Costco Orange Chicken is a popular takeout item that has been around for years. It’s easy to make at home, but you should know how.
What is Costco Orange Chicken?
Costco Orange Chicken is a popular item at Costco and other grocery stores. It’s also one of the most popular takeout items, with many restaurants also serving it.
Costco Orange Chicken is an easy dish to make if you can access chicken wings and thighs in your freezer or fridge.
The History Of Costco Orange Chicken
Costco Orange Chicken is one of the most popular items at Costco. The company has been selling it for over 30 years, and it’s been around since the 1980s. It was first introduced by KFC in 1986 as a way to boost sales during an economic downturn.
Costco Orange Chicken has become so popular that there are recipes for making your version at home!
Costco Orange Chicken Ingredients
1-2 pounds chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups)
Two tablespoons of orange juice
One tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder
One teaspoon garlic powder, two teaspoons salt, two teaspoons pepper 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Costco Orange Chicken Cooking Process
- Rinse the chicken under cold water.
- Pat dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture from the outside of the chicken.
- Coat each piece of chicken with flour, then brown them in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown on both sides. If you don’t have an ovenproof pan or skillet, use nonstick cooking spray instead; it will be easier to clean up afterward!
- You can also set aside some of your unused pieces for later use (we like to save our breading mixture). Remember that you’ll need at least 2 cups per lb., so keep that in mind when making this dish!
Costco Orange Chicken Nutritional Information
Costco Orange Chicken is a popular takeout item in the United States. It’s also a stir fry dish, a chicken dish, and a Chinese dish.
First off, this recipe is different from your average orange chicken! Instead of using an actual orange for its coloration, it uses ketchup and chili sauce instead of the real thing.
The flavor is still there, though—and if you’re into spicy food or just looking for something different from what you’re used to eating, this particular take on orange chicken will be right up your alley!
Why Is Costco Orange Chicken So Popular?
Costco Orange Chicken is a popular takeout item because it’s easy to make and tastes good. The chicken is marinated in orange juice, soy sauce, and honey. It’s then cooked in the oven with an orange slice on top.
The recipe makes about four servings, so you can efficiently serve this meal at home for your family or friends!
How To Serve Costco Orange Chicken?
You can serve the orange chicken with rice, vegetables, and salad.
Prepare a side of fries or rice to enjoy your meal more comfortably.
If you are an adventurous eater who likes to try new foods from different countries, this recipe is perfect for you as it has a variety of ingredients that includes Chinese cuisine.
How To Serve Costco Orange Chicken?
Costco Orange Chicken is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to serve something quick and easy. You can serve it with rice or noodles, or if you want some extra flavor in your meal, try tossing the chicken with your favorite Asian sauce before serving.
You can also make a wrap from Costco Orange Chicken by placing the chicken pieces on tortillas, lettuce leaves, and cheese slices. Or try it as an appetizer: slice up half an orange chicken breast and make mini sandwiches using bread slices (or eat it straight out of its wrapper).
Making Your Own Orange Chicken At Home
- Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
- 1 cup orange juice concentrate (about two oranges)
- Instructions: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Combine the orange juice and water in a bowl; set aside. Mix the chicken with half of its sauce mixture in a large bowl until all ingredients are evenly coated with the sauce.
- Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes or until fork tender but not soft throughout. Stir once during baking time.* Serve hot over noodles as desired.*
- Reheat if necessary before serving by adding additional cold water, just enough to cover the bottom of the pan when reheating over medium heat for about 4 minutes using the stovetop method or microwave-safe dish for about 3 minutes using the microwave method
Tips For Reheating And Storing Costco Orange Chicken
- Reheat in the oven or microwave.
- Store in the refrigerator.
- Store in the freezer.
- Store in a sealed container, plastic bag, or paper bag.
- Store it in a cardboard box if you want to keep it fresh longer than just one day (but not too long).
Oven Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Place the chicken in a baking dish and add the sauce, vegetables, and rice all to one side of the chicken pieces (this will be your “top”).
- Mix cornstarch and water until smooth, then pour over the chicken mixture so you can cover all sides evenly with this coating mixture; make sure it’s not too thick or wet because we want our chicken nice and crispy!
- Bake for 30 minutes, then turn off the oven but leave the door open for 5 minutes before serving (to prevent drying out).
Stovetop Method
You will need a nonstick pan to make this recipe in a stovetop method. Turn your heat to medium-high and add all the chicken to the pan. Grill over medium heat for approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side until perfectly cooked.
Once done, take it off the heat, allow it to cool slightly, and then present it beautifully for serving!
Air Fryer Method
The air fryer method is a great way to cook chicken and make it crispy. It’s also a healthier option than deep-frying, which can lead to saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat.
To prep your chicken breasts for this method: 1. Start by preheating your air fryer to a precise 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
Step 2: Place each chicken breast between two pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper and pound until they’re about 1/4 inch thick (or even thinner if you want them extra crisp). 3. Season both sides of each piece with salt & pepper; set aside until step 6 below when ready to cook them in an oven or on top of stovetop burner like standard stovetop cooking methods would do so!
Refrigerate
- In the original package. This is the best option if you want to keep the chicken fresh and are okay with waiting a few hours for it to be ready for eating. The orange sauce will keep well in this container, too, so you can use it for dipping or spreading on top of your chicken when you’re ready to eat.
- In a plastic bag placed inside another container with ice water so that condensation doesn’t get into your food (this can happen if there isn’t enough air circulation around your food).
- In a Tupperware container with an airtight seal (the lid should not be able to be opened easily).
Freeze
Freezing the chicken will ensure that it stays fresh, but you can also freeze it for up to 3 months after freezing. To freeze in an airtight container for more than two days:
- Use a freezer below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Alternatively, use a freezer below -18 degrees Celsius (-30 F) or -20 C (4 F).
Health Considerations and Allergens
It is essential to remember that allergen information can be found on the food label, packaging, and sometimes even on the surface of the food itself. Allergens are things that cause allergic reactions, and they can include:
- Dairy products (milk, cream)
- Egg whites
- Fish
- Nuts/seeds (peanuts & cashews)
Customer Reviews and Recommendations
Customers love Costco Orange Chicken. The menu item has a rating of 4 stars and more than 1,000 reviews on the store’s website.
“This chicken is so good! I wish they would sell it in bulk because I’d always buy it,” says one reviewer. “One of the best things about this chicken is its versatility,” says another customer. “It perfectly complements a variety of dishes – be it rice, noodles, or a medley of fresh vegetables.”
Costco Orange Chicken also has some impressive nutrition numbers: It’s low in saturated fat (3%), sodium (300mg), cholesterol (30mg), and calories (450 per serving).
Costco Orange Chicken – Ingredients
- Chicken breasts (about 6 to 8)
- Corn starch
- Flour for dredging chicken in flour before frying. You could substitute any dried breadcrumbs if you have them on hand. I use Wondra flour, a fine-grained flour made from wheat berries (not the same as wheat flour).
- It’s available at most grocery stores and specialty markets. If you can’t find it locally but can access another brand of cornstarch/flour mix that works well with orange juice and soy sauce, use that instead! Just make sure it’s rated gluten-free or free of trans fats so your recipe doesn’t end up tasting like cardboard with some cornmeal sprinkled on top!
- Sugar – I prefer brown sugar over white because it gives off an orange hue when combined with other ingredients like orange juice and garlic powder; however, feel free to use whatever kind floats your boat! Also, check out our guide on how much sugar should go into an orange chicken recipe here! * Soy sauce – The kind sold at Costco tends to taste better than store brands and costs less money too!
- We recommend buying this version since most other types cost more per jar than what we’re using here anyway… so save yourself some cash by skipping out on buying jars full-time instead. Just buy them once every few months when needed 🙂
Costco Orange Chicken – Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except oil and chicken. Mix well with your hands until all ingredients are evenly distributed, and no dry or wet spots remain.
- Place flour in a Ziploc bag, and add about one tablespoon of dried bread crumbs or cornflakes (or more if you like). Shake the bag to coat everything evenly with flour/breadcrumbs mixture; then add chicken pieces into a bag and shake again so they’re fully coated in flour/breadcrumb mixture; set aside.*
- Heat one tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking—about 3 minutes on each side if using boneless skinless breasts (make sure not to overcrowd the pan!).
- Transfer cooked chicken pieces carefully onto a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper; drizzle any extra juices over the top before placing them into the oven for 15 minutes at 400°F (or longer if desired).
Costco Orange Chicken – Nutrition Facts
Costco Orange Chicken is a popular takeout item that can be eaten at home. It’s an excellent option for those who want to make healthier meals, as it contains generous protein and fiber.
Costco Orange Chicken contains:
- Protein: 8 grams per serving (about 3 ounces)
- Fiber: 1 gram per serving (about 0.5 ounces)
Learn how to make the best at-home version of this popular takeout item.
Now that you have a recipe for the best Orange Chicken in your kitchen, it’s time to learn how to make it home. Here are some tips:
- When cooking your chicken, don’t overcook it. The meat should be juicy and tender but not dry or tough. It should also be cooked through without being too pink inside (this will make for mushy orange slices).
- If you like things extra crispy on the outside of your chicken pieces, then keep an eye on them as they cook—but remember that this method is better suited for thinner pieces of chicken breast since thicker cuts tend not to hold up well when reheated later on after being fried up first then sautéed with spices before serving hot off stovetop!
- Use high-quality ingredients whenever possible because they’ll give better results than cheaper alternatives such as generic brands found in grocery stores where private label products often contain less nutritional value than name brands do–and thus might cause stomach issues afterward due to lackluster taste buds/palates.”
Conclusion
Hopefully, after reading this article, you feel more confident in your cooking abilities. You’ll now know how to make an easy, delicious dish like Costco Orange Chicken at home!