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Orange Chicken Casserole

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By Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated Nov 13, 2024
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Our Orange Chicken Casserole is the perfect blend of convenience and flavor that comes together in one baking dish, with just 20 minutes of prep. You need only six ingredients to create this stand-alone dump dinner.

Uncooked rice gets a jump-start on cooking when mixed with Progresso™ chicken broth. The ultimate time-saver: jarred Chinese orange sauce is key to this recipe. Instead of whisking together 10 different ingredients, just grab a jar of prepared Chinese orange sauce, and you’re good to go. This easy recipe skips the stovetop and the messy frying and heads straight to the oven for a fun and easy meal you’ll want to put on repeat.

Classic Chinese orange chicken isn’t really Chinese at all. It’s an Americanized dish that may have originated from combining elements of two Chinese dishes, General Tso’s chicken and tangerine chicken, to suit the tastes of American diners. No matter the origin, the version we know and love consists of fried pieces of boneless chicken that are tossed in a mildly spicy sweet and sour sauce.

This orange chicken bake is quick to make and captures the essence of the original dish while offering the convenience of a one-pan meal. Great for busy weeknights or potlucks, this crowd-pleasing casserole is as versatile as it is delicious.

How to Make Orange Chicken Casserole

Our Orange Chicken Casserole transforms premade orange sauce, chicken thighs, fresh pre-cut broccoli florets, and uncooked rice into a baked orange chicken masterpiece. Learn the basic process here, then check out the full recipe, plus more tips and serving suggestions below.

Prep the Rice

While your oven is heating, spread the rice in an even layer in a sprayed casserole dish. To save time, place your chicken broth in a microwavable bowl, and cook until boiling. If you prefer, you can bring the broth to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan on the stovetop over high heat. Either way, once boiling, carefully pour the broth over the rice, and stir.

Mix Other Ingredients

While the rice gets a head-start on cooking in the hot broth, prep your other ingredients. Cut the chicken thighs in 1-inch pieces. Mix them with the orange sauce, broccoli, and green onion whites, saving the tops of the green onions for a garnish.

Assemble and Bake

Pour the chicken mixture in an even layer over the rice mixture, and cover with foil. After baking for 45 minutes, stir, replace foil, and bake a few minutes longer, until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through.

Garnish and Serve

For the final step, stir the finished casserole to make sure all the delicious sauce is evenly distributed. Top with the green onion greens, then dig in!

More Easy Dump Dinners

Need more ideas for super simple casseroles? These are some of our favorite dump-and-bake recipes for stress-free weeknight meals.

One-Pan Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake with pasta, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, Alfredo sauce, cheese, and spinach. It’s a favorite for kids and grown-ups too!

One-Pan Meatball and Pepperoni Pasta Bake, loaded with cheesy pasta, pepperoni, and meatballs. Six ingredients and ten minutes of prep are all you need for this filling main dish.

Cheesy Southwest Chicken and Rice Casserole There’s no need to grab a cutting board or a knife. Just layer 7 simple ingredients in a casserole dish and bake until the chicken is cooked through, and the rice is tender.

We can’t wait to hear how much you love these easy one-dish casserole dinners!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Orange Chicken Sauce Made of?

Whether you purchase a jar of premade orange sauce, make it yourself, or have it at a restaurant, the sauce for Chinese orange chicken usually combines the same mix of sweet and sour ingredients. The main flavors are soy, orange, sugar, and vinegar. Onion, garlic, and spices are added for a balanced blend of flavors. Sometimes a little heat is added to the sauce in the form of fresh chilies or hot sauce, but generally orange chicken sauce is fairly mild.

What Goes Well with Orange Chicken?

Orange chicken is usually served with hot white rice and stir-fried or steamed vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, or green beans. Luckily, our easy casserole version of this dish already includes rice and broccoli!

If you want another side to round out the meal, a mixed green salad with a bottled sesame ginger vinaigrette is a nice touch. Or add an appetizer like our crab-filled crescent wontons. No time to make another recipe? Prepared egg rolls can be found in the freezer section of most grocery stores. Just heat and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Orange Chicken Casserole

  • Prep Time 20 min
  • Total 1 hr 25 min
  • Ingredients 6
  • Servings 8
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
  • 1 3/4 cups from 1 carton (32 oz) Progresso™ Classic Chicken Broth
  • 1 jar (15 oz) Chinese orange sauce (1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 package (20 oz) boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut in 1-inch pieces
  • 1 bag (12 oz) broccoli florets
  • 8 green onions, thinly sliced on the bias, whites and greens divided

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Spread rice evenly in baking dish.
  • Step 
    2
    Place broth in 1-quart microwavable measuring cup or bowl, and microwave uncovered on High 2 to 3 minutes, until boiling. Carefully add to rice in baking dish, and stir; let stand 5 minutes.
  • Step 
    3
    Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix orange sauce, chicken, broccoli, and green onion whites.
  • Step 
    4
    Pour chicken mixture evenly over rice mixture in baking dish; cover with foil. Bake 45 minutes; stir. Replace foil, and bake 15 to 18 minutes longer or until rice is tender, chicken is no longer pink in center and mixture is heated to at least 165°F in center of casserole.
  • Step 
    5
    Stir; top with green onion greens.

Nutrition

300 Calories
3 1/2g Total Fat
18g Protein
48g Total Carbohydrate
21g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
300
Calories from Fat
35
Total Fat
3 1/2g
6%
Saturated Fat
1g
5%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
70mg
23%
Sodium
280mg
12%
Potassium
370mg
11%
Total Carbohydrate
48g
16%
Dietary Fiber
2g
8%
Sugars
21g
Protein
18g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
8%
8%
Vitamin C
40%
40%
Calcium
6%
6%
Iron
15%
15%
Exchanges:
1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 2 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1 Vegetable; 1 Very Lean Meat; 1 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 0 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
3
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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