Tangerine Chicken
Tangerine chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish featuring bite-sized pieces of battered and deep-fried chicken, coated in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce made with tangerine zest, sugar, and soy sauce. Often garnished with green onions and sometimes dried red chilies, it is a staple of American Chinese takeout menus. The dish is known for its vibrant orange color and a flavor profile that balances sweetness with citrusy brightness.
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🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is typically high in carbohydrates and fat due to the deep-fried chicken and the sugary sauce, with a moderate amount of protein from the chicken. A single serving can range from 600 to 900 calories, making it a calorie-dense meal that provides some vitamins like vitamin C from the tangerine zest, but is often low in fiber and other essential nutrients.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 450 kcal |
| Protein | 22 g |
| Carbs | 48 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 16 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
| Potassium | 380 mg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Calcium | 60 mg |
| Vitamin A | 120 mcg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.4 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 6 mg |
| Phosphorus | 220 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Tangerine chicken is a distinctly Chinese-American creation, not found in traditional Chinese cuisine, and it reflects the adaptation of flavors to suit Western palates. Nutritionally, while the tangerine zest adds a touch of vitamin C, the dish is often criticized for its high sugar and fat content, highlighting the trade-offs between flavor and health in many popular takeout dishes.
