Finally, a Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe everyone will love! Just 4 ingredients and you’re done!
When it comes to Chinese food, Orange Chicken tops the charts every time! And who would have thought that bbq sauce would be the secret ingredient? With that perfect blend of sweet and tang, there’s something just so addictive about it, right? Simply serve with a side of rice, and dinner is done!
So skip the Chinese Orange Chicken takeout tonight and go grab your Crockpot instead! With sweet orange marmalade, and just four ingredients, this delicious asian slow cooker recipe is about as easy as it gets!
Here’s what you’ll do to make your Crockpot Orange Chicken with barbecue sauce…
Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe
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How Do You Make Orange Chicken At Home?
It’s actually really easy thanks to this simple slow cooker recipe!
- You’ll just toss your chicken in the crock pot, let it cook, and later drain the juices.
- Then you’ll pull the chicken out and cube it and place it back in the slow cooker, or leave it as is as chicken breasts.
- Finally, you’ll mix up some perfectly sweet and tangy orange chicken sauce, pour it over the chicken in the crock pot, let it cook for 30 more minutes, and serve over rice or chow mein noodles. You can even top it off with some sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
- SO easy, and dinner is done!
Can You Make Orange Chicken Without Orange Juice?
Yep, you sure can! In this recipe, we’ll actually use orange marmalade to give the sauce that epic orange-y flavor we all love!
What is Orange Chicken Sauce Made Of?
So are you wondering… what ingredients are in orange chicken? Well, as crazy as it sounds, this orange chicken sauce is made with just 3 simple ingredients…
- Orange Marmalade
- Soy Sauce
- Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce
Oh I know, I know… you’re probably thinking why in the world would you have bbq sauce in orange chicken? Well just trust me… when you mix these three flavors all together you’ll end up with the most delicious orange chicken sauce ever! It just works!
If you’d like to give it a little extra kick, go ahead and add a pinch of red pepper flakes, too!
What Do You Eat With Orange Chicken?
This versatile dish goes great with a variety of sides, like:
- Chow Mein
- Cream Cheese Won Tons
- Egg Drop Soup
- Egg Rolls
- Spring Rolls
- Sweet and Sour Coleslaw
- Udon Noodles
What Your Frugal Friends Are Saying About This Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe:
Kaitlyn writes: “This was so easy and tasted great!”
Kaley writes: “I tried it and really liked it! I’m planning on making it again soon! I made fried rice to go with it.”
Laura writes: “Family loved it and it was very easy.”
Candy writes: “I made this for company and we all enjoyed it very much!”
Dawn writes: “Great over rice!”
Alaina writes: “My husband loved this, and said it tastes better than most Chinese take out food.”
Savannah writes: “This was SO good! My entire family enjoyed it!”
Kristy writes: “Quick, easy, and delicious!”
Jay writes: “My grandsons and I love this chicken recipe and it was sooo easy.”
Elaina writes: “A good meal for my 3 picky eaters!”
Darcy writes: “Very easy to make. I added broccoli and carrots during last 30 minutes.”
Ashleigh writes: “Made it on the stove instead. Cut chicken into large chunks and cooked. In a saucepan I heated the marmalade and bbq sauce and let it simmer for about 10min. Added about a cup to the chicken and let that simmer for another 10min. Nice tangy orange taste. Definitely keeping this one around.”
Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts thawed
- 3/4 cup Smuckers Sweet Orange Marmalade
- 3/4 cup of Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce {it’s SO good!}
- 2 tbsp. Soy Sauce
Instructions
- Cook chicken in crockpot on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours {covered}
- After 3 hours on HIGH or 6 hours on LOW, drain juices from crockpot
- At this point… you can either leave the chicken breasts whole, or remove, cut into cubes, and transfer back to crockpot.
- Mix together bbq sauce, orange marmalade, and soy sauce.
- Pour mixture over chicken, and cook on high for 30 more minutes {covered}
- Serve with rice and Enjoy!!
Notes
What You’ll Need to Make This Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe:
5 – 6 quart Crock Pot
That’s it ~ now wasn’t that easy?? I recommend serving this crockpot chicken dinner with a side of Rice… YUM! Seriously, this Crockpot Orange Chicken is so simple to make! Give it a try, and let me know you think.
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So have you tried this Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe yet?
Leave a comment & share!
Theresa says
This Crockpot Orange Chicken was delicious! I was hesitant with only 3 ingredients, but I gave it a try in my crockpot. I had 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts that were rather thick, so I tenderized them slightly to flatten out. And since they did not completely fill the bottom of the crockpot, I added a tablespoon of butter hoping they wouldn’t burn or dry out. Six hours on slow and they were swimming in juice, drained off then followed the recipe for the sauce., adding the pulled apart chicken, which practically fell apart as I was it cutting up. I made full recipe of sauce since I wanted to be sure to have enough to cover the basmati rice I served with it. Delicious. Very easy. Perfect for the 2 of us with some leftovers. Thank you!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Theresa… I’m so glad to hear you loved it! 🙂
Carole says
I made this in an instant pot. The chicken breast comes out incredibly moist and tender in about 35 min. Cooked chicken in 1/2 cup chicken broth on high 15 min., released pressure after 10 more, Removed breast,. Poured off liquid to save for soups. then shredded breasts Added chicken to another pan with marmalade, bbq sauce, soy sauce, and simmered covered 20 more minutes. Total time was less than an hour.
Frankly, I gave away my crock pot and slow cookers 30 years ago because I never used them. So I don’t want another one, but I love my instant pot! It fits my life style.
Mary says
I used Primal Kitchen Original Unsweetened BBQ sauce to lessen sugars and used low sodium soy sauce. Also added some broccoli at the last 30 mins and some red bell peppers.
Very good and easy dish!
Heidi says
Those sound like some delicious twists, Mary… thanks so much for sharing!
Shene says
I made this last night and it was a big hit. I will make again. It was so nice to have dinner in cooking while I got housework done.
Heidi says
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the Orange Chicken, Shene! And I agree… I just love easy set-it-and-forget-it dinners like this! 🙂
Leslie says
Has anyone ever cooked it on the stove? If so how long?
Britt says
Can you use a different brand of bbq sauce instead of Sweet Baby Rays??
Heidi says
Hi Britt… you can, but it will drastically change the taste. I highly recommend using Sweet Baby Ray’s for this particular recipe. 🙂
Korey says
I made the mistake of cooking the chicken with the sauces in the beginning. The sauce definitely was too watery that way.
Whit says
I just did this too! Is there any way to fix it?
Savanna says
Just drain some of the liquid and add some more bbq sauce keep high another 30 mins and it thickens up again I did it too I’m a rush thought it was a dump and cook recipe lol
Michele Beck says
This is my husband’s favorite orange chicken recipe. He is a orange chicken freak. It is easy, tastes great. All our friends love it !
Heidi says
Haha… so glad your husband and friends have been enjoying the orange chicken, Michele! It’s definitely a family favorite here, too! 🙂
Victoria LaTulippe says
Hi I want to make orange chicken in the Crock-Pot but I have chicken pieces how long for the chicken pieces instead of the full breast and is it frozen or thawed
Victoria LaTulippe says
Do I still cook for three hours with chicken peices or will the fall apart
Sylvia says
Hi! Can I ask if I can cook everything together at the same time instead of adding the sauce later? What will happen if I cooked it with the sauce from the beginning? Thanks!
Heidi says
Hi Sylvia, if you cook the chicken in the sauce from the beginning you’ll end up with a very watered down sauce. Draining the juices and adding the sauce later will ensure a thicker and much more flavorful sauce. Hope that helps! 😉
Heather says
I make this at least once very two weeks. This is our FAVORITE meal on this site! I make it over white rice and it stays in the fridge well for days! Sooooo yummy. My child’s favorite also! Thanks for the awesome recipes!
Heidi says
Aww ~ you’re very welcome, Heather! I’m so glad to hear how much you all love the orange chicken! I agree… it makes amazing leftovers! 😉
Kathleen says
This is delicious, it satisfied my craving and is healthier and cheaper than a restaurant! I used sugar-free marmalade and a different brand of bbq sauce and added onions and peppers. I served it with brown rice mixed with cauliflower rice..
Holly Hong says
Has anyone tried this in an instant pot? If so, did you change anything?
Labelle says
Can I cook this in a smaller crock pot?
Heidi says
Hi Labelle ~ I’ve found that a 5 quart – 7 quart works best for this recipe. Hope that helps!
Sandy says
I love looking at these meals. I needed fresh ideas and you got them. Thanks
Heidi says
Aww ~ you’re very welcome, Sandy! Thanks so much for the sweet comment… and enjoy your Crockpot meals! 😉
Jennifer says
When cooking the chicken i do you add anything else to the crockpot with it before adding the sauce at the end
Heidi says
Hi Jennifer ~ no… as the chicken will end up cooking in its own juices for the first part. Hope that helps!
Janine says
Being my first time and not being home for 4 hours, didn’t want to take any chances so I put about a quarter cup of Sprite in for liquid then drained after cooking. Chicken fell apart and was a hit. this recipe is in my family favorites box….
Elaine says
Sprite? Interesting I’ve never heard of that? What exactly does the Sprite do as opposed to water or other liquid?
[email protected] says
Can’t wait to try this recipe – need to check out your crockpot recipes so I’m better prepared for dinners once the kids are back in school and we have afternoon practices/evening games.
Heidi says
I agree, Anne… Crockpot meals are the perfect solution for busy school nights!
Amber says
Delicious! I substituted sugar free marmalade just because it’s what I had in the pantry. The only “problem was when I removed the chicken to dice it, it all fell apart. Shredded chicken still tastes delicious, just doesn’t look as pretty.
Valerie says
I cut my chicken into chunks before putting in the crockpot. Cook on high for an hour. Blend my sauce in a bowl and add to the chicken, Cook an additional 2 hours (on high). Because I don’t drain the chicken, I stir up a little cornstarch and water to thicken the sauce. So delicious and nice Chunky Chicken. Made it last week for the 1st time…and now have another batch in the crockpot for dinner tonight! Fast becoming a Family Favorite!
Tammy Russell says
Thanks for this post, I dont drain my chicken either and was wondering if I could use corn starch.
Arin says
This sauce was so very delicious! I already had some cooked turkey on hand, so instead of using the crock pot, I just make the sauce in a saucepan, added the turkey, and served with rice. My son said it was a keeper (which means I have to add it to the family favorites recipes). Thanks for sharing!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Arin… and that sounds delicious! Isn’t the sauce SO yummy? It’s definitely a family favorite here, too. 🙂
JaQuette says
Omgeee! Tried this today, and it is SO delish! I couldn’t wait for dinner, so I cheated and had a small piece already. :o) Thanks for such a great dish!
Heidi says
Aww ~ you’re very welcome, JaQuette! Isn’t it crazy delicious? By far one of my favorite dishes. So glad you loved it! 🙂
Julie says
We love this recipe, it’s delicious and simple. We made it tonight with center cut pork loin chops and it was just as good!!
Heidi says
So glad you loved it, Julie.. and that the sauce was delicious with pork chops, too!
Karen says
I made this last night, it was good! I thought I had regular Sweet baby ray’s, but it was sweet and spicy instead. Still good, my 1 1/2 year old liked it so that’s a win for me! I’m doing the creamy ranch chicken right now, but i only have regular cream of chicken… none with herbs. Was considering throwing in some for flavor’s sake but I’m sure it’ll be fine without. If i DID want to throw in some , any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Also, I’m sure it’s hard to pick but happen to have an absolute favorite 5 ingredient recipe? Or a MUST TRY? I’m new at this crock pot thing and I’d love to hear your input 🙂
nichole says
I just wanted to let you know, I made this last night and it was amazing. I love orange chicken, and this was by far the easiest recipe, and tastes just like the take-out version, minus the breading. I used chicken thighs, because they are less expensive than breasts, are small enough I didn’t need to cut them, and tend to take flavor a lot better! I also made white rice on the side, and ladled extra sauce on both my chicken and my rice, mmm…, best idea ever!
MARIA says
If you add some hot sauce to this, it brings the flavors to a whole new level!!!! Super delicious… add as much as your taste bud think its mind-blowingly yummy! Enjoy!!!
Angie says
Hello Heidi,
I would like to make the chicken crispy before I put all the goodness on it. I don’t know how to make it crispy w
Angie says
Without a deepfryer. Can you give suggestions?
Mary says
Sometimes what I do is bake my chicken in the oven with crushed bbq chips on top. You can rub mayonnaise or egg yolk on the chicken tenders or thin slices breast when raw. Then coat them crushed bbq flavored chips (I like Kettle Baked Hickory BBQ). Cook at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Then try pouring the BBQ sauce marmalade on top and see how that goes.
Krissy says
I cut my chicken into chunks then to bread it dip each piece into flour, then egg mixed w/ a little water, then plain bread crumbs. Then fill a deep skillet with about an inch of oil and heat on medium. Once the oil is heated drop as many pieces of the chicken as you’d like and cook for a few minutes on each side until brown and cooked through. I then heat the sauce indredients in a separate pan. Once everything is done toss the chicken with the sauce and serve
Katelyn says
Hello,
I have a quick question. I want to make this recipe for six people. What would you recommend that I do?
nichole says
I used chicken thighs when I made this, and it worked really well. I would get a couple of 1-2 pound packages and that should work! They are small enough, they are almost bite sized (with a little extra) and I don’t feel it needs to be cut at all when I use them.
Steve Cannon says
I cooked my chicken with a can of condensed cream of chicken soup.. I came out juicy & very flavorful!!!!!
Viviana says
This is my first time ever that i will be using a crockpot. This recipe looks very delish! And I want to try to make it. I only have one question.
When cooking the chicken, do i add water in the crockpot? Or do i just put the chicken in?
I’m also making it for 2 people.
Heidi says
Hi Viviana ~ no water is required, as the chicken will end up cooking in its own juices. Hope that helps! 🙂
shaye says
how many bone-in breasts or thighs can you use to substitute the boneless breasts? Seems like boneless is realllly expensive compared to bone-in :/
Shana says
Do you cut up the chicken breasts, or stick them in whole?
Heidi says
Hi Shana ~ you’ll initially cook the chicken breasts whole. At the point where you’re draining the juices, you can either place them back in the Crockpot whole, or cut them up and place the pieces back in the Crockpot. Then you’ll add the sauce for the remaining time. ENJOY! 🙂
joseph says
That was so easy. Thanks
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Joseph!
Alex says
Hey I was wondering if I could use chicken drumbsticks in the cockpot instead of the chicken breasts? Has anyone ever tried this?
Heidi says
Hi Alex ~ if cooking drumsticks, you can check out these recipes here for quantity / cooking time for the Crock Pot. Enjoy! 🙂
https://thefrugalgirls.com/chicken-drumstick-recipes
MARIA says
yes…..super delicious!!!!!!!!
Amanda says
just tried this tonight and it came amazing! I didn’t change a thing! I’ve never been good at cooking chicken in the slow cooker because it usually comes dry… But after the chicken cooked and I cut it up… I let it soak up some of the left over juice before I discarded it… I recommend brown meat because it comes so much better but my husband only eats white meat… It still came so great!! So simple and so easy!! Will be having this again!! Thanks for the great recipe 🙂
Heidi says
Aww ~ you’re very welcome, Amanda! So glad you loved it!
Jessica says
Has anyone made this with a different BBQ sauce?
Heidi says
Hi Jessica ~ I wouldn’t recommend a different sauce… unfortunately it will change the flavor too much.
Erinn says
This is a deliciously simple recipe for the entire family! Double it for leftovers! I once used Peach preserves and it was tasty too!
Heidi says
Leftovers are the BEST! 🙂
Lindsey says
Holy moly…where has this recipe been all my life??? Made it tonight for friends & family & it was a huge hit! I should add that my critics were a Korean man (who is spoiled by traditional Korean cooking) & picky kids (ages 2, 3, 6, 7 & 8!!) Thank you so much for sharing!! I did make a spicy sauce for the grown ups w BBQ sauce, orange marmalade, soy sauce, honey, sriracha & red pepper flakes! Delish!
Heidi says
So glad everyone loved it, Lindsey! The spicy sauce sounds delicious, too! 🙂
Mimi says
This recipe was delicious!. I actually made chicken tacos with this recipe and it was amazing. I served this orange chicken with corn tortillas, cilantro, and onion. Thanks for the recipe!
Heidi says
Aww ~ you’re very welcome, Mimi! So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
tara says
is there a way to make this a freezer meal? It looks so good.
Kyra says
How many people does it serve?
Heidi says
Hi Kyra ~ it serves 4 -5 people. ENJOY! 🙂
Lisa says
i did not have enough time for the slow cooker method, so took the advice of one of the reviewers and cooked it in the oven. I doubled the sauce and added a tsp of red pepper flakes. I cut up the chicken in bit sized pieces and cooked in a covered dish for one hour at 375. It was very yummy, but too runny. I was able to thicken with cornstarch. If I made it this way again I think I would cook the chicken in a skillet first or add cornstarch to the sauce before cooking. My family liked the flavor, so will make again.
heather fowler says
can the chicken breast be frozen??
Lindsey says
Mine were & it worked great!
stephanee says
Hi I was just wondering if you had any ideas as for a substitute for the soy sauce. I really want to make this but my husband is allergic to it?
Swtcooker says
coconut aminos is a sub for soy sauce and better for you too. 🙂
Kathleen says
Has anyone tried using popcorn chicken, tossing in the sauce and then baking?
Jennifer says
Tried this the other might and my husband loved it and has already requested it be made again. Simple, fairly inexpensive, and delicious. Thank you! Going to try the root beer one next.
Kelly welch says
i was wondering if instead of marmalade you could use halo oranges? Has anyone tried that?
Donna Humphries says
We had the Orange Chicken tonight. Awesome!!! I added green pepper and onion on top of chicken thighs,and let that cook with the chicken. Served it on rice with sesame seeds. It was gone in no time! This dish will be a regular, for sure!
Paul says
Making this tonight for my girlfriend…looks delicious!
Heather Bleier says
Can’t wait to try the orange chicken tomorrow!
<,
Heather
PS. Best part of this post…John 3:16. YOU.GO.GIRL!
Elsie says
Hi,
Can you use a whole chicken (thawed out) in the crockpot? If so, how long do I cook it for?
Meridith says
Hi, I found this on pinterest today and also made it today! It’s finished cooking but I haven’t served it up yet…but I have tried it and wanted to say I can already tell it’s going to be a hit w my husband as well as my 2 yr old and 4 yr old. My crock pot can over cook on its high setting and after tasting the chicken, I think next time I’ll use the medium setting for a little longer time since it does seem a little more dry. However the flavors are delish. I can’t wait to serve it up w some white rice. Thanks for sharing!
Chelsea says
Correct me if I’m just being blind- but what is the yield for this recipe? As in, is this for a regular sized (7qt) crockpot?
Bekah says
Hi Heidi! I just wanted to say THANK YOU sooooo much for all of these recipes! As a college student (on a budget) all of your recipes and cheap, delicious, and easy to make!! This one is one of my personal faves!
Heidi says
Aww ~ you’re very welcome, Bekah! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes!! 😉
Erica says
I have noticed a huge difference in the sizes of chicken breasts from one brand to the next. Sometimes 4 breasts is 1 pound, sometimes it’s 2.5 pounds. Can you give me an estimate of how much chicken you’re using? I just want to get a good sauce-to-chicken ratio. 🙂
Erica says
Ok, so I made this today with 3 chicken breasts that totalled about 30 oz. I cooked them on low for about 4.5 hours, then poured out the liquid and scraped off the fat that was stuck on the chicken. Then I cut the chicken into chunks, but some of it shredded or fell apart. I put it back into the crock pot and stirred in the sauce. I cooked it on low for another 30-40 minutes while I made some fried rice. It turned out great!! Even my kids (ages 3 and 6) loved it! And the sauce to chicken ratio was perfect. I will definitely be making this again! Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Kellie says
This sounds and looks amazing…if only the internet had smells LOL. I wanted to give you a heads up that several websites are using your recipe and pics and not giving you credit. If you do an image search on google with the picture that shows the plate of food, the crock pot, the marmalade and the bbq sauce it comes back with tons of websites. I also found it on facebook on a page titled My Own Little Playground…it’s the first picture on the photo tab. Sorry but this just annoys me to no end when people steal like that.
Monica green says
Hi! Just wanted to stop by and say thank you for the recipe!! I actually stumbled upon it a couple years ago and have made it TONS of times since then. It really is a family favorite in our house, and my one year old and five year old LOVE it!!! So I’ve been meaning to come back for a long time now and say thank you and that I’ve gotten several family members to love this as well! I will cook it on low for 6 hours if chicken is fresh and about 8 hours for frozen! We also use drumsticks and thighs and it turns out perfect.
Heidi says
Aww ~ thanks so much for the sweet comment, Monica! I’m so glad your family loves it… it’s definitely a family favorite here, too! 😉
Bobbie O'Brien says
Have you tried it with a low sugar marmalade to make it a little less sweet?
Heidi says
Hi Bobbie ~ I haven’t tried it yet with a low sugar marmalade yet, but if you do… let me know how it turns out! 😉
Monica S. says
I want to try this recipe, but work all day. I would love to be able to combine all ingredients and then cook on low (for 8+ hours). Do you think this will work? Thank you for a wonderful meal idea!
vicky says
It’s wonderful! !
Heidi says
So glad you liked it, Vicky! 🙂
Katherine says
Do we cook on high or low for 3 hours?
Heidi says
Hi Katherine ~ you’ll cook on HIGH. Hope that helps! 😉
Jennifer says
Can I cook the chicken on low for 6 hours?
Heidi says
Hi Jennifer ~ yes… you can cook on LOW for approx. 6 – 7 hours, or until done. ENJOY! 😉
Amy says
Wow. This is so yummy and about as easy as it comes! This even works for my daughter who has food restrictions. We have had this multiple times and everyone loves it.
Heidi says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Amy! Isn’t it SO yummy? 😉
Andrea says
This crockpot chicken dish was amazing!! Thank you for sharing it.
Heidi says
I’m so glad you liked it, Andrea!! 😉 It’s one of our family’s favorites!
Cathie says
This recipe looks delish! If I didnt have the time for it to cook in a crock pot, could I bake the chicken or cook it in some other way that was quicker?! Thanks in advance!
Jada says
Thanks for these!
Monika says
My son has a soy allergy… Have you tried it without soy sauce? What could I substitute for soy sauce?
FamilyOfFour says
You could omit the soy and just use the 2 teaspoons of the natural juices to mix with the BBQ and marmalade. Hope this helps!
Angela Rice says
Thank you so much for posting this recipe! I am having a party/brunch in a few days, and I wasn’t sure what to serve. This is perfect and so easy! I love crockpot recipes. Thanks again! 🙂
Stengel99 says
Thanks for posting this. After two questionable attempts to get this recipe right, I finally read the part about not adding the marmalade and BBQ sauce until the last 30 minutes. That did the trick, and it’s now a family favorite.
Corinna Curry says
I just made the Crockpot Orange Chicken tonight. It was yummy! It’s almost embarrassing how easy it is too prepare too. This recipe is definitely a keeper! Thanks for making this working ladies life a little easier!
Heidi says
Haha… you’re very welcome, Corinna! So glad you liked it! 😉
Carolina says
I made this for dinner today! Delicious!! Thanks for sharing!!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Carolina. I’m so glad you liked it! 😉
Barbara says
I have to say I love the simplicity of your recipes, it’s great. I tried your orange chicken recipe and it was great! I have tried other orange chicken recipes so every complicated but. This is my fave!
Heidi says
Aww ~ thank you, Barbara! I’m so glad you enjoyed the Orange Chicken! The easier the recipe the better! 😉
ashb says
Ok….I just mixed my bbq soy and marmalade..but it still smells like bbq…will the smell and taste mix when it iscooked?
Cindi M. says
Thank you for this recipe. It was so good. All my kids loved it. I did it a little different. I used 2 pounds of chicken and cut it into chunks. I mixed up the sauce poured it over the chicken and baked it all for an hour at 375. I served it on a bed of rice and a side of steamed veggies. Oohh it was so good!!
Abby says
What if I want to cut it up into bite size pieces like Panda Express does? Do I cut it before or after cooking the chicken in the crockpot?
Sheila says
I cut it after cooking. Actually the chicken will practically be so tender that it will break up into pieces easily.
Emily says
Hello! I was wondering if anyone has made this with putting all ing. together at once? I am away from the house for 8 hrs!
Judi says
OMG!! NEVER need to go to Panda Express again!! I don’t have a crockpot so I just browned my chicken in an over safe fry pan and added the sauce and put it in the oven for about 15-20 @350 and it turned out SUPER!!! Hubby said it was a keeper!!:)
Sandy Rocco says
Could you use a pork tenderloin?
Darlene Gates says
I made this recipe for my daughter and her husband, it seemed so simple and we have been so busy canning that last week was a Wendys fast food, so I tried this along with buttered rice and peas, it was wonderful, not only tasting but easy as well.. we all enjoyed a good meal and no fast food chains got our money.. Thank you so much for sharing recipes with us frugal girls, we love it..
Heidi says
Yay ~ I’m so glad you loved it, Darlene! Good job on the canning, too! 😉
Joyce Lewis says
With 2 out of 3 boys in sports from after school to 8pm I have been looking for things I could start and my husband can finish and have on the table when we walk in the door. Success!! I do an entire month of meal planning & 2 nights per week are crockpot meals….this is definitely a stay on the meal rotation because my kids LOVED IT. I did add some red pepper flakes (we like a little heat). My boys are usually picky (2,4 & 8) but they licked their plates clean ;~) not kidding! I served it with a side of jasmine rice tossed with frozen veggies (carrots, peas, & corn) and orange slices on the side. So simple…so tasty. One happy mom here ;~)
Heidi says
I’m so glad your family loved it, Joyce! The red pepper flakes for heat sound fun, too!!
Kim says
I made this last night and it was awesome! My boyfriend is a very picky eater and it makes cooking rough… He loved it. Thanks for the recipe!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Kim… I’m so glad he loved it! 😉
LJ says
Made this today for my son’s birthday dinner. It turned out so yummy!! He really liked it. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Heidi says
Yay ~ I’m so glad he enjoyed his Birthday Orange Chicken!!
kathy says
Made this for dinner last night. My husband and 12-year old son really liked it. My husband said it reminded him of PE’s orange chicken but he liked this better because it’s not fried. He said this has a lighter, fresher taste.
Heidi says
I’m so glad your family liked the recipe, Kathy! I love that it’s not fried as well! 😉
Jacqui says
I made this for dinner tonight. I used Smuckers Sweet Orange Marmalade and Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet and Spicy sauce. I served it over brown rice. It was insanely, awesome DELISH!
Heidi says
I’m so glad you liked it, Jacqui ~ yay for easy yummy recipes! 😉
Marianne says
Oh my, this was delicious! I added a bit of sesame oil and ginger for a skosh more flavor and it was really good. I’ll be making this one over and over. Thanks much for the recipe! 🙂
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Marianne… so glad you liked it! 🙂
Lee says
Is it crispy???
Heidi says
Hi Lee ~ no… this specific recipe uses skinless chicken breasts without any breading, so it will not turn out crispy. Hope that helps!
Nikki says
This sounds so good, much better than the orange chicken recipes that call for orange juice and ketchup. I was just wondering if I could make it into a freezer meal? I want to cook the chicken first, cool it and then add everything to a ziplock baggie and freeze it. Then on the day of cooking thaw in the fridge and then cook in the crock pot. Do you think that would work? Would I have to do anything different?
Jen says
My thoughts exactly. Make ahead and freeze.
Lisa says
Made this tonight and it was awesome! I used sugar free jelly to save a few cals and I used the sweet rays honey BBQ.
Heidi says
I’m so glad you liked it, Lisa! 😉
Tonya Davis says
The kids and I are very excited to taste this. Its cooking right now.
Has anyone added any veggies to this?
Christine says
This was so very good! I have 4 boys and a very busy schedule. I am always looking for the mythical “yummy but easy crockpot recipe”! This was definitely fits that bill!
Heidi says
Yay ~ I’m so glad you liked it, Christine!
terrayna says
can I use boneless skinless thighs???
Heidi says
Hi Terrayna ~ absolutely… you can substitute boneless skinless thighs. Enjoy!! 🙂
Lauren says
Just found this on Pinterest. It sounds amazingly simple. I’ve got chicken tenders in the freezer I could use, and the BBQ sauce, just need to pick up some orange marmalade. This will be on our menu next week!
Heidi says
I hope you enjoy it, Lauren! It’s almost too easy, but SO yummy!! 😉
Cindy says
Looks yummy! I have apricot preserves leftover from another recipe,so I’m going to try substituting that this time.(but I do have Sweet Baby Rays..my favorite!)Hope it turns out 🙂
Heidi says
Ooh ~ that might be a tasty twist on it for sure! Let me know how it turns out, Cindy!
Here’s another fun Crockpot Recipe using Apricot Preserves:
https://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/10/crockpot-apricot-chicken-recipe.html
Enjoy!!
Cindy D says
It was yummy! The flavors went well together..will try the orange marmalade next. Thanks for the link to he other recipe.
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Cindy! I’ll have to try your version, too! 😉
~ Heidi
Charlotte says
I just made this tonight and it was delish, thank you for the recipe!! I have an over-zealous crockpot so after 3 hours the chicken was dry (but still tasted amazing) so next time I will do 2.5 hours and cut Into chunks before serving. What a great recipe, so easy! Thanks again!
Kandace says
AMAZING. I added some sweet chili sauce that I had sitting in the fridge. . . kicked it up a notch!
Any idea as to nutritional info on this one, or how it could be calculated? Doesn’t make sense to me to add up the calories from ALL of the marinade since you don’t eat even close to all of it.
Donna says
I was wondering the same thing. Usually I just add up all the ingredients and divide by how many servings but since majority of the sauce will still be in the bottom of the pot.
Katie says
Could you use bone in chicken breast?
Claire says
I made this tonight and I was skeptical at first about not putting any liquid in with the chicken. But, It came out great! I sprayed the bottom very well and loaded it up with about 3 lbs of breasts. I couldn’t stand how sad they looked bare, so I sprinkled some red onion and salt and pepper over them which helped flavor the meat as they cooked. I had to be away from it for about 5 hours so I set it on low. The chicken was so tender and moist that I ended up serving it shredded over rice. I also made extra sauce to serve on the side. Thanks for an easy, delicious recipe!
Heidi says
Ooh ~ I bet it was delicious shredded over rice, Claire! I’m so glad you liked the recipe!! 😉
~ Heidi
Sandy says
This was WONDERFUL! Thank you for great, way recipe.
Heidi says
Aww… you’re very welcome, Sandy! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Karen Weber says
Hi Heidi,
Have you ever tried this cutting the chicken into chunks? Do you think that would work just as well, except adjust the timing?
Thanks for posting this yummy recipe. Will be making it this week!
Karen
Heidi says
Hi Karen ~ yes… I have cut this into chunks as well, and it works great! What I do is cook the chicken as chicken breasts for the first 3 hours. Then I remove the chicken, drain the juices, and cut the chicken into chunks. I place the chicken back in the crockpot, add the sauce, and cook for an additional 30 minutes. It turns out just as delicious this way, too! 😉
~ Heidi
Karen says
Hi Heidi,
I made this last week and it was really delish and so easy. Thanks for sharing!
Karen
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Karen! I’m so glad you liked it!! 😉
~ Heidi
Angel says
If I want to make this orange chicken breast dish, can’t I pre-cut the chicken breasts, boil it just enough, then add it into the crock pot to cook all the ingredients altogether? Also was thinking of using all organic ingredients since I want it none high fructose & keep it natural & diabetic friendly orange marmalade 😉
Tiffany says
Very tasty, thanks for the quick and easy recipe! The chicken was so moist that it fell apart so most of it was chunky or shredded and it went great over some Jasmine rice with steamed veggies!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Tiffany! I’m so glad you liked it!! 😉
~ Heidi
rachael says
thinking about making this with all the ingrediants on low for 8hrs. then serving over rice! thoughts??
Amy says
I was thinking of doing the same did you try it? if so how did it turn out?
Whitney says
I’m trying it right now.. I’ll let you know if it works!!!
Emily says
Hey Whitney, did it work?? I have to be gone all day and am wondering how it turns out when all is thrown in together, cooked on low for 8hrs.
Swtcooker says
I have done this with Hawaiian chicken recipe with similar ingredient’s bbq, pinapples, chicken turns out great super moist and flavorful. trying this recipe the same so it has a lot of time to soak up the juices. 🙂
Jen says
Wounder if u could use like popcorn chicken or a small breaded chicken
Christina says
That actually sounds amazing. Maybe make or buy premade breaded chicken and toss it in a bowl of this mixture and throw it in the oven for a few minutes!
Carrie This Home says
This looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try it!
Amanda (Mia) says
I hope you know that this recipe is going to make me really happy. I LOVE easy crockpot recipes, and I stumbled on your blog through Pinterest (the Walmart coupon post). I’ll probably throw in some random veggies from my fridge, and some garlic, and maybe sesame seeds…and any other random asian sauces I have.
What I love about this recipe is that it sets a super easy foundation for orange chicken, and I know where to find the ingredients at my grocery store.
I’m really hungry now, and it’s well past midnight. Crap.
Thanks for the post!
Heidi says
Haha… enjoy, Amanda ~ I hope you love it!! 😉
So glad to have you here!
~ Heidi
Michelle G says
The ingredients say Orange Marmalade, but the picture shows Sweet Orange Marmalade, which one is it?
Heidi says
Hi Michelle ~ some brands call it Orange Marmalade, but the Smuckers brand is called Sweet Orange Marmalade. If you can’t find the Smuckers brand, just try substituting another brand of orange marmalade. Hope that helps! 😉
Kim says
Once you have this all put together, can you freeze it well? I need to make some meals to put away for family while I recover from surgery. I am looking to get as much prepped for them as possible so they just have to heat’n eat.
Heidi says
Hi Kim ~ I haven’t tried freezing this before, but I know several of the other completed crockpot chicken meals freeze really well. I don’t see why this would be any different… I say go for it! 😉
~ Heidi
Josi Cammarata says
Will this recipe work with chicken wings?
Yvearl @ Yvearl.com says
Ah-HA!! Thanks for this recipe! I tried making orange chicken slowly cooked in a dutch oven with real oranges and orange zest. The flavor was not so pleasing to my kids. Maybe not sweet enough? But this sounds reeaaally good!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome… hope the kids like it! My boys love this recipe! 😉
Martha McDaniels says
Won’t the chicken burn in the crockpot if there is no liquid in it during the begining of the cooking process?
Heidi says
Hi Martha ~ the chicken won’t burn… it will end up cooking in the juices from the chicken. Hope that helps! 😉
Nicole says
I made this and it was great! I added a half a cup of water when I cooked the chicken, it didn’t dry it out. I didn’t want to chance cooking without it, but maybe I will try that next time! I actually have this in the crock pot right now!
Dolores Rivera says
I ran out of Baby Ray can I use Heinz bbq sauce because I am ready to make it for supper, I have the rest of the ingredients
Stephanie says
yeah, I’ve done this in other versions with different BBQ sauces and such… (it’s too sweet for my husband), and I’ve also boiled the chicken slowly, diced it, then baked it for awhile instead with the rice and broth… turned out great!
Itzel says
Cook it with what? Just boil?
Heidi says
Hi Itzel ~ when you initially cook the chicken, you’ll place just the chicken in the crockpot to cook, and nothing else. You could cook it all together, but I like to cook the chicken separately first, then drain the juices and fat. That way the sauce will be a lot thicker and less watered down. Hope that helps! 😉
Itzel says
Awesome! Thanks, I was a bit confused
Heidi says
Sure ~ not a problem at all. Enjoy!!
Sarah says
Thanks for asking…I was wondering that myself!
Mary Beth Elderton says
OMGoodness! I have been looking for a good Orange Chicken recipe that was easy to make–and this is slow cooker, too! Thank you!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Mary Beth! I hope you like it… it’s SO easy, and tastes delicious over rice!
Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates says
Sounds so simple and delicious! Will have to try it!
Heidi says
Oh you’ll LOVE it, Lisa!! {I promise!} 😉
Tamara says
I don’t have Sweet Baby Rays B B Q sauce on hand but another sauce., can I still substitue this?
jewell says
Just had to try it. It was SOO amazing. The whole family loved it. Didnt have soy sauce, so i used a dash of wocsteshire sauce(sorry i cant spell). And a pinch of red pepper flakes for a kick. Put it on top of rice and had a delisious dinner! Will use this recepie from now on!
Heidi says
So glad you liked it, Jewell! 🙂
Brooke says
Do you have nutrients on this dish listed somewhere?
Thanks