Panda Express Copycat Recipes: Make Orange Chicken and More at Home
Last updated: October 2026
You can make Panda Express orange chicken at home by frying battered chicken pieces until crisp and tossing them in a sweet-tangy orange sauce made from orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, and ginger. The recipes below cover orange chicken, teriyaki chicken, kung pao chicken, broccoli beef, and more, with ingredients and steps for each.
Why Make Panda Express Recipes at Home?
Cooking at home costs less per serving than restaurant prices (a Bowl starts at $9.50 as of October 2026 – prices vary by location), lets you control sugar and oil, and works for meal prep. Check the Panda Express menu prices 2026 before you shop.
Prices vary by location; figures checked October 2026 and may have changed since.
Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken
The best-selling dish at Panda Express, and the closest thing to the official recipe.
Ingredients
- Chicken: 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 egg; 1/2 cup cornstarch; 1/4 cup flour; 1 tsp salt; oil for frying.
- Sauce: 1/2 cup orange juice; 1/4 cup soy sauce; 1/3 cup white vinegar; 1/2 cup sugar (or 1/3 cup honey); 1 tsp grated ginger; 2 garlic cloves minced; zest of 1 orange; 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water; pinch of red pepper flakes.
Steps
- Whisk egg and salt; dredge chicken in the cornstarch and flour mix.
- Heat oil to 350-375F; fry chicken in batches 3-4 minutes until golden; drain.
- Simmer sauce ingredients (except the slurry) 3-5 minutes; stir in the slurry to thicken.
- Toss fried chicken in sauce; serve hot over rice. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Our orange chicken page lists the restaurant price and nutrition
Copycat Teriyaki Chicken
Panda Express grilled teriyaki chicken is a lighter, protein-packed option with a sweet-savory glaze. The homemade version comes together fast on the grill or in a hot skillet.
Ingredients: 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp grated ginger, 3 garlic cloves minced, 1 tbsp oil.
To make it: marinate the chicken in the soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic for at least 30 minutes. Grill or pan-sear over medium-high heat until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side. Simmer the leftover marinade until thickened into a glaze and brush it over the chicken before serving.
See the grilled teriyaki chicken page for the restaurant’s price and nutrition.
Copycat Kung Pao Chicken
This Sichuan-inspired dish pairs tender chicken with dried red chilies, roasted peanuts, and crisp vegetables in a sweet-tangy sauce.
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs chicken breast cut into cubes, 8-10 dried red chilies, 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, 1 zucchini diced, 1 bell pepper diced; sauce of 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp hoisin.
To make it: sear the chicken in a hot wok until golden and set aside. Stir-fry the chilies, zucchini, and bell pepper for 2-3 minutes. Return the chicken to the wok, add the sauce and peanuts, and toss until everything is glazed.
Compare with the restaurant entrees menu.
Copycat Broccoli Beef
Tender slices of beef and crisp broccoli in a savory ginger-garlic sauce – a classic that is easy to recreate at home.
Ingredients: 1 lb flank steak sliced thin against the grain, 4 cups broccoli florets, 2 tbsp oyster sauce, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp grated ginger, 3 garlic cloves minced, 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water.
To make it: sear the flank steak in a hot wok and set aside. Stir-fry the broccoli with a splash of water until crisp-tender. Add the ginger and garlic, then the oyster and soy sauce. Return the beef, stir in the cornstarch slurry, and toss until the sauce thickens.
See the broccoli beef page for the restaurant’s price and nutrition.
Copycat Honey Walnut Shrimp
Crispy battered shrimp tossed in a creamy honey sauce with candied walnuts – the most indulgent copycat on this list.
Ingredients: 1 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 egg, oil for frying; 1 cup walnut halves, 1/4 cup sugar; sauce of 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 3 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk.
To make it: candy the walnuts by simmering them in sugar and water until syrupy, then drain. Dredge the shrimp in egg and cornstarch and fry until golden. Whisk the mayo, honey, and condensed milk, then toss the shrimp and walnuts in the sauce.
See the honey walnut shrimp page for the restaurant’s price and nutrition.
Copycat Chow Mein
Stir-fried noodles with cabbage, celery, and onion in a light, savory sauce – a simple side that goes with everything.
Ingredients: 8 oz lo mein noodles, 2 cups shredded cabbage, 2 celery stalks sliced, 1 onion sliced, 3 tbsp light soy sauce, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tbsp oil.
To make it: boil the noodles until just tender and drain. Stir-fry the cabbage, celery, and onion in hot oil for 3-4 minutes. Add the noodles, soy sauce, and oyster sauce, and toss until heated through.
See the sides menu for the restaurant’s chow mein.
Copycat Fried Rice
Day-old rice wok-tossed with egg, peas, and carrots – the best use for leftover rice.
Ingredients: 4 cups day-old cooked rice, 2 eggs beaten, 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp oil.
To make it: scramble the eggs in a hot wok and set aside. Stir-fry the peas and carrots until tender. Add the day-old rice, breaking up any clumps, then the soy sauce and sesame oil. Fold in the egg and toss until hot.
See the sides menu for the restaurant’s fried rice.
Copycat Cream Cheese Rangoons
Crispy wonton wrappers filled with cream cheese and green onion – the perfect crunchy appetizer.
Ingredients: 24 wonton wrappers, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 3 green onions finely chopped, oil for deep-frying.
To make it: mix the cream cheese with the green onions. Place a teaspoon of filling in each wrapper, moisten the edges, and seal into triangles. Deep-fry at 350F for 2-3 minutes until golden and crisp.
See the appetizers menu for the restaurant’s rangoons.
Which Copycat Recipe Is Easiest?
Here is how the simplest recipes compare:
| Dish | Difficulty | Time | Key ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange chicken | Medium | 40 min | Chicken thighs, orange juice, soy sauce, cornstarch |
| Teriyaki chicken | Easy | 25 min | Chicken thighs, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger |
| Fried rice | Easy | 20 min | Day-old rice, egg, peas, carrots, soy sauce |
| Cream cheese rangoons | Easy | 30 min | Wonton wrappers, cream cheese, green onion |
Tips for the Crispiest Copycat Orange Chicken
- Dry the chicken before dredging.
- Fry at full temperature.
- Toss in sauce right before serving (sauce softens the crust).
- Double-fry for extra crunch.
- A cornstarch-only coating is lighter than a flour-heavy one.