This Instant Pot Orange Chicken is a delicious copycat version of Panda Express.
Chinese Food in the Instant Pot
Yes, you can do that and it’s really simple to do! After sauteing the chicken in the Instant Pot, it’s as easy as pouring ingredients into the liner and topping it off with orange juice.
After the Instant Pot comes to pressure, it only takes 5 minutes cooking time to get crispy on the outside chicken from the sauteing and tender in the center from using a pressure cooker.
I used my 6 qt Instant Pot to create this recipe, and it may differ if you use a larger pot. Refer to your user manual to see if you need to increase the liquid.
Instant Pot Orange Chicken Panda Express Copycat
My family loves orange chicken but we don’t have a Panda Express local to us. Whenever we take a road trip or a vacation we always stop to eat at a Panda Express.
Like many recipes that I make, they’re inspired by food that I love to eat in restaurants and this is no different.
Making this orange chicken in the Instant Pot just makes it easier and more flavorful! It’s so much easier to pressure cook instead of standing over the stove stirring the wok to make sure that it doesn’t stick.
I absolutely love to use my pressure cooker for recipes like these!
Related: Instant Pot Minestrone Soup (Olive Garden Copycat)
Serving Orange Chicken for Dinner
When making this recipe, it’s best to serve it immediately. I have found any reheating will cause the cornstarch to gum up and it will lose its sticky texture.
So, if you’re serving it for dinner, wait until dinner time to make it. It’s really quick in the Instant Pot!
Instant Pot Orange Chicken (Panda Express Copycat)
Panda Express Orange Chicken copycat made in the Instant Pot.
Ingredients
For Chicken
- 2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into bite size
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 tbsp oil
For the Sauce
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, dark brown
- 1 1/2 tbsp rice wine
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp soy sauce, low sodium
- 1 tbsp ginger root
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- orange zest
- 1 cup orange juice
- 2 tsp cornstarch
Slurry
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- green onions, garnish
Instructions
- Combine salt, black pepper, flour, and cornstarch together in a bowl.
- Crack the egg and pour into a bowl and stir.
- Dip chicken into the egg wash and then toss the chicken into the cornstarch mixture to fully coat.
- Set Instant Pot to Saute and wait until the message reads "Hot."
- Pour the 2 tbsp of oil into the Instant Pot and brown chicken on all sides until skin becomes crispy (about 2 minutes).
- Pour the sugars, rice wine, soy sauce, sesame oil, fresh ginger root, garlic cloves, pepper flakes, and orange zest into the Instant Pot.
- Pour in the 1 cup of orange juice and 2 tsp of cornstarch.
- Use a spatula to remove anything sticking to the bottom of the Instant Pot liner.
- Close lid and set to Manual for 5 minutes.
- Quick release once the 5 minutes is up.
- In a small bowl, mix together the 1 tbsp of cornstarch and the 1 tbsp of orange juice to create a slurry.
- Pour into Instant Pot, set the Instant Pot to saute and let the orange chicken cook for about 2-3 minutes. Stir to ensure it does not stick.
Notes
This recipe is best to make right before you eat it - if reheated, it loses the stickiness and the cornstarch will gum up.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
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jean
Friday 25th of February 2022
Very good! Next time I cook it I think I will lessen the sugar. It’s very sweet and I do love sweets! Mine was very liquidy and not crisp but that’s probably my error!
Dana
Monday 28th of February 2022
I'm glad you like the recipe! Pressure cookers retain any liquid so a little cornstarch and water mixed together and added to the pot after it's done pressure cooking will help thicken up the sauce a bit. :)
Marie
Wednesday 12th of February 2020
Made this tonight with a side of Spanish yellow rice. I loved it! Mine didn’t say burn. Depends on the instant pot. Those of you that had the burn issue, add extra orange juice. I did not put cornstarch in the “sauce” ingredients. You don’t have to worry that you have too much liquid. You can always thicken it up at the end using the sauté feature. Try it again. It’s worth a second try.
Mandy
Tuesday 7th of January 2020
Rice wine or rice vinegar? If rice wine what brand I’m having trouble finding.
Dana
Wednesday 8th of January 2020
You can use them interchangeably. I have the Nakano brand. Hope that helps!
Sarah
Sunday 5th of January 2020
This is so delicious. My favorite instant pot recipe yet. I will def be making it again. I wouldn’t change a thing, except I wish I made more :)
Dana
Monday 6th of January 2020
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the feedback :)
Brandon
Sunday 5th of January 2020
Not really a big fan. Followed the directions exactly and came out with a mush product. Taste was right but the texture was AWFUL. Not sure 2 minutes browning in oil is enough time for the batter to adhere in the instantpot. Unfortunately, was not a crowd pleaser and family choose an alternate dinner after first bite. Bummed.
mary sue
Thursday 9th of January 2020
I had to cook the chicken longer to brown it, and in 2 loads. It was great for flavor and consistency but next time I'll brown the chicken on the stove top in my cast iron skillet in 2-3 loads (or split between the 2) then finish in the instant pot. I'm also going to try reducing the sugar, as much as we loved the flavor I think we can cut the sugar and still be happy. Thanks for a great recipe!