Slow Cooker Orange Chicken Recipe

This slow cooker orange chicken recipe is better (and healthier!) than any take-out! Meet the perfect, easy weeknight dinner!

Looking for more weeknight meals? Try this 30 minute instant pot butter chicken!

Orange chicken is one of those guilty, take-out pleasures for me. I’m not gonna lie, there was a time when Panda Express orange chicken was a go-to on nights I was too tired to cook. This recipe is the perfect go between for this unhealthy habit. Not only is it super easy (spoiler alert, the slow cooker does all the work!), but it also is gluten free and dairy free! Say goodbye to sore stomachs and bloating!

Making this slow cooker orange chicken

This orange chicken recipe follows all of my requirements for an easy weeknight dinner. It requires very little prep. And afterwards, you just throw it into the slow cooker, and let it do its thing!

Ingredients

Chicken – Use 2 to 3 pounds of boneless, skinless breasts or thighs. Cut them into bite size pieces.
Cornstarch – About 1/4 a cup of cornstarch will help thicken the liquid in the slow cooker.
Orange juice – Mix in ¾ cup of freshly squeezed orange juice for one of the standout flavors.
Orange zest – One tablespoon along with the orange juice will give the chicken a delicious orange flavor.
Rice wine vinegar – Add 1 tablespoon of rice wine vinegar for a good base for the meal.
Garlic – Mincing two cloves of garlic adds that spicy zing we all love so much.
Oils – You’ll need 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil.
Sweeteners – Use 1/4 cup of sugar, 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of low-sodium soy sauce to sweeten up this recipe.
Seasonings – Ground ginger and red pepper flakes are recommended, but you can also season to your own preference.

Process

For this recipe, I do brown my chicken before I put it in the slow cooker. This is just because I find it easier and quicker than cooking the chicken inside the crockpot. I also like the browning/breading that happens when I fry it before. I first mix cornstarch and salt and pepper in a reusable plastic bag or a container. Then I add my sliced raw chicken and toss them in the mix until they are thoroughly coated. Then I fry my chicken on medium-high heat in the olive oil. After the chicken is browned, I add it to the slow cooker pot. Pro tip: Make sure you grease the inside of the slow cooker. You will thank me when you go to wash your pot. Then I mix the rest of the ingredients and pour it over.

You can cook the chicken for 2 hours on low or 1 hour on high. Just make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is 165º. Eat it with a hot bowl of rice and garnish with chopped green onions!

FAQ

What does orange chicken taste like?

Orange chicken tastes very sweet and sour thanks to the various oils and sweeteners that make up the sauce in the recipe.

What can you serve with orange chicken?

Orange chicken goes well with rice, broccoli, noodles, soups and salads.

Is orange chicken good for you?

Orange chicken contains a ton of nutritious benefits as long as you use fresh and natural ingredients. The citrus within oranges, protein in the chicken and the antioxidants in the oils are all excellent examples of nutritious benefits from orange chicken.

Originally published in May 2021, this post has been updated.