Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (2024)

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This Vegan Orange Chicken is SO good! It’s full of fresh orange flavor, it’s crispy and has perfect texture. You’d never believe it’s made with cauliflower! And, kids love it!

Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (1)

I am SO excited about this Vegan Orange Chicken recipe! It’s crispy, the cauliflower has amazing texture, and the homemade orange sauce is so flavorful! I have a Vegan Orange Tofu recipe that I made years ago, but this orange “chicken” made with cauliflower is my new favorite!

I was inspired to create this recipe after making Jessica In The Kitchen’s Cauliflower Hot Wings for the Super Bowl. The texture of the cauliflower was so great, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and it was so tasty mixed with the sauce. I immediately decided I had to try her technique to make the BEST Vegan Orange Chicken!

Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (2)

THE BEST VEGAN ORANGE CHICKEN RECIPE INGREDIENTS

  • Cauliflower – You will need to use fresh cauliflower for this recipe. I would recommend a medium sized head of cauliflower. You want just enough florets to fill the baking sheet but you don’t want them crowded or else they won’t get crispy. I used white cauliflower but you could also use purple or yellow.
  • Batter – The batter is made by mixing together equal parts flour and plain almond milk. I seasoned my flour with a little salt, onion powder and garlic powder. That is totally optional though.
  • Panko – You could also use regular bread crumbs but I find that the panko makes the cauliflower super crispy and I really like that.
  • Orange Sauce – I have an easy and healthier orange sauce recipe that I created a few years ago that I used for this vegan orange chicken. It’s super quick and easy to make but you could also use a bottled orange sauce to make it a little easier for you.

Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (3)

How to Make Vegan Orange Chicken

There are a few different steps to this recipe but all of them are really simple and don’t require too much work.

  • First, you cut your cauliflower into florets. You can make them any size you want, but the smaller they are, they crispier they will get. I like to do a mixture of small and medium sized.
  • Next, you mix up your batter. It will seem a little thick but it needs to be thick to coat the cauliflower well. Once all the cauliflower florets are covered in batter, you pour in the panko and mix until the cauliflower is evenly coated. I like to pour one cup in, mix and then pour the other cup in.
  • Lay your cauliflower out on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper or a non-stick mat. You want to make sure to arrange them in a single layer and have them touching as little as possible. They won’t get as crispy if they’re touching or piled on top of each other. Bake the cauliflower until crispy.
  • I make the orange sauce while the cauliflower is baking. All you do is add all ingredients to a bowl, whisk until combined and then pour into a medium sized saucepan. Cook sauce until thickened. Remove cauliflower from oven and toss with 3/4 of the sauce and then put back into the oven to cook a little bit longer. I like to drizzle individual portions with the remaining orange sauce just before serving.

Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (4)

What Makes This The Best Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe?

I promise that I don’t throw around the word “Best” lightly! Back in the day, I used to love the orange chicken from Panda Express so I know exactly what it’s supposed to taste like. As I said before, I’ve made a vegan orange chicken recipe using crispy tofu before and it was good but the texture from this breaded and baked cauliflower is spot on! It’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside and holds onto the sauce really well.

Another thing I love about this recipe is the homemade orange sauce. It’s made with healthy ingredients and doesn’t have anything strange or artificial in it. It has orange juice as well as orange zest and I also add some garlic and ginger for extra flavor.

Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (5)

LOOKING FOR MORE VEGAN ASIAN INSPIRED RECIPES?

Crispy Teriyaki Cauliflower

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Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (6)

Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!]

  • Author: She Likes Food
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This is the best Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe! It’s made with crispy cauliflower and a delicious homemade orange sauce!

Ingredients

Scale

1 medium sized head cauliflower
1 cup flour
1 cup plain, unsweetened almond milk, or other plant based milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
Optional garnishes: sesame seeds, sliced green onion, cilantro

Orange Sauce Recipe:
1 cup orange juice, I like to use fresh squeezed
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup low sodium tamari
1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 clove garlic, grated
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees F. Cut the cauliflower into small to medium sized florets. The smaller they are, the crispier they will get.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and almond milk. Add all the cauliflower to the bowl and mix until each floret is coated in batter.
  3. Next, pour one cup of the panko over the cauliflower, mix and then pour the remaining up in. Mix until cauliflower is all coated with batter and panko.
  4. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick mat and lay cauliflower out. You want to make sure that it’s touching as little as possible and not piled on top of eachother. Bake cauliflower until crispy and starting to brown, 20 minutes, and then remove from oven.
  5. While cauliflower is baking, add all orange sauce ingredients to a medium sized bowl and whisk. Pour into a saucepan and cook until thickened, 7-10 minutes.
  6. Pour about 3/4 of the sauce over the baked cauliflower and mix until combined. Place back into the oven for about 10 minutes, until crispy.
  7. Serve over rice, if desired, and spoon remaining orange sauce over caulliflower just before serving. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion.
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Category: Dinner, Vegan
  • Method: Oven, Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Asian

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (7)tamarque says

    While this looks good, I do not find it very healthful with the panko and flour.
    Many people, myself included, do not eat wheat or other grains. Nor do we
    eat such high carb foods. Your single portion is more carbs than my whole day’s
    allowance. And people on Keto or Paleo could also not use this recipe.

    How about creating some alternatives for the flour and the panko?
    Would almond meal work?
    Would root flours work?

    • Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (8)She Likes Food says

      Hello, I did not create this recipe for people who are keto, paleo, grain free or low carb. I haven’t tried it with any other flour besides GF AP and regular AP. I suspect that almond meal or root flour would work but I can’t say for sure.

      Reply

  2. Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (9)Ali says

    What a great recipe! Very easy and turned out delicious! I just had to add extra corn starch as my sauce wasn’t thickening with 2 teaspoons. Lovely flavour, excellent texture! Sprinkled sesame seeds on top before serving over rice. Will definitely make this again! Thank you for the recipe!!

    Reply

    • Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (10)She Likes Food says

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!

      Reply

  3. Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (11)Lori says

    This was delicious!! My daughter even asked for the recipe when she leaves for college. So good, and it would be fun to try other sauces. Thank you!

    Reply

  4. Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (12)Apronpockets says

    How does this equate to 10 grams protein per serving? Can’t wait to try but curious where protein comes from.

    Reply

    • Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (13)She Likes Food says

      It’s a mixture of the cauliflower, breadcrumbs, flour and almond milk

      Reply

  5. Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (14)Hector Hernandez says

    Awesome recipe! Will definitely make it again!

    Reply

    • Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (15)She Likes Food says

      So glad you liked it!!

      Reply

  6. Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (16)Joanne says

    Just made for 2 vegan 21-year olds and me. Delicious. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (17)She Likes Food says

      That’s so nice to hear!!

      Reply

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Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe [The Best!] (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan orange chicken made of? ›

2 Sticky Vegan Orange Chicken

Transform tofu with a simple sauce of orange juice, tamari, ginger, sriracha, maple syrup, and cornstarch. This basic recipe comes together in about a half hour, and it uses a brilliant tofu freezing technique to get the chewy, meaty texture just right.

What is Panda Express orange chicken made of? ›

Ingredients: dark meat chicken, water, sugar, distilled vinegar, modified food starch, corn starch, potato starch, contains less than 2% of: wheat, orange extract, caramel color, salt, garlic, phosphoric acid, rice wine, sesame oil. *The dish uses a proprietary batter and sauce.

Will Panda bring back Beyond orange chicken? ›

Panda Express, the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concept in the U.S., is pleased to announce the return of its breakthrough innovation, Beyond The Original Orange Chicken™.

What is an orange chicken fun fact? ›

Orange chicken is called Chinese food in North America, but orange chicken is rarely found in Chinese restaurants in China. Andrew Cherng, owner and founder of Panda Express, said that orange chicken is just a variation of General Tso's chicken, another dish that is almost unknown in China.

What is most vegan chicken made of? ›

Vegan chicken is more sustainable, and healthier, and it's made primarily from plant-based products. These include vital wheat gluten, soy protein, pea protein, tofu, and jackfruit, which are rich in protein, calcium, fiber, and sodium—making the substitutes a perfect supplement for real meat.

Why did Panda get rid of vegan orange chicken? ›

Why this petition matters. Panda Express have discontinued serving the Beyond Meat orange chicken, the only vegan/vegetarian entree option. They have said this was due to the entree being a limited time item, but the popularity should make them change their minds.

Is orange chicken Chinese or Japanese? ›

While the orange chicken is one of the most famous Chinese dishes in America, it is a purely American invention, with no authentic Chinese resturants or restaurants in China serving this dish.

What oil does Panda Express use? ›

Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food. Panda Express uses only 100% pure soybean oil in the preparation of recipes.

What is the difference between General Tso and orange chicken? ›

What is the difference between orange chicken and General Tso? Orange chicken is crispy fried with a fruity, sweet, and tangy sauce that's caramelized into a glaze. General Tso is stir-fried in a sweet, sour, and spicy umami sauce.

What is the impossible orange chicken at Panda? ›

By the fall of 2022, Panda Express fans had something new to clamor about at all of its 2,300 locations with the national launch of Beyond the Original Orange Orange Chicken (BTOOC), a plant-based take on its most popular dish made together with vegan company Beyond Meat.

Does Panda have tofu? ›

The Eggplant Tofu is our go-to order for eating vegan at Panda Express. This dish contains lightly browned tofu, eggplant, red bell peppers, and a sweet and spicy sauce.

Is there impossible chicken? ›

Impossible Chicken Meat From Plants is made with soy protein to deliver that meaty bite. This plant-based protein is a good source of—yep! —protein, as well as essential Vitamins like vitamin B12. Sunflower oil gives Impossible Chicken its juiciness.

Who originally made orange chicken? ›

The ubiquitous restaurant offering, while deceptively simple, marries a host of Chinese regional flavors with American ingredients. It all started in Hawaii. In 1987, executive chef Andy Kao invented orange chicken on a business trip to open the state's first Panda Express restaurant.

Do people in China eat orange chicken? ›

Not really, but it is influenced by traditional Chinese food. If you go to China and ask for an orange chicken, an egg roll, or a crab rangoon it's going to be very unlikely they will know what you're talking about.

What is the original orange chicken? ›

The original “Orange Chicken” had no breading around each piece of chicken and the sauce was made of leftover orange or lemon peels cooked with soy sauce, chilis and garlic. The sauce had a citrus element, but it wasn't as pronounced or sweet like you would think of today.

Is orange chicken from Panda Express vegan? ›

Vegan options at Panda Express are solid. Bring on the meatless orange chicken! Panda Express has been hard at work getting vegan options on the menu now that it's ramping up plant-based offerings like so many other fast-food chains.

What is plant-based chicken breast made of? ›

Water, Wheat Gluten (10%), Vegetable Oils (Maize, Sunflower), Thickener (E461), Pea Protein (4%), Wheat Starch (2%), Bamboo Fibre, Preservative (E326), Salt, Yeast Extract, Stabiliser (E425), Spices, Sugar, Natural Flavouring, Pea Fibre, Smoked Salt, Sage.

What is the orange chicken sauce made of? ›

How to make the orange chicken sauce. The orange sauce is made from a mixture of the orange juice and zest, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and rice vinegar. This is bubbled up in the wok until slightly thickened. The chicken is then added back in, and tossed in the sauce until fully coated.

Is Impossible orange chicken vegan? ›

Noodles & Company is also featuring the new meatless chicken—which is crusted with panko crumbs—the Impossible Orange Chicken Lo Mein, a vegan take on a popular dish already on its menu.

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