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Orange Chicken With Chicken Nuggets

Orange chicken with chicken nuggets pairs crispy, baked nuggets with a sticky, tangy orange sauce made on the stovetop. In about 20 minutes, frozen nuggets are baked until crisp, then tossed in a thickened orange-ginger glaze.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 740
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Frozen breaded chicken nuggets
  • 1 can (24 oz) frozen breaded chicken nuggets Use a 24 oz bag.
Orange sauce
  • 0.5 cup orange juice
  • 2 tbsp orange zest
  • 0.333 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 garlic Minced.
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger Grated.
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch Mixed with water for a slurry.
  • 2 tbsp water For the cornstarch slurry.
Garnish
  • 2 green onions Sliced.
  • 1 sesame seeds For garnish.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Bake the nuggets
  1. Preheat your oven and bake the frozen breaded chicken nuggets according to package directions until crispy, then transfer to a baking-safe surface for coating.
  2. Keep the nuggets warm while you cook the sauce so the coating stays tacky and the crunch holds.
Make the orange sauce
  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the orange juice, orange zest, granulated sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger.
  2. Bring the sauce to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture looks glossy.
  3. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 1–2 minutes, until thickened and able to coat the back of a spoon.
Coat and serve
  1. Toss the baked nuggets in the warm orange sauce until fully coated, working quickly so they stay crisp.
  2. Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
  3. Serve immediately over rice for the best texture.

Notes

For best texture, bake nuggets just until crisp and coat them right away—this keeps the exterior crunchy instead of soggy. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; reheat in the oven or air fryer to re-crisp (microwave may soften). Freezing is not recommended because the nuggets lose crunch after thawing and reheating. Dietary swap: use tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) if you need it gluten-free.