Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

Jump to Recipe

This Slow Cooker Orange Chicken is the perfect one-pot meal to make for your family. It’s a healthy, flavorful dish that can be served over rice or quinoa. The sweet and tangy orange sauce adds so a delicious flavor to the tender chicken.

plate of slow cooker orange chicken on a bed of rice

One of the best things about this recipe is it only takes a few minutes prep work and then the crock pot does the rest of the work. So, that means that you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen worrying about dinner. Isn’t that great?

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
🛒Ingredients
📝Variations
🥄 Equipment
🥫 Storage
💭 Tips
⁉️ FAQ
🍽 More Slow Cooker Recipes
📌 PIN IT!!
🧾Recipe Card

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s full of flavor and perfect for busy weeknights since the slow cooker does most of the
You can make a takeout favorite at home without having to spend extra money on eating out.
You only need a handful of ingredients so this recipe won’t break the bank.

🛒Ingredients

chicken, seasonings, soy sauce, garlic, and green onions

You only need a few simple ingredients to help you make this takeout favorite at home. Take a quick trip to your local grocery store and gather these basic staples so you can enjoy this savory meal.

chicken tenderloins
cornstarch
vegetable oil
orange marmalade
low sodium soy sauce
vinegar
sesame oil
ground ginger
garlic cloves
red pepper flakes
sesame seeds
Scallions

See the recipe card below for quantities.

🔪 How to Make Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

Making this orange chicken is so simple, just follow the step by step directions below and you will have a delicious meal that your whole family will enjoy with little effort.

Step 1: Sear the chicken

Coat your chicken pieces in cornstarch. Brown the chicken quickly in the pan. We are not looking to cook the chicken through, just get a little color on each side.

Step 2: Add the chicken to the crock pot

Place the browned chicken in the slow cooker.

Step 3: Make the sauce

In a mixing bowl combine the marmalade, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes and sesame seeds. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Stir everything to combine.

chicken being topped with sauce in a slow cooker

Step 4: Cook the chicken

Cover and cook on LOW for 3 hours. Check and stir half way through.

Step 5: Garnish and serve

Garnish with the scallions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve over rice!

📝Variations

Do you want to change up this recipe and make it your own? Here are some ways that you can do that!

Vegetables: Add other vegetables such as bell peppers or carrots to the slow cooker.
Pineapple: Add in some pineapple chunks for a touch of sweetness.
Chicken: Swap out the chicken tenderloins for boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

If you love slow cooker chicken recipes then next time check out this Slow Cooker Chicken Lo Mein recipe. It’s a another treat takeout at home recipe to make.

🥄 Equipment

You will need a couple simple kitchen tools to help you make this chinese food at home recipe. Gather these tools and get ready to enjoy this sweet and savory meal with your family.

large bowl
large skillet
slow cooker

🥫 Storage

Leftovers – Store the leftovers in an airtight container and place it in the fridge. The orange chicken will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Freezing – This recipe can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Place any leftovers into a freezer friendly container or bag and freeze.

Reheating – Reheat the leftovers on the stove top over medium heat or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.

💭 Tips

Here are a few tips to help make sure that this delicious recipe turns out perfectly for you every time that you make it.

For easy clean up spray your slow cooker well nonstick cooking spray, or a slow cooker liner.
Try to cut the chicken into similar sized pieces so that it cooks evenly when you make it.
If your sauce is too thin you can thicken it by mixing one teaspoon of cornstarch with two teaspoons of the orange sauce, and then adding that to the slow cooker and simmering until it thickens.
You can also add a touch of spice by adding a couple pinches of red pepper flakes to your sauce.

⁉️ FAQ

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

What can I serve with orange chicken?

Orange chicken is a versatile dish and goes great with steamed rice, chow mein noodles, or even roasted vegetables.

Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

Yes! You can make the sauce and marinate the chicken up to 24 hours before cooking if you’d like.

What if my sauce is too thick?

If your sauce is too thick, add a little bit of water or chicken broth to thin it out. You can also add a touch more soy sauce and marmalade for additional flavor.

🍽 More Slow Cooker Recipes

Do you enjoy slow cooker meals, try these delicious recipes:

📌 PIN IT!!

🧾Recipe Card

Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.