This Instant Pot Orange Chicken is an easy way to make a classic Asian Takeout Dish. Tender bite-size pieces of Chicken with a zesty orange sauce, served on a bed of white rice.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- EASY – You can make a homemade version of this famous recipe in just a couple minutes. Literally just 17 minutes from start to finish. Much quicker than ordering takeout from a restaurant.
- WHOLESOME – Plus, when you order takeout, you never know exactly what preservatives or additives they are putting into your dish. This version is much more healthy, using real, homemade ingredients.
- EASY CLEANUP – Everything is made in one pot in your pressure cooker! So there isn’t lots of dishes to clean up after!
Pressure Cooker Cooking
20 Chinese Recipes for Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
You may have noticed that I do a lot of cooking in my pressure cooker. Pressure cooker recipes are easy and cleanup is a breeze with only have one pot to deal with. For a busy mom, the pressure cooker has saved me a lot of time and I love that! I can make my famous Mississippi Pot Roast in half the time it takes in the oven!
I have the Instant Pot pressure cooker, you might have heard of this brand, but there are many other pressure cookers on the market.
Once you get your pressure cooker you really don’t need much else to get started. Be sure to check out our Pressure Cooking Guide for beginners for some tips! If you like easy Chinese chicken recipes I might suggest this cookbook for you! This cookbook shows easy Chinese food recipes you can make in your Instant Pot or any other electric pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Orange Chicken
It may look like there are a lot of ingredients in this dish, but really they are all common pantry staples that you probably already have in your kitchen. For step-by-step instructions, read below. Or check out our printable recipe card. But here is what you’ll need to get started.
Instant Pot Orange Chicken Ingredients
- CHICKEN – We used about 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts. Some people like to make this dish with boneless skinless chicken thighs, which you are welcome to substitute for.
- OIL – We use vegetable oil, but any oil with a higher smoke point will work.
- GARLIC – You will saute the garlic with your chicken in the oil. The smells will be amazing.
- SALT AND BLACK PEPPER – To taste
- TOMATO SAUCE – Any brand will work. Just one small (8 ounce) can will do.
- ORANGE JUICE – For orange chicken, we like using pulp free orange juice. If you are worried about this dish being too sweet, use no sugar added OJ.
- BROWN SUGAR – Helps to give our Orange Chicken that distinctive sweet flavor!
- SOY SAUCE – If you are watching your salt intake, you can use low sodium soy sauce.
- CORNSTARCH – To make our corn starch slurry. See directions below. This will help to thicken up the sauce.
- ORANGE ZEST – As a garnish.
- GREEN ONIONS – As a garnish.
- COOKED RICE – For serving.
How To Make Orange Chicken In An Instant Pot
- Place chicken, oil and garlic into the instant pot. Turn onto saute and cook until chicken is brown. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add tomato sauce, orange juice, brown sugar.
- Add Soy Sauce and mix well.
- Add Orange Juice.
- Close instant pot lid and quick release valve. Set instant pot to manual, high pressure for 7 minutes. When cooking is complete, quick release steam and open lid.
- Pour cornstarch dissolved in water into Instant Pot and stir well until sauce thickens.
- Serve orange chicken on a bed of rice with sliced green onions and orange zest.
Storage, Leftovers and Freezing
You can store leftovers in an airting container in your refrigerator. They should stay good for about 5 days. This dish reheats just fine in a microwave.
To freeze, allow to fully cool and put in a freezer bag or freezer safe container. It should stay good in your freezer for about 4 months. Thaw out overnight in your fridge and reheat in the microwave.
Slow Cooker Method
Mix garlic, tomato sauce, orange juice, soy sauce and brown sugar together in a medium mixing bowl. Pour half into your greased slow cooker, add chicken and pour remaining sauce over. Set on low for 4 hours. Once the 4 hours is up, pour cornstarch dissolved in water into your slow cooker and cook another 1 hour on high.
Notes, Tips and FAQs
- WHY IS MY ORANGE SAUCE TOO RUNNY? – If you need to thicken your orange sauce, simply make some more cornstarch slurry and add it until you get the desired consistency.
- OTHER GARNISHES – You can also top your Orange Chicken with sesame seeds or red pepper flakes for a bit of spice!
- ADD VEGETABLES – Stir in broccoli, mini corn on the cobs, water chestnuts, bell peppers or mushrooms.
- WHY AM I GETTING A BURN NOTICE? – After you saute your chicken, deglaze the pot by scraping up the brown bits. This also will add some flavor to your dish!
LOOKING FOR MORE ASIAN INSTANT POT RECIPES? CHECK OUT MY:
Easy Instant Pot Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast cut into cubes
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- salt and pepper
- 1 can 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 3 tablespoons cold water
- orange zest
- green onions sliced thin
- cooked rice for serving
Instructions
- Place chicken, oil and garlic into the instant pot. Turn onto sautee and cook until chicken is brown. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add tomato sauce, orange juice, brown sugar and soy sauce and mix well.
- Close instant pot lid and quick release valve. Set instant pot to manual, high pressure for 7 minutes. When cooking is complete, quick release steam and open lid.
- Pour cornstarch dissolved in water into Instant Pot and stir well until sauce thickens.
- Serve orange chicken on a bed of rice with sliced green onions and orange zest.
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.
Pin Our Instant Pot Orange Chicken Recipe
