The Best 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken

3 Ingredient Orange Chicken (Orange Marmalade BBQ)

Okay, so I messed this up twice before finally getting it right. But here’s the thing—once I figured it out, this became my go-to weeknight dinner because honestly, who has time for complicated recipes after work?

Everyone keeps asking me for this recipe after I posted a picture on Instagram last month. My neighbor Sarah saw it and literally knocked on my door at 8 PM asking what I did to make chicken look that good. So here goes nothing.

How I Discovered This 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken Magic

Look, I’m gonna be honest with you. I was having one of those days where nothing in my fridge made sense together. I had some chicken thighs (because let’s be real, thighs are way better than breasts), a jar of orange marmalade that had been sitting there forever, and BBQ sauce. That’s it.

My 8-year-old was complaining about being hungry, and I thought… what’s the worst that could happen? Famous last words, right?

The first time I tried this, I completely overcooked the chicken because—get this—I got distracted by a phone call from my mom. You know how that goes. Twenty minutes later, I had chicken jerky. Not cute.

Second attempt was better, but I used way too much marmalade and it was basically candy chicken. My kids loved it, obviously, but I felt like I was feeding them dessert for dinner.

Third time? Pure magic. And now here we are.

Why This Easy Orange Chicken Recipe Actually Works

The secret is in the ratio, and I think… no, I know this works better when you don’t overthink it. The orange marmalade gives you that sweet citrus flavor without having to juice a million oranges or buy fancy ingredients. The BBQ sauce adds that smoky depth that makes it taste way more complicated than it is.

And chicken thighs? They’re practically impossible to dry out. Unlike chicken breasts, which turn into cardboard if you look at them wrong.

Speaking of ingredients, can we talk about how expensive orange chicken is at restaurants? Last time I ordered it for takeout, it was like $15 for a tiny container. This recipe feeds my whole family for under $8. Math that makes sense.

What You Need for Quick Orange Chicken Dinner

Here’s your shopping list. It’s embarrassingly short:

• 2 lbs chicken thighs (boneless, skinless – or don’t remove the skin, I won’t judge)
• 1/2 cup orange marmalade (I use Smucker’s, but whatever brand you have works)
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s is my ride-or-die, but use what you love)

That’s it. Seriously.

Now, I always buy extra chicken thighs because they go on sale and freeze well. Pro tip: if your marmalade has been in the fridge since Obama was president, it’s probably fine. That stuff lasts forever.

Don’t buy the fancy organic BBQ sauce unless you want to. This isn’t the recipe where expensive ingredients make a huge difference. Save your money for good wine to drink while you cook.

How to Make the Best Orange Chicken Sauce

The key is—oh wait, I forgot to mention—you need to preheat your skillet first. Medium-high heat, just until a drop of water sizzles when it hits the pan.

But anyway, the sauce comes together while the chicken cooks, which is why this is such a genius weeknight dinner. You literally whisk the marmalade and BBQ sauce together. That’s the sauce. I told you this was easy.

The marmalade will look chunky at first, kinda weird and lumpy, but that’s normal. It melts down as everything heats up. Don’t panic and start mashing it or anything. Just let it do its thing.

Step-by-Step Orange Chicken Skillet Instructions

1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Nothing fancy, just make it taste like food instead of cardboard.
2. Heat your skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little oil—whatever you have is fine. Olive oil, vegetable oil, that fancy avocado oil your sister-in-law gave you for Christmas.
3. Cook the chicken thighs for about 5-6 minutes per side. You want them golden brown and crispy on the outside. Don’t move them around too much. Let them do their thing. (I learned this the hard way after years of poking at food constantly.)
4. Remove chicken and set aside. It doesn’t need to be fully cooked yet—it’ll finish in the sauce. This is important because nobody wants dry chicken.
5. In the same skillet (don’t clean it, those brown bits are flavor gold), whisk together the orange marmalade and BBQ sauce. It’ll look weird at first, but trust the process.
6. Bring sauce to a simmer and let it bubble for about 2 minutes. It’ll start smelling amazing right about now.
7. Add chicken back to the skillet and coat everything in that gorgeous sauce. Let it simmer for another 5-8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick and glossy.

Set a timer for this part because I’ve gotten distracted (thanks, TikTok) and ended up with burnt sauce more times than I care to admit.

Easy Orange Chicken Over Rice (The Full Experience)

This is absolutely incredible over jasmine rice. Like, life-changing good. I make the rice in my rice cooker while the chicken cooks, and everything’s ready at the same time. It’s almost like I planned it that way.

Sometimes I throw some frozen broccoli in the microwave and call it a complete meal. My kids eat around the broccoli, but at least I tried to be a responsible parent.

If you want to get fancy, sprinkle some sesame seeds on top. Or green onions if you have them. But honestly? It’s perfect just as is.

What I’ve Learned About This Orange Chicken Recipe

After making this probably 50 times now (not exaggerating), here are the things I wish someone had told me:

Don’t use sugar-free marmalade. I tried it once during a health kick. It was sad. Just sad.

Chicken thighs are non-negotiable. I’ve tried this with chicken breasts when they were on sale, and it’s just not the same. The thighs stay juicy and absorb the sauce better.

Make extra sauce. Sometimes I double the sauce recipe because my family goes crazy for it. We dip everything in it—rice, vegetables, probably our fingers when no one’s looking.

It reheats beautifully. Leftover orange chicken over rice is my favorite work lunch. Just pop it in the microwave for 90 seconds and you’re golden.

When This Orange Chicken Recipe Goes Wrong

Let me save you from my mistakes:

If your sauce is too thick, add a splash of chicken broth or water. If it’s too thin, let it simmer longer with the lid off.

If you accidentally burn the sauce (been there), start over. There’s no saving burnt marmalade. It tastes bitter and ruins everything.

If your chicken is taking forever to cook through, cover the skillet with a lid for the last few minutes. The steam helps everything cook evenly.

Fast Dinner Recipes That Actually Work

This is one of those recipes that sounds too simple to be good, but somehow it just works. My neighbor Sarah now makes it twice a week. My sister-in-law requested it for her birthday dinner. Even my picky mother-in-law asked for the recipe.

And the best part? Start to finish, this takes maybe 25 minutes. Less time than it takes to get takeout delivered, and it tastes better too.

Is it authentic Chinese food? Definitely not. Is it delicious and easy and something my whole family will actually eat? Absolutely.

The Bottom Line on 3 Ingredient Orange Chicken

Look, I’m not saying this is going to change your life or anything. But it might change your Tuesday night dinner routine. Sometimes the simplest recipes are the ones that stick around.

If I can make this without burning down my kitchen (and trust me, I’ve come close), anyone can. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out!

Now I’m craving this again just from writing about it. Thanks a lot, brain.

Happy cooking! 🍊