This Mandarin Chicken is a healthier take on your favourite takeout dish. Plus, it has the most delicious sauce ever!
It's quick and easy to make, perfect for a weeknight dinner, and goes so well with rice or steamed veggies. Skip the takeout and enjoy this homemade classic!
Why you'll love this recipe
- It's better than takeout: This recipe honestly tastes better than the takeout version. Plus, you're saving money and calories by making it at home.
- The chicken is super crispy: You'll love the texture of the mandarin crispy chicken – no deep frying required!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Boneless skinless chicken breast – boneless skinless chicken thighs will also work, but will increase the calorie count.
- Eggs – you’ll need the egg to coat the chicken. Alternatively, you can try using mayo or buttermilk, but it may alter the flavour.
- Cornstarch – arrowroot or potato starch will also work. Alternatively, you can just replace it with more flour.
- Flour – use your favourite gluten-free flour instead.
- Sunflower oil – swap out for another neutral cooking oil such as avocado or vegetable oil.
- Green onions – leave this garnish off altogether if you don’t have any on hand.
- Sesame seeds – white or black sesame seeds would both be good. If you don’t have any on hand, feel free to leave them off altogether.
Mandarin sauce
- Juiced orange – you can use store-bought orange juice, but it will increase the calorie count.
- Cornstarch – arrowroot or potato starch are good swaps for cornstarch.
- Hoisin sauce – oyster sauce is the best substitute here.
- Sweet chili sauce – make your own using 1 tbsp. hot sauce, 4 tbsp. honey and 1 tbsp. soy sauce.
- Soy sauce – tamari or coconut aminos are the best substitutes for soy sauce.
- Lemon juice – freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice will both work.
- Garlic – freshly minced garlic is best but the jarred minced variety will work in a pinch.
- Sriracha – or another hot sauce of your choice.
Rice
- Jasmine rice – you could also serve this dish with brown rice or any rice variety you like.
- Butter – olive oil or margarine will help keep the rice nice and moist.
How to make mandarin chicken
Step 1: Make the rice.
Make the rice, prep your ingredients, and cut up the chicken.
Step 2: Coat the chicken.
Dip the chicken in the egg mixture, then toss it in the cornstarch and flour mixture.
Step 3: Fry the chicken.
Add chicken to skillet and cook until golden brown.
Step 4: Drain the oil.
Drain the chicken on a paper-towel lined plate.
Step 5: Make the mandarin sauce.
Mix all sauce ingredients together and microwave until the sauce thickens.
Step 6: Toss the chicken in the sauce.
Toss the cooked chicken in the sauce, serve over rice, and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Recipe tips & variations
- Swap out the protein: Instead of chicken, you can try using shrimp or tofu.
- Prep your ingredients: To cut down on cooking time, prep your ingredients beforehand. You can juice the orange, dice up the chicken, and make the sauce a couple days in advance.
- Don't coat the chicken: For a lower-calorie option, you can skip coating the chicken and just pan-fry it on its own, but the chicken won't be crispy.
- Add more veggies: Stir-fry some bell peppers, broccoli florets or bok choy and add them to the dish.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between mandarin and orange chicken?
Orange chicken is basically the Americanized version of the Chinese dish. Orange chicken is made with deep-fried chicken, and typically has a thicker sauce that is made with orange juice.
Can I make a healthier version of Mandarin Chicken?
Yes! By pan-searing or baking the chicken instead of deep-frying and using less sugar in the sauce, you can make this dish a little lighter.
How can I make mandarin chicken gluten-free?
Substitute regular soy sauce with gluten-free soy sauce or tamari and coat your chicken in a gluten-free flour. Always make sure that all other ingredients, such as hoisin sauce or any pre-made sauces used, are certified gluten-free by double checking the ingredients list!
How do I make the sauce thicker?
If you want to thicken the sauce, stir in a cornstarch slurry and let the sauce simmer for a couple minutes. If it's too thick, just add a bit of water and stir.
What to serve with this dish
Mandarin chicken goes perfectly with a whole bunch of side dishes. Here are some of my favourites:
- Steamed jasmine rice, fried rice or low-carb cauliflower rice.
- Spring rolls, egg rolls or steamed dumplings.
- Stir-fried or air-fried vegetables
How to store and reheat
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Warm in a pan over medium heat until heated through or microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway.
Freeze & reheat from frozen: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in a pan or microwave until hot.
More takeout-inspired recipes
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this mandarin chicken into leftovers.
- A rice cooker is invaluable for saving time, and it cooks other grains, too!
- Get a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through.
- I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
Easy Mandarin Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts diced
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 cup sunflower oil
- 4 green onions sliced
- Sesame seeds optional, for garnish
Mandarin sauce
- 1 orange juiced
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp sriracha
Rice
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Add rice, butter, salt and water to a rice cooker or pot on the stove and cook until liquid has absorbed.
- Add eggs to a bowl, then mix cornstarch and flour together in another large bowl. Dredge chicken in egg mixture, then toss in flour mixture.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add sunflower oil. When lightly smoking, add chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Add chicken to a paper-towel lined plate to drain oil. Season with salt and set aside.
- Meanwhile, whisk orange juice and cornstarch together in a large bowl until there are no lumps. Mix in hoisin sauce, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, minced garlic and sriracha, stirring until well combined. Microwave, covered, for 1 minute until sauce thickens.
- Toss cooked chicken in the bowl with the sauce, then divide cooked rice among plates. Top with chicken, garnishing with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve and enjoy!
Comments & Reviews
Esme says
This recipe was easy to make and delicious! Sadly the nutritional stats shown on the recipe are way off for sodium. A serve comes out at over 1300mg rather than the 650-odd listed. Maybe the nutritional stars didn’t count the Hoisin properly? That makes it off limits for me.
Taylor Stinson says
We use a nutrition calculator to provide a best estimate and unfortunately it’s not always spot on due to ingredient and brand variations. We do try our best to ensure accuracy but we do advise that if you have specific dietary needs to double check to ensure it works for you.