The Freezer 25 · No. 5 of 25 · Trader Joe's

5Trader Joe'sA photo like it: jeffreyw, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Trader Joe's · Curries, noodles, rice

Mandarin Orange Chicken

Trader Joe's

Better than the takeout version if you bake or air-fry the chicken until it's really crisp, then toss it in the sauce at the very last second.

A perennial Trader Joe's Customer Choice winner and one of the best-known frozen foods in America.

The box saysBake 15 to 17 minutes at 400°F (or air-fry), then toss with the warmed sauce.
Chef's upgrade5 min on top of the box, serves 3
Make it taste homemade
Orange chicken with fresh orange, chili and broccoli
The bottled sauce is sweet and one-note. Fresh orange zest and juice, a little vinegar and a pinch of chili make it taste like it came out of a wok.
Save to my recipes
You need
- 1 bag Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken (chicken and sauce packets)
- 1 orange (zest and 2 tbsp juice)
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes or 1 tsp chili crisp
- 2 cups broccoli florets (frozen is fine)
- 2 scallions, sliced
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- Steamed rice, to serve
How to make it
1. Bake or air-fry the chicken as the bag says, until crisp. Thaw the sauce packets in a bowl of warm water while it cooks.
2. Microwave the broccoli with 2 tbsp water, covered, for 3 minutes, then drain.
3. Warm the sauce in a large skillet over medium heat with the orange zest, orange juice, rice vinegar and pepper flakes until it bubbles, about 1 minute.
4. Turn off the heat. Add the hot chicken and broccoli and toss for 15 seconds, just to coat. Tossing longer makes the coating soggy.
5. Spoon over rice and finish with the scallions and sesame seeds.
Chef's own upgrade, in our words. Save it and it opens in Chef Amazing with a timeline, the prep laid out and what you already have.
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