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Orange Chicken With Chicken Nuggets

Orange chicken with chicken nuggets delivers takeout-style crisp nuggets coated in a sticky, tangy orange glaze. Frozen breaded nuggets bake until crispy, then get tossed in a quick simmered orange sauce that thickens fast with a cornstarch slurry.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Frozen breaded chicken nuggets
  • 24 oz frozen breaded chicken nuggets Use a 24 oz bag of nuggets.
Orange sauce
  • 0.5 cup orange juice
  • 2 tbsp orange zest Grate zest from oranges; use fresh if possible.
  • 0.33 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 garlic, minced Minced garlic cloves.
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated Use freshly grated ginger.
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch Mixed with water for a slurry.
  • 2 tbsp water For the cornstarch slurry.
Garnish
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 sesame seeds

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 saucepan

Method
 

Bake the nuggets
  1. Preheat oven and bake the frozen breaded chicken nuggets according to package directions until crisp, with a golden-brown finish and visible browning at the edges.
Make the orange sauce
  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the orange juice, orange zest, granulated sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, minced garlic, and grated ginger, then stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture looks uniform.
  2. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then add the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) and stir constantly for 1–2 minutes, until the sauce turns glossy and thick enough to lightly coat a spoon.
Coat and serve
  1. Toss the baked nuggets in the warm orange sauce until fully coated and sticky, with no dry spots on the surface.
  2. Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for a fresh, contrasting color.
  3. Serve immediately over rice so the nuggets stay crisp while the sauce clings to them.

Notes

For maximum crunch, bake the nuggets until fully crisp before saucing, and keep the orange sauce warm rather than letting it cool and thicken in the pan. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 3 days; reheat in a hot oven or air fryer to help regain crispness (not great in the microwave). Freezing is not recommended because the coating softens after thawing. Dietary swap: use tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) if you need a gluten-free version of the orange chicken nuggets.