Orange Chicken Sauce for Chicken, Veggies, Meatballs, and more!

Homemade Orange Chicken Sauce is where it's at.

Orange Chicken Sauce is bursting with flavor - superior to anything you could buy at the store. This sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy glaze is perfect for coating crispy, deep-fried chicken, shrimp, scallops and tofu/tempeh, or even baked salmon, pork, and meatballs.

The best part about making your own sauce is that you can control the quality of the ingredients. This dreamy sauce all starts with fresh minced ginger and fresh-squeezed oranges.

Looking for something to go with this Orange Chicken Sauce?

• Orange Chicken | Best Gluten Free Recipes - This recipe is amazing! If you don't have to eat GF, simply swap the GF flour for regular all purpose or cornstarch.
• Gluten Free Coconut Shrimp with Peach Lime Sauce - Replace the Peach Lime Sauce with this Orange Chicken Sauce!
• Easy Fried Rice | Best Gluten Free Dinner Side
• Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Almond Flour | Gluten Free - Use as a dipping sauce with nuggets!

What Goes Best with Orange Chicken Sauce?

Orange chicken sauce, with its rich balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes, is incredibly versatile in the kitchen beyond its traditional use with crispy chicken. Here are several creative ways to use homemade orange chicken sauce:

• Vegetable Stir-Fry: Use it as a stir-fry sauce for vegetables. It works especially well with broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas, mushrooms, and carrots, coating them in a tangy glaze.
• Tofu or Tempeh: For a vegetarian or vegan alternative, toss crispy tofu or tempeh in orange chicken sauce. It absorbs the flavors well and offers a delicious plant-based main dish.
• Fish and Seafood: Glaze salmon, shrimp, or scallops with the orange sauce before or after cooking. It complements seafood nicely.
• Rice or Noodle Bowls: Drizzle the sauce over rice or noodle bowls that include a variety of vegetables and a protein source, such as grilled chicken, beef, or tofu. It acts as a flavorful dressing.
• Meatballs: Use the sauce as a glaze for baked or fried meatballs, whether they're made from beef, pork, chicken, or a plant-based alternative. This is an exciting twist with endless possibilities. Lunch meal prep, anyone?
• Wings: Coat chicken wings with the sauce for a sweet and tangy alternative to traditional hot sauces.
• Pork or Beef: Brush it on grilled or roasted pork chops, tenderloin, or beef skewers for a citrus-y glaze that caramelizes once heated.
• Salad Dressing: Thin the sauce with a bit of olive oil or water and use it as a salad dressing for Asian-inspired salads.
• Dipping Sauce: Serve homemade orange chicken sauce as a dipping sauce on the side for dumplings, spring rolls, rice paper wraps, or chicken tenders. Holy yum.

What Is Orange Chicken Sauce Made Of?

Orange sauce is made from a combination of ingredients that include:

• Zest and freshly-squeezed juice of 2 navel oranges. Leave whatever pulp falls in for a delicious texture. Freshly-squeezed oranges provide the primary flavor base, giving the sauce its characteristic citrus-y sweetness and tang.
• Minced ginger gives depth and zippiness.
• Minced garlic gives the orange sauce an aromatic flavor and smell.
• Rice wine vinegar contributes to the tanginess and helps balance the sweetness of the sauce.
• Soy sauce adds a salty, umami depth to the sauce, contrasting the sweet and tangy elements. Be sure to use GF soy sauce or tamari if GF. I like to use San-J gluten-free tamari.
• Sesame oil adds more depth to the sauce.
• Water helps thin out the sauce to allow for reduction when simmering.
• Sherry (replaces Japanese sake/mirin)
• Granulated sugar balances the tanginess of the orange juice, and it helps the sauce become amber-colored.
• Honey adds a signature stickiness and gleam to the orange sauce.
• Chili flakes add a touch of heat to the sauce, balancing all of the flavors. You can add more if you like things spicy. This sauce is mild.
• Cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce

How to Make Homemade Orange Chicken Sauce:

• To a medium-sized pot, add the minced ginger and the zest of the oranges.

• Add the freshly-squeezed juice of the oranges. Leave whatever pulp falls in for a delicious texture.

• Add all of the remaining ingredients (except for the cornstarch slurry) to the same pot. Don't judge the consistency of the sauce at this stage. All of the pieces will break down while simmering.

• Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Once simmering, add in the cornstarch slurry while constantly stirring, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer an additional 3 to 5 minutes, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. The mixture will thicken some more as it cools.

• Remove from the heat and let the sauce cool for 10 minutes before pouring into a glass jar. Allow it to cool completely before covering and refrigerating. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week, or in the freezer in a storage bag for up to three months.

How Do You Thicken Orange Chicken Sauce?

To thicken the sauce: Add the orange sauce to a small pot and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Once simmering, add in the cornstarch slurry (a mixture of 4 tablespoon cornstarch to 4 tablespoon water) while constantly stirring. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Note: The mixture will thicken some more as it cools.

Equipment

You don't need any special equipment to make Homemade Orange Chicken Sauce, but I recommend:

• Wide-mouth mason jars
• Collapsible silicone funnels make filling the jars mess-free

How Long Does Homemade Orange Chicken Sauce Last in the Fridge?

You can store orange sauce in the refrigerator for up to one week. For a longer shelf life, store it in the freezer in a storage bag for up to three months.

You can determine if orange sauce has spoiled by looking for signs of mold, changes in color, or an unusual odor.