Slow Cooker Orange Chicken. This recipe is perfect when you want a no-fuss takeout meal without all of the extra calories! This easy orange chicken recipe is gluten-free, has no extra sugar or MSG, and is perfect for the entire family! My kids absolutely love this orange chicken!

slow cooker orange chicken topped with sesame seeds and crushed red pepper flakes

Take out dishes are some of my favorite recipes to make at home, especially this tasty Slow Cooker Orange Chicken. It’s so much easier to control the spice level, saltiness AND calories when you make Chinese takeout recipes at home. This orange chicken is a family favorite! My kids love it! It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tangy and has so much flavor. The chicken turns out super juicy thanks to a technique called “velveting“. I toss the cubed chicken in cornstarch then pan fry it over high heat to caramelize the outside and seal in the juices. This will seriously give your favorite takeout orange chicken a run for it’s money!

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    Why this Slow Cooker Orange Chicken is the BEST!

    1. It’s healthier than takeout! Asian Takeout food is usually loaded with MSG and extra sugar. There’s no need for all of that! Making it yourself means you can choose better ingredients.
    2. It’s easy to make! This easy Orange Chicken recipe takes literally 10 minutes to throw together. 10. Minutes. You could start your coffee in the morning, throw this together, and by the time your coffee is ready to drink, dinner is ready to cook!
    3. It uses a slow cooker. Slow cookers are hands down my favorite kitchen appliance because they really bring out the meal’s flavors and cooks meat to an oh-so-tender perfection. Fail-proof deliciousness. Every. Single. Time!
    4. There’s no deep-frying! In this recipe, we just sauté the chicken in a little oil, cutting the calories in half, and then add it to the slow cooker. The chicken comes out extra juicy, tender and loaded with flavor!

    overhead shot of slow cooker orange chicken in crockpot

    How do I make this Slow Cooker Orange Chicken?

    It takes just 3 easy steps and 10 minutes:

    Prepare the chicken: Add the cornstarch, salt, pepper and chicken to a ziplock bag and shake it until the chicken is well coated with the other ingredients.

    marinating cubed chicken breast in large ziplock bag

    Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wok and sauté the chicken for 2 minutes until it’s golden brown. It won’t cook all the way through – that’s the slow cooker’s job!

    Next add in the ginger and garlic and saute for a minute or so. Add the chicken and garlic to the slow cooker.

    browning cubed chicken in large white skillet

    Meanwhile add sauce ingredients to small bowl and whisk to combine.

    orange sauce ingredients in bowl

    Add the sauce ingredients to the pan the chicken was cooked in to deglaze the pan. This extracts so much flavor and helps to remove the extra “fond” off the bottom of the pan.

    deglazing bottom of pan with sauce

    Add the sauce to the chicken in the slow cooker and toss to combine. Cook on low for 2-3 hours or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees.

    Add a quick cornstarch slurry to the crockpot and cook for a couple more minutes then serve!

    overhead shot of orange chicken in the white slow cooker after it was done cooking

    What do I serve with this easy orange chicken dish?

    I love having this with fried rice, noodles or even cauliflower fried rice to keep it low carb!

    Can I turn the spicy heat up or down a notch?

    Absolutely! If you want more heat, add some Sriracha sauce to your portion after it’s served. To turn the heat down, just completely skip the crushed red chili flakes when you make the sauce. This is great for feeding the whole family – no heat for the kids, extra spice for the grown-ups!

    Chinese orange chicken in crockpot with spoon

    How do I store this Slow Cooker Orange Chicken?

    Fridge: Store this orange chicken dish in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

    Freezer: Store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before reheating in a pot on the stove.

    Can this be made in the Instant Pot?

    Yes! Simply brown the chicken as directed in the Instant Pot then add all of the sauce ingredients to the instant pot and pressure cook for 5 minutes then allow it to naturally release.

    aerial shot of orange chicken in a bowl with rice and broccoli

    Here are more Crockpot Chicken recipes to enjoy!

    Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

    5 from 8 votes
    Super Easy Slow Cooker Orange Chicken. So much better and healthier than takeout!
    Servings: 4
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 hours
    Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

    Ingredients 

    Orange Sauce

    Instructions 

    • Add chicken, cornstarch, salt and pepper to a large ziplock bag. Toss to coat the chicken.
    • Heat oil to a large skillet or wok over medium high heat.
      Add in chicken in two batches and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes.
      Add in garlic and ginger and cook for an additional minute. Transfer the chicken and garlic mixture to the slow cooker.
    • Meanwhile mix the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
    • Add the sauce ingredients to the skillet the chicken was cooked in and bring to a simmer. Cook for 1-2 minutes making sure to scrap the brown bits (fond) off the bottom of the skillet.
    • Add the sauce to the slow cooker and toss to coat the chicken.
      Cook on low for 2-3 hours. (Mine took 2 hours exactly)
    • In a small bowl combine 1 tsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker. Add to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and all the chicken to cook for an additional 5 minutes.
      Serve immediately with sesame seeds for garlic, if desired.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 499kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 37gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 1069mgPotassium: 697mgFiber: 1gSugar: 48gVitamin A: 175IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg

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