First: Adapted from Life Made Sweeter
2 comments
Francine
This was delicious. My family agreed that it was restaurant quality. Chicken very tender. A little spicy- a good amount for me and my husband, but if you don’t like spicy things may want to decrease the red pepper.
Kimberly Baxter
Made this twice now. It’s so good!!! Looking forward to more posts.