Chinese Orange Chicken
Chinese Orange Chicken is a popular American-Chinese dish featuring bite-sized pieces of battered and fried chicken coated in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy orange-flavored sauce. It typically includes ingredients like chicken breast or thigh, cornstarch, soy sauce, orange zest, garlic, ginger, and sugar. While inspired by Chinese cooking techniques, the dish as commonly served in Western restaurants is a creation of Chinese-American cuisine.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is high in carbohydrates from the batter and sugary sauce, and also contains significant fat from the frying process. It provides a good amount of protein from the chicken, along with some vitamin C from the orange elements, but is generally considered a high-calorie, indulgent meal.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 490 kcal |
| Protein | 25 g |
| Carbs | 45 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Sodium | 820 mg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Iron | 2 mg |
| Calcium | 40 mg |
| Potassium | 350 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.3 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 6 mg |
| Phosphorus | 200 mg |
| Selenium | 18 mcg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, Orange Chicken is a prime example of culinary adaptation, having been invented in the United States to suit local tastes for sweet and savory flavors. Nutritionally, the orange sauce can contain more sugar than a typical soda, making it a dish to enjoy in moderation.
