Mandarin Orange Chicken
Orange Chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish featuring bite-sized pieces of chicken that are battered, deep-fried, and tossed in a sweet and tangy orange-flavored sauce. The sauce typically combines orange juice or zest with soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and garlic, creating a glossy, sticky coating. While inspired by traditional Chinese cooking techniques, this specific sweet-and-sour preparation is largely an invention of Chinese-American cuisine.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is generally high in carbohydrates and fat due to the sugary sauce and deep-fried batter, with a moderate amount of protein from the chicken. A typical restaurant serving can range from 800 to over 1,200 calories, making it a rich and indulgent meal rather than a lean protein source.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 490 kcal |
| Protein | 26 g |
| Carbs | 52 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 980 mg |
| Potassium | 450 mg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Calcium | 40 mg |
| Vitamin A | 200 IU |
| Phosphorus | 220 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.3 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 8 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Orange Chicken is a quintessential example of culinary adaptation, having been popularized in the United States (often credited to chef Andy Kao in the 1980s) to suit local tastes for sweet and savory flavors. Nutritionally, the vibrant orange sauce is a key source of vitamin C, though the overall dish is best enjoyed as an occasional treat due to its high calorie and sodium content.
