Easy Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
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My Slow Cooker Orange Chicken delivers bold, irresistible flavor with minimal effort. Tender chicken is slow-cooked in a perfectly balanced sweet and tangy orange sauce — creating a dish that’s not only simple to make, but guaranteed to become a family favorite like it is in my house.
Easy Orange Chicken Recipe
I wanted to create an orange chicken recipe that gave you all the bold, sweet-and-savory flavor of your favorite takeout – but without the hassle. So I took everything I love about this classic dish and simplified it into something even busy families can pull off with ease.
After testing different methods, I found the perfect balance: lightly sauté the chicken to lock in flavor, then let the slow cooker do the rest. As it simmers for hours, the chicken turns melt-in-your-mouth tender, soaking up every drop of that tangy orange glaze with just a hint of heat.
The best part? It’s unbelievably easy. No deep frying. No fancy ingredients. Just a few simple steps and you’ll have a comforting, flavor-packed dinner that tastes like it came from your favorite Asian restaurant.
Whether it’s a busy weeknight or you’re feeding a hungry crowd, this slow cooker orange chicken is the kind of meal everyone will ask for again — and again.
Why My Orange Chicken is the Best
- No Deep Frying = Healthier + Easier than Take Out – Most orange chicken recipes require frying the chicken first—but not mine.
- Easy to prepare – Because your slow cooker does most of the cooking for you this is an easy dinner that doesn’t require a lot of hands-on prep work. It’s perfect for busy weeknights.
- Simple ingredients – Unlike some Asian recipes, you can find all of the ingredients for this tangy orange chicken in your local grocery store.
- Delicious homemade orange sauce – perfectly sweet and tangy
- Well-Tested, Trusted, and Clear Instructions – Has been tested and loved by real families (and it shows!)
- Crispy Chicken Hack (Optional But Genius) – I offer the option to crisp up the chicken in the oven or air fryer after slow cooking. This adds texture like takeout (but better!) and is easier than deep frying.
Ingredients
- Chicken tenderloins, cut into bite-size pieces – tender and cooks quickly
- Cornstarch – helps thicken the sauce and gives chicken a light coating
- Vegetable oil – for lightly browning the chicken before slow cooking
- Sweet orange marmalade – the star flavor, gives sweetness and orange zing
- Low-sodium soy sauce – adds savory depth without too much salt
- Rice wine vinegar (or your favorite vinegar) – adds brightness and balance
- Sesame oil – rich, toasty flavor that boosts the overall taste
- Ground ginger – brings warmth and classic Asian-inspired flavor
- Fresh garlic cloves, minced – adds bold, aromatic flavor
- Red pepper flakes – optional heat for a little kick
- Sesame seeds, more for garnish – adds crunch and a nutty touch
- Scallions (green onions) for garnish – fresh pop of color and mild onion flavor
How to Make Delicious Orange Chicken in the Crock Pot
- Coat your chicken pieces in corn starch.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then brown the chicken quickly in the pan.
- Place chicken in the slow cooker.
NOTE: You’re not cooking it until done, just until seared well. This is an important step in giving the juicy chicken a little color on each side.
- In a medium bowl combine the orange marmalade, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, and sesame seeds.
- Pour the tangy orange sauce over the chicken and stir everything to combine.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 3-4 hours.
- Check and stir after about an hour and a half.
- Garnish with scallions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve the chicken with some of the flavorful sauce over hot cooked rice.
NOTE: Slow cookers cook differently so make sure to stir and make sure your slow cooker isn’t running too hot and burning the sticky sauce.
Sear for Flavor: Lightly brown the chicken before slow cooking to lock in flavor and improve texture.
Choose the Right Marmalade: Use a sweet orange marmalade with real orange peel for the best citrusy punch.
Thicken if Needed: Sauce too thin? Stir in a cornstarch slurry or cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
Crispy Finish (Optional): Broil or air fry the chicken for a few minutes after cooking for that crispy, takeout-style edge.
Easy Slow Cooker Orange Chicken Variations
- Chicken – Swap the chicken tenders for cut-up chicken thighs. You can also use pieces of pork shoulder or pork loin.
- Add veggies – Sautéed carrots, green and red peppers, mushrooms, and broccoli florets can be added to make this a complete meal.
- Adjust the spice – Add extra heat to your orange chicken by including additional pepper flakes or some sriracha sauce. You can also omit it altogether if you prefer no heat at all.
- Garnish options – Instead of sesame seeds and green onions, try garnishing your orange chicken with chopped peanuts or fresh cilantro for a different flavor and texture.
What Side Dish Goes with this Slow Cooker Orange Chicken Recipe?
This dish is typically served over a fluffy bed of white rice or brown rice. If you want to add some veggies to the meal you can serve it with a side of broccoli, green beans or cauliflower rice.
What is the Difference between Orange Marmalade and Orange Preserves?
The main difference is that marmalade contains small pieces of citrus fruits, whereas preserves contain larger pieces of fruits or even whole fruit that’s mixed in with a jelly type of fruit syrup.
If you love Chinese foods, you should also check out Instant Pot Orange Chicken or this Chinese Chicken Salad.
More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
- Crockpot Smokies
- Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki
- Crockpot Beef Stew
- Simple Slow Cooker Chili
- Crockpot Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken
- Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore
Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken tenderloins cut into bite size pieces
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- 4 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 cups orange marmalade
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds plus more for garnish
- scallions for garnish
Instructions
- Coat your chicken pieces in cornstarch.2 pounds chicken tenderloins, ⅓ cup cornstarch
- Heat up the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.4 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- Brown the chicken quickly in the pan. We are not looking to cook the chicken through, just get a little color on each side.
- Place the browned chicken in the slow cooker.
- In a mixing bowl combine the marmalade, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes and sesame seeds.1 1/2 cups orange marmalade, 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons vinegar, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 3 garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- Pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Stir everything to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3 hours. Check and stir half way through. Slow cookers cook differently so make sure to stir and make sure your slow cooker isn't running to hot and burning the sauce.
- Garnish with the scallions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve over rice.scallions
Nutrition
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About Alicia
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