My Instant Pot Orange Chicken Recipe is easy, delicious and comes together in no time. If you loved my Healthy Sesame Chicken, you have to give this a try!
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Chinese food is one of my favorite takeout dishes to make, but in the time it takes you to get someone on the phone and wait for it to come to your house, you could whip up this recipe! This Instant Pot Orange Chicken takes only a few minutes to make, and you’ll have tasty Chinese takeout on your table!
There are a ton of recipes out there to help you make copycat or just like takeout recipes. But the reality is that most of these recipes take hours to make, and will leave you with a sink full of dishes. This easy Instant Pot Orange Chicken uses your Instant Pot to help cut your cooking time in half and make a dish that requires almost no cleanup!
There's just something special about this mouthwatering recipe with tender chicken, sticky orange sauce, and a little bit of heat.
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🧂 Ingredients
This is meant to be a brief overview of the recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
The secret ingredient here really isn't any surprise - it's using fresh oranges for maximum flavor!
- Chicken breasts or thighs
- Olive oil
- Orange juice
- fresh ginger
- fresh garlic
- Brown sugar
- Soy sauce
- Sriracha
- fresh orange
- Salt and black pepper
- Cornstarch
- Green onions (garnish, optional)
For a little extra kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
🔪Instructions
- Heat Instant Pot on Sauté, add olive oil and heat
- Add the chicken, and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
- Combine the orange juice, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sugar, orange zest, and sriracha.
- Add orange chicken sauce to the chicken pieces and combine.
- Close the lid and select Manual. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Use a 10-minute natural release and turn off the heat.
- Select the sauté function, low.
- Combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of orange juice. Whisk together to make a cornstarch slurry.
- Add the slurry to the Instant Pot and stir to combine. Cook until it begins to thicken. It takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Allow it to sit for about 5-7 minutes while the sauce thickens more.
Tip: If you’re new to using the Instant Pot and want to check to see if your chicken is done, grab a meat thermometer.
Chicken should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165-degrees F according to FoodSafety.gov.
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Slow Cooker Instructions
If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can still make this easy recipe! Here's how to do it with a slow cooker:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sugar, orange zest, and sriracha.
- Add the chicken and sauce mixture to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cook for 4 hours on LOW, or 2 hours on HIGH.
- Add chopped vegetables like carrots, broccoli or even snow peas to the slow cooker in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
🍴 Serving Suggestions
Serve your orange chicken with white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice - even cauliflower rice! You could also serve it with noodles. Garnish with your choice of scallions or toasted sesame seeds.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
If you love using an Instant Pot, you'll want to check out this collection of incredible Instant Pot recipes next time. If you're looking for more easy chicken recipes, try our instant pot chicken and rice or instant pot baby back ribs.
More takeout-inspired meals you'll love:
Instant Pot Orange Chicken
Not ready to make this pressure cooker orange chicken yet? Don’t forget to pin the recipe for later!
When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram @jugglingactmama or #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures! And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
Instant Pot Orange Chicken
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast or thighs chopped into 1-2 inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup orange juice fresh
- 1 tablespoon ginger fresh, minced
- 2 cloves garlic fresh, minced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha
- Zest of 1 orange
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
Instructions
- Heat Instant pot on Saute, add olive oil and heat2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the chicken, and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.2 pounds chicken breast or thighs
- In a small bowl combine the sauce ingredients and whisk to combine.½ cup orange juice, 1 tablespoon ginger, 2 cloves garlic, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup soy sauce, 1 teaspoon Sriracha, Zest of 1 orange, Salt and pepper to taste
- Add sauce to chicken and stir together until well combined
- Close the lid to your Instant Pot and select Manual. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Use a 10 minute natural release and turn off the heat.
- Select the low saute function
- In a small bowl combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons orange juice. Whisk together until smooth with no lumps to create a slurry.2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons orange juice
- Add the slurry to the Instant Pot and gently stir to combine. Cook for a few minutes until it begins to thicken. About 2-3 minutes.
- Allow it to sit for 5-7 minutes while the sauce thickens up.
- Serve with the rice and garnishes of your choice.
Notes
Slow Cooker Instructions
If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can still make this recipe! Here's how to do it with a slow cooker:- In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients: orange juice, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sugar, orange zest, and sriracha.
- Add the chicken and sauce mixture to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cook for 4 hours on LOW, or 2 hours on HIGH.
- Add chopped vegetables like carrots, broccoli, or even snow peas to the slow cooker in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Katie says
Sooooo delicious! Love the juice, ginger, zest, sriracha. So easy in the IP or crock pot! Thanks for another awesome recipe.