Slow Cooker Crispy Orange Chicken
You don’t have to give up takeout-style orange chicken when staying home with your slow cooker! Make this easy version that is just as delicious as the dish at your favorite restaurant (and healthier too!). With a simple list of ingredients, this recipe can be assembled faster than placing an order.
Ingredients Needed
Make a healthier version of a favorite takeout dish without all the extra salt, sugar, preservatives, and MSG! The orange marmalade will elevate your flavor so easily. And, with a soy sauce modification, you can make this recipe gluten-free!
You need:
- Chicken – For this recipe, you need to use chicken breast specifically. Cut into larger-sized chunks to prevent it from becoming tough through cooking too fast.
- Cornstarch – This provides the crispy edge that you can achieve with the slow cooker.
- Olive oil – Olive oil is generally a healthier option than most takeout-style recipes using seed oils.
- Orange marmalade – The not-so-secret ingredient? A jar of orange marmalade on hand in the pantry makes it SO easy to whip up a deliciously sweet and savory dish!
- Soy sauce – Any regular soy sauce will do, but if you want to make this recipe gluten-free, be sure to buy a gluten-free version like this one. Or, you can also use coconut aminos for practically the same taste.
- Rice vinegar, sesame oil, chili garlic sauce – These are staples of Asian-inspired cooking that can elevate the flavor so easily.
- Seasonings – Just a pinch of red pepper flakes, and a bit of extra salt and pepper.
How To Make Crispy Orange Chicken In The Slow Cooker
- Place cut-up chicken in a gallon-sized zipper bag with cornstarch and shake. Add a teaspoon or so of water as needed for the cornstarch to form a light batter on the chicken.
- Heat up a nonstick skillet and lightly coat the surface with olive oil.
- Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned on one side.
- Turn the chicken pieces over and cook for 2-3 minutes on the opposite side.
- Place the chicken pieces in the slow cooker.
- Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl or measuring cup.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the top of the chicken.
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours until the chicken is fully cooked.
Optional: Garnish orange chicken with cilantro, green onions, or sesame seeds.
Recipe Variations
Orange chicken can be made with a few variations depending on your preferences!
- Many popular restaurants have crispy orange chicken on the menu with added veggies. You can add chunks of red or green bell pepper into the slow cooker along with the other ingredients. Most other veggies will make the chicken soggy due to the added water content.
- If you like, add some canned pineapple during the last 30 minutes to 1 hour of cooking to allow the pieces to become saturated with the orange marmalade sauce.
- To save time or steps, skip the cornstarch batter and precooking in the skillet and make a non-crispy variation in the slow cooker for the flavor.
- Add a little extra spice with a pinch or two of red pepper flakes!
Keep in mind that you must use chicken breast to maintain a tender texture within the allotted cooking time and to prevent greasiness during cooking.
What To Serve With Crispy Orange Chicken
Crispy orange chicken is classically paired over a bowl of sticky white rice although you could also swap out brown rice or coconut rice. For a lower-carb option, saute some cauliflower rice in a bit of sesame oil for a tasty side! If you need another appliance option, try Instant Pot Jasmine Rice.
To add a little extra green to the meal, try sauteed spinach or zucchini or Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic. A bit of sesame oil here goes a long way in the skillet! You can also make your veggies slightly spicy with a pinch of crushed red pepper.
Storing and Reheating
Store your leftovers for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze the leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Be sure the chicken has fully cooled before freezing.
To reheat, place in the microwave and set to reduced power in order to avoid overcooking the chicken and making it tough. Defrost in the fridge first if reheating from frozen.
Slow Cooker Crispy Orange Chicken
Equipment
- Skillet
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into large chunks
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3/4 cup orange marmalade
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- A pinch of ground pepper
Instructions
- Place cut-up chicken in bag with cornstarch and shake. Add a teaspoon or so of water as needed for the cornstarch to form a light batter on the chicken
- Heat a nonstick skillet and lightly coat with olive oil
- Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned
- Turn over and cook for 2-3 minutes on opposite side
- Place chicken in slow cooker
- Mix the remaining ingredients in bowl or measuring cup
- Pour mix over top of chicken
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 until chicken is fully cooked
Notes
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheat on reduced power in the microwave. (Defrost first if frozen.)
- Some readers have noticed that the chicken can overcook if turned on low for 6 hours. Slow cookers can vary in temperature and cooking time, so I would recommend planning for conservative timing and checking the meat after about 4 hours on low. My meal was fine even after remaining on the warm setting after cooking, but every slow cooker will vary!
- Garnish with cilantro, green onions, or sesame seeds.
Was really looking forward to this one but after 3 hours on low it came out burnt! I crock pot 3-4 times a week and never have this issue. I thought we would go for 4 hours since chicken can get dry if it goes too long, but I think it was the sauce. I think the sugar content caused it to burn. I’m going to try this in a skillet like one of the comments suggested, hoping for better luck.
This looks absolutely delicious. I am going to be starting a new diet that will be “healthier,” and I will be making videos of the cooking process of each recipe. Thank you!
Thanks 🙂 The videos sound like a great idea!!
Made this once for my grandmother and my kids (1&2) everyone LOVED it. Today I’m trying it out on my picky husband if all goes well this will be one of my monthly crock pot meals. I will be going a bit easier on the spices this time even though my babies loved it we were all panting by the end of the meal. XP
So glad it was a hit! Hopefully your husband will like it too! Everyone in my house loves the spices turned way up but when it’s just up to me I always like to cut back just a little 🙂
Thanks for this recipe! I am trying this right now, I also mixed some orange juice and brown sugar together and added that. I will also probably cook on low 2.5-3 hours as my crockpot get super hot.
Thanks again!
mmmmm….I can taste it now!! Let me know how it turns out!!
This looks delicious! I think I am going to add in some carrots & red bell pepper to combine with a different recipe I found. The sauce on the other was just OJ…didn’t think that would do the trick. I’m hoping it turns out well as it’s for my husband and son while Mom has a girls night!
Those would be delicious additions!! I hope they love it! Have a wonderful and I’m sure well deserved night out 😉
I also cooked mine on the stove top and it turned out fantastic.
Served it with chow mien noodles with sliced celery, sliced green onions, matchstick cut carrots and sliced red bell peppers.
So glad to hear it!!! The chow mein also sounds wonderful!
This looks amazing. I’m adding it to my must try list of crock pot recipes! I have some thoughts on why some people are ending up with overcooked chicken. First, you are right, some crock pots cook much hotter than others. The other important consideration is size of your crock pot. For best results, a crock pot should be at least half full but no more than 2/3 full. It is not at least half full your food will cook faster. If it is more than 2/3 full, your food will cook slower. I undertook a project to try to use my crock pot everyday for a year to make Weight Watchers Friendly Crock Pot Recipes. I lasted 6 months and have now scaled back to using it a few times a week. During that time I’ve learned A LOT about crock pot cooking, lol 🙂
Hope this helps!!
That makes sense!! Thanks for the input!! 🙂
Everyday for a whole 6 months…wow! That’s impressive!
Made this tonight and my husband and son both had seconds they liked it so much. I enjoyed it too. I cooked it on low for 3.5 hours and it did come out slightly overdone. I will cook it next time for 2-3 on low temp. I added a little honey to the sauce and topped it off with green onions. It is a keeper!
So glad to hear it!!! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Oh my, I had just decided dinner would be your lovely risotto, and now I’m conflicted with this equally delicious recipe. Decisions, decisions. I like that the recipe here isn’t too thickly battered, and it’s gluten free without any changes! (I have gluten free soy sauce) That’s always nice. I’m so glad I found your blog!
Glad you are here!! Let me know which one you end up making! 🙂
I stuck with the risotto. It was yummy, and the perfect amount of hands of for finals season! 🙂
i’m making this right now, i’m so excited… I added honey bbq sauce and a 1/2 cup of orange soda and mandarins just to be different. I wish I knew how to boil rice so as of right I will be using that instant 5 minute rice. your site has become my new facebook lol! i am on here more than anything 🙂
Thanks! I love your ideas to change it up too!! Let me know how it turns out 😉