Irresistible Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe
This Irresistible Crockpot Orange Chicken recipe combines tender, lightly browned chicken pieces with a flavorful and tangy orange sauce made from orange marmalade, soy sauce, and aromatic spices. Slow-cooked to perfection, it’s an easy, delicious meal perfect for serving over steamed rice and garnished with sesame seeds and scallions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 to 3 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American-Chinese
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenders, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 4 tbsp olive oil
Orange Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups orange marmalade (one 16 oz jar)
- 1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
For Serving
- Additional sesame seeds, for garnish
- Chopped scallions, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders into bite-sized, approximately 1-inch pieces. Pour the cornstarch into a shallow dish and toss the chicken pieces in the cornstarch until they are evenly coated. This coating helps create a light crust during browning.
- Brown the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the cornstarch-coated chicken pieces and brown lightly on each side, turning as needed. Do not cook fully through, just develop a golden exterior. Transfer the browned chicken to the basin of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Mix the orange sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together orange marmalade, reduced-sodium soy sauce, white vinegar, sesame oil, ground ginger, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds. Taste the sauce and adjust ginger if desired for extra zing.
- Combine and cook: Pour the orange sauce over the browned chicken in the slow cooker. Stir gently to coat the chicken evenly. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours, stirring halfway to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Finish and serve: When the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened, garnish with additional sesame seeds and chopped scallions. Serve immediately over steamed rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- Do not fully cook the chicken during browning; this allows the chicken to stay tender when slow-cooked.
- Stir the slow cooker halfway through cooking to prevent the sauce from sticking or burning.
- Adjust the amount of ground ginger or red pepper flakes according to your taste preference.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce alternative.
- This recipe works well with chicken tenders or breasts cut into uniform pieces for even cooking.
Keywords: orange chicken, crockpot orange chicken, slow cooker chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner, orange sauce chicken, Chinese-inspired chicken
