This Slow Cooker Orange Chicken turns your favorite Chinese takeout into an easy crock pot meal. No breading and no frying make this recipe both simple and healthier, without sacrificing the flavor.
We’re always craving Chinese food! Some other dishes in regular rotation include our beef and broccoli ramen stir fry and easy cashew chicken.
Easy Crock Pot Orange Chicken
After a full week of being in the kitchen cooking, Fridays are typically take-out night for us – Chinese is always a contender, usually resulting in Panda Express Orange Chicken and Chow Mein. But the craving hits more frequently than once a week, so sometimes I make this slow cooker orange chicken at home.
This crock pot orange chicken recipe is similar to the restaurant version, except it’s not breaded or fried. Instead, the chicken is lightly seasoned and cooked in the slow cooker. Really, there are only about 5 minutes of hands-on time for this recipe, we just love it.
What Is Orange Chicken?
Orange chicken is a popular Chinese takeout dish that consists of chicken pieces that are breaded and deep fried, tossed with a sweet sauce that has a mildly orange flavor. (Some versions are more orange-y than others.)
This recipe keeps the beloved flavors, but simplifies the process by eliminating the coating, oil, and deep frying, and cooking it in the crock pot. You end up with the same great flavor without a lot of the work and extra ingredients.
Ingredients
Just 6 ingredients and a few spices are used to make this crockpot orange chicken recipe.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Chicken breasts – I used boneless, skinless breasts. Cut into bite-sized pieces. (See note below for chicken thighs.)
- BBQ Sauce – You can use one like Sweet Baby Ray’s or our homemade bbq sauce recipe.
- Orange marmalade – Adds the orange flavor and sticky texture to the sauce.
- Soy sauce & Worcestershire sauce – Provides the salty, savory umami flavor.
- Chili garlic sauce – Adds just a hint of heat and flavor.
- Seasonings – Onion powder, garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper season the dish.
- For serving – I typically serve this with white rice, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds.
How to Make Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
This dish comes together in just a few easy steps, making a pretty hands-off dinner.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Season the chicken. Combine the spices then sprinkle over the chicken. Place it in the slow cooker coated with nonstick spray.
- Add the sauce. Whisk together the remaining ingredients to make the orange chicken sauce. Pour over the chicken and toss to coat.
- Cook. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
- Serve. Serve the chicken over rice, garnished with scallions and toasted sesame seeds.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making your crockpot orange chicken recipe.
- Cut the chicken into equal-sized pieces. This helps ensure everything cooks at the same time.
- Can I use chicken thighs? Yes, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used in place of the chicken breasts.
- How do you know when the chicken is done? Always check chicken cooked in the slow cooker with an internal thermometer to confirm doneness. It should always be at least 165F.
- Can I add veggies? Yes, broccoli and other veggies could be added to this dish in the last 30 minutes or so.
Video: Crock Pot Orange Chicken
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this slow cooker orange chicken over rice – either regular white rice or some fried rice. If rice isn’t your thing, sesame noodles would be a tasty alternative too. Appetizers like egg rolls or crab rangoon pair well with the dish to round out the Chinese takeout theme.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Refrigerate leftover crockpot orange chicken for up to 3 days, in an airtight container. To reheat, just pop it in the microwave until hot. Be sure to store it with all of the extra juice so that it doesn’t dry out.
More Slow Cooker Recipes:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts , cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (such as Sweet Baby Ray's)
- 1 cup orange marmalade
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- cooked white rice , for serving
- diced scallions , for serving
- toasted sesame seeds , for garnish
Instructions
- Coat a 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick spray.
- Combine the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes; sprinkle over the chicken pieces.
- Place in the slow cooker in a single layer.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, orange marmalade, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and chili garlic sauce.
- Pour sauce mixture over the chicken and toss to coat, making sure the chicken is covered with the sauce.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F and the chicken is cooked through and tender. (Mine is usually done at 4 hours.)
- Spoon chicken and some of the sauce over cooked white rice or fried rice. Garnish with diced scallions and a touch of toasted sesame seeds.
