Description
This Crockpot Orange Chicken recipe offers a deliciously tangy and sweet twist on the classic takeout favorite. Tender chicken pieces are lightly browned then slow-cooked in a vibrant orange marmalade sauce with soy, ginger, garlic, and a hint of heat from red pepper flakes, resulting in a perfectly flavorful and easy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
Sauce
- 1 ½ cups orange marmalade
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, plus more for garnish
Garnish
- Fresh scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- Coat the Chicken: Place the cornstarch and chicken pieces in a shallow bowl and toss to evenly coat each piece with cornstarch, which helps create a light crust when browned.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat the vegetable or olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken in batches and lightly brown all sides. Avoid cooking it through at this stage; the goal is just to get a nice golden exterior.
- Transfer to Crockpot: Place the browned chicken pieces into the slow cooker in an even layer to prepare for slow cooking.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the orange marmalade, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ground ginger, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and sesame seeds until well combined.
- Add Sauce and Stir: Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken in the crockpot, then gently stir to ensure all chicken pieces are coated with the flavorful sauce.
- Slow Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 2½ to 3 hours. Stir the chicken halfway through cooking to distribute the sauce and prevent sticking.
- Garnish and Serve: Once cooked, garnish with thinly sliced fresh scallions and an additional sprinkle of sesame seeds before serving for added freshness and texture.
Notes
- For best flavor, do not skip the browning step—it adds important texture and depth to the chicken.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to taste if you prefer more or less heat.
- This dish pairs beautifully with steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American-Chinese
Keywords: orange chicken, crockpot recipes, slow cooker chicken, orange marmalade sauce, easy dinner, weeknight meals
