Microwave Orange Chicken takes just 4 ingredients including chicken nuggets, soy sauce, bbq sauce and orange marmalade and just 2 minutes in the microwave!
Come on, we all know that famous and addicting orange chicken isn’t doing any favors for your budget. Make this Orange Chicken at home with a side of Microwave Egg Fried Rice.
MICROWAVE ORANGE CHICKEN
Microwave Orange Chicken lets you skip the take-out line byturningordinary chicken nuggets into atasty dinner that doesn’t cost you halfyour tip money.
You can only eat chicken nuggets the same way for so long before you lose your mind and start to throw frozen nuggets at your roommate just to pass the time. Don’t let it get to that point, try this hack first.
Grab some orange marmalade, some BBQ sauce, and some frozen nuggets (or other chicken) and prepare to say see ya later long food court lines. All you need is a microwave safe bowl that won’t explode in the microwave (read: glass or microwave safe plastic. Please no metal!), and you’re good to go*.
*Chopsticks optional. Making eating fun andchallenging is up to you.
Not that you need to be told how to eat orange chicken nuggets, but you can top them with goodies to add a little flair (AKA garnish your chicken like you’re a Top Chef). Add some chopped nuts (AKA put some peanuts into a freezer bag and stomp on it a few times) or some finely crushed gourmet red pepper (AKA the red pepper packets from the last pizza you ordered).
WHAT TO SERVE WITH MICROWAVE ORANGE CHICKEN
Try serving your nuggets with Fried Rice or our Microwave Steamed Rice for that full take-out experience in less than 10 minutes. It’s like Panda in your dorm room and you don’t have to interrupt your Netflix binge. You can also serve this with leftovers from the last time you braved the food court (as long as it was within a week). In case no one told you yet, do not reheat leftovers in the styrofoam box they came in.
Microwave Egg Fried RiceMicrowave Philly Cheesesteak Mac and CheeseMicrowave Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Legit Magic)Microwave Cheeseburger Mac and CheeseHOW TO MAKE MICROWAVE ORANGE CHICKEN
- Toss all the ingredients together in a microwave safe bowl.
- Cover with wet paper towel.
- Microwave for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
VARIATIONS
- Hot sauce:Sriracha is amazing on Orange Chicken, and it gives it a little bit of a feisty kick to keep things interesting. Don’t make things TOO interesting, start small.
- Chicken: You don’t have to just use chicken nuggets in this recipe. Use leftover chicken strips, pre-grilled chicken pieces, that rotisserie chicken you’ve been munching on the last 2 days, or even canned chicken.
- Tofu:Swap out baked Tofu for the chicken nuggets. Make sure you get the baked kind, regular tofu will turn into Orange “Chicken” Scramble. (Find it in the produce section.)
SAVE SOME FOR LATER
If you made waaaaay too much Orange Chicken and you regret your decision, you can always save some for lunch tomorrow. Just cover the bowl in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. It will stay good for about 3 days. So don’t eat until you get sick, you can save it for later.
COST FACTOR
$: You really don’t need very much for this recipe, and all of it is fairly inexpensive. Which means you get to eat delicious take-out style food for almost no money, which is the dream.
MICROWAVE TABLE
- 1,000 watts or higher: Higher wattage, lower cook time. Our microwave is about 1,250 watts, but if you have one with about 1,000 watts you will want to cook for 3:36.
- 700 watts: Microwaves under about 900 don’t heat things evenly or consistently, so don’t go anywhere while you’re cooking. Cook for 5:09 but keep an eye on it.
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Print Recipe
Microwave Orange Chicken
Microwave Orange Chicken is a way to take ordinary chicken nuggets and make them into a thing of beauty.
Prep Time2 mins
Cook Time3 mins
Total Time5 mins
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian inspired
Keyword: Microwave Orange Chicken
Servings: 2 Serving
Calories: 262kcal
Author: Dorm Room Cook Staff
Ingredients
- 8 chicken nuggets , frozen
- 1 1/2 tablespoons BBQ Sauce
- 3 tablespoons sweet orange marmalade
- 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
Instructions
Toss all the ingredients together in a microwave safe bowl.
Cover with a wet paper towel.
Microwave 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition
Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 991mg | Potassium: 417mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
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FAQs
If you're thinking about how to reheat orange chicken quickly, using the microwave is often a go-to method. First, place the orange chicken in a microwave-compatible dish. If your chicken is frozen, you can microwave it for 20 minutes on a medium setting, checking at intervals.
How do you reheat Panda Express orange chicken in the microwave? ›
Instructions:
- Place the chicken in a microwave-safe container and cover with a damp paper towel.
- Place it in the microwave a heat for 1 minute.
- Take the container out and stir or shake the chicken around the bowl to redistribute the pieces.
- Put the container back in the microwave for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Storage and Reheating
Air fry at 350°F for 6-8 minutes or until warmed through and crispy. Alternatively, reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through.
How do you reheat orange chicken in an air fryer? ›
Reheating: To reheat the air fryer orange chicken, preheat the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 5-7 minutes until heated through and crispy.
How long should I microwave orange chicken? ›
Microwave Instructions
- Do not vent.
- Cook on high for 11 minutes.
- Remove film. Cook on high for 2 1/2 minutes.
- Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir if desired.
Microwave. Place bag of sauce in a bowl of warm water to thaw. Open bag of chicken and empty into a microwave-safe container. Microwave on HIGH, uncovered for 3 minutes.
Is it better to reheat Chinese food in the oven or microwave? ›
Oven method: For larger dishes or items that may become soggy in the microwave, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and reheat the food in a covered oven-safe dish until it reaches the desired temperature.
Can you microwave Panda Express Styrofoam containers? ›
PS, polystyrene, Styrofoam, #7 is not safe for the microwave. Most take out containers and clamshells are made of foam for its insulation properties. They keep food warm during transport so you don't have to reheat them. Be sure to put your food on a plate or other safe container before zapping them in the microwave.
How long should I microwave leftover Chinese food? ›
take a big enough paper towel to cover the microwave safe dish, wet it with water and cover the dish. heat it in the mircrowave for 3 minutes. take it out of the microwave, stir the food to make sure it is heated evenly. If not, re-cover it with the same wet paper towel and heat for another 1 - 2 mintues.
Why is my orange chicken soggy? ›
Don't crowd the pan
If your breaded chicken is too close together, they will get soggy instead of crisp. I almost always cook my orange chicken in batches so my pan doesn't get crowded. Be sure to add a little more oil for each batch of chicken you add.
Unless the cooked chicken is kept warm, above 140°F, the general rule of thumb for cooked chicken is that it should not sit out on your kitchen table or buffet for more than two hours. Any cooked chicken left at room temperature for more than two hours should probably be thrown out.
How do you cook frozen orange chicken? ›
Heating Method
Preheat to 400 °F. * Place frozen chicken pieces on a foil-lined baking sheet. * Heat 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.
What's the best way to reheat? ›
Mar 24, 2023
- On stove top: Place food in pan and heat thoroughly. ...
- In oven: Place food in oven set no lower than 325 °F. ...
- In microwave: Stir, cover, and rotate fully cooked food for even heating. ...
- Not Recommended: Slow cooker, steam tables or chafing dishes.
Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.
How do you reheat chicken and keep it moist in the air fryer? ›
How to Reheat Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. ...
- While the air fryer is preheating, take your leftover chicken out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. ...
- Once the air fryer is preheated, place the chicken in the basket. ...
- Cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes.
You can reheat vegan chicken nuggets by microwaving, baking, or air frying. Each method has its own advantages.
Can you cook oranges in the microwave? ›
If you're fortunate enough to have a microwave, then the oranges can be cooked in it (according to Hornby, one should halve the fruit, put it in a bowl with a splash of water, cover with clingfilm pierced in a few places and then cook on full power for 10 minutes until soft).
Why can't you microwave cooked chicken? ›
“How long the product has been stored in the refrigerator before reheating tends to be the driving factor affecting oxidation.” But pairing a rubbery texture with an unavoidable off flavor is double the reason not to microwave cooked chicken leftovers.
Is it OK to microwave chicken? ›
Information. Meat can be cooked safely in a microwave oven, but it can cook unevenly and leave cold spots where harmful bacteria can survive. For this reason, it is important to cover the food, rotate or stir it once or twice during cooking, and make sure the meat reaches a safe internal temperature throughout.
