Chinese Lemon Chicken is the classic Chinese takeout recipe cooked with coated chicken breast in a sweet and sour lemon sauce in just 30 minutes.
We love Lemon Chicken (Orange Chicken‘s less popular cousin, haha), paired with Chicken Lo Mein or Classic Chinese Chow Mein. Add Crab Rangoon as an appetizer and this makes for an easy Chinese takeout meal at home!
Chinese Lemon Chicken
Chinese Lemon Chicken is a close match to the super popular Orange chicken in flavor but not presentation. The classic orange chicken is made with chunks of dark meat chicken that are tossed in a sweet, tangy and spicy sauce which lemon chicken is a fried chicken cutlet that is sliced and covered in a freshly made lemon sauce.
Though they may have similar flavors many people have very strong feelings about which dish is better. Many love that lemon chicken is the healthier version of orange chicken because of the use of white meat chicken, similar to Sweet and Sour Chicken.
If you’d like to make the sauce more yellow (some restaurants have it looking incredibly neon yellow), you can add 2-3 drops of yellow food coloring. I don’t suggest it, but if you’re looking to match the colors that would be the way to do it.
Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken Recipe:
Much like in my Orange Chicken recipe, I used to actually make this recipe in the slow cooker when Tyson made raw chicken tenders. I’d just put the tenders in the slow cooker with the sauce, cook on low for 3 hours, then add in a bit of cornstarch/water slurry and cook an additional hour. If you have any other raw chicken tenders or nuggets you can do the same, in fact Trader Joes has great breaded chicken tenders that are raw inside so you don’t overcook the chicken.
Chinese Lemon Chicken Batter:
You can make a wet batter for Chinese Lemon Chicken but this recipe calls for a standard wet and dry breading station which will lead to crispy batter similar to that of Orange Chicken.
If you’d like to try to make this Chinese lemon chicken recipe healthy you can skip the breading stage and just sear the chicken in chunks before adding the sauce. You can cut the sauce down by at least a third and also add in a number of vegetables like carrots and broccoli to make a Chinese lemon chicken stir fry recipe.
How do you make lemon sauce?
Orange Sauce is a mixture of lemon juice, cornstarch, sugar and water that thickens in a pan that is poured over.
Want more Chinese Food Recipes?
- Crispy Sesame Chicken
- Chinese Honey Chicken
- Easy Mongolian Beef
- Panda Express Recipes… every single one in fact: Panda Express Recipes Index
- Many more Chinese food options…
Tools used in the making of this Chinese Lemon Chicken:
Wok: The best way to cook quickly and over high heat for Asian dishes, this wok is the perfect stir fry pan.
Citrus Juicer: This juices your citrus perfectly without hurting your hands or covering them in lemon oils.
Chinese Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts boneless skinless
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon cornstarch divided
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup water
Instructions
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Slice the chicken breasts in half butterflied into two thinner pieces each.
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To coat the chicken add the egg, salt, pepper and oil into a bowl and whisk together in a large bowl.
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In a separate bowl, add 1/2 cup corn starch and 1/4 cup flour and mix well.
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In a large frying pan or a wok, heat more canola oil in a wok 375 degrees (medium high heat).
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Dip chicken pieces in the egg mixture, then dredge in the flour mixture.
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Fry the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden and crisp.
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Remove the chicken from the pan, then drain the oil.
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Add the lemon juice, sugar, water and remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch to the pan and whisk to combine.
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Cook until thickened and smooth.
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Slice the chicken into thin strips then serve with lemon sauce poured over.
Delicious! This is a new favorite in our house! My partner said it was better than our local restaurant and I agree! Thanks for sharing!
Yay!! Thanks for taking the time to come back and let me know, Jasmine.
I love everything, how would I get all the recipe I saw. Just great
This is a new family favorite! We have had it 3 times in the past 2 months! Easy!!
Yay! Thanks for coming back to let me know it’s such a family favorite.
I guess you have to tell people to make a slurry ,that’s why theirs didn’t turn out.
I really liked our local buffet-style restaurant’s version of lemon chicken; but, they stopped serving the lemon chicken some years ago.
This recipe is a the perfect substitution. It was so quick and easy to prepare, and my family loves it!
I’m glad it was a hit, Wayne.
Our local Chinese buffet restaurant stopped serving a very delicious lemon chicken years ago, and I’d thought I’d never get to eat a good lemon chicken dish ever again.
This recipe was a perfect match! It was easy to follow, quick to whip up, and is a big hit with the family!
Not good at all! Totally did not work or taste good at all. Very bland
I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you.
In Shanghai lemon chicken is served this way, as a whole chicken breast coated, fried, then sliced with lemon sauce poured over it. Super yummy
Absolutely delicious! Thanks for this recipe. I only used a pinch of salt as many comments said it was too salty. We loved it!
Can you use vegetable oil instead of canola oil??
Yes 🙂
Simple and ?. I highly recommend it!
Thanks, Jeri.
That is seriously awesome.
I really wanted this to work but the cornstarch just solidified into solid pieces in the sauce and ruined it….not sure what I did wrong? I’m sure it’s me but I followed it all to the letter, help me!
Oh no! Next time try combining the lemon juice, sugar, water and cornstarch together first and then whisking it into the sauce. That might help avoid that. Hope this helps.
This is a fantastic recipe! My family loved it. Will definitely do it again. The cornstarch and flour gave such a nice crispy texture to the chicken. Love love love!!!!!
I am sooo excited to make this! Was wondering if you can make the chicken in an air fryer instead? Looking forward to making this!
I’ve not tested it before so if you decide to try, I’d love to know how it turns out. Thanks!
Love love love this lemon chicken recipe. Thank you
Thanks for the 5 stars, Margaret.
My family, my husband and 13 year old daughter, beg me to make this all the time now. We used to get Lemon chicken from a Chinese restaurant but I never liked the fact that they would put vinegar in their sauce. I hate the smell of vinegar. So when I came across this recipe and saw no vinegar, I was excited. It is very simple to make and tastes great. My only complaint is I can never get the sauce to thicken. I do exactly what the recipe says. Add half a cup of lemon juice, a 4th of a cup of sugar, 2/3 cup of water and the remaining cornstarch which is 1 tablespoon. I could stand there and whisk forever but it won’t thicken unless I turn the heat off. I hope to one day get this because we love this recipe so much .
I’m so glad you love it so much! The only thing I can recommend is to add an additional tablespoon of cornstarch. I’ve never had an issue with it thicken but hopefully this helps for you.
Hi, this recipe looks lush!! If made ahead, can this sauce be microwaved?
To reheat, you can use a microwave.
Sounds great – going to give it a try.
BTW I’ve not heard of orange chicken outside the USA, nor seen it on a menu anywhere in Asia.
FRiends of mine backpacked through China for a month and ordered “orange chicken” off a menu. They said it definitely was not orange chicken. ? They refused to eat it.
Fabulous recipe! Will be making this again!! Very authentic, love the lightness of the batter and very juicy chicken.
Thanks for the 5 stars, Adrienne.
My bf always gets lemon chicken when we go out so I tried this recipe and he said it’ll now replace him going out! I didn’t fry the chicken up (grilled)so it was a little different, but the sauce was delicious!
Wow! It’s always awesome to hear that one of my recipes beat out the take-out classics haha! Thanks for the review and so glad you both enjoyed so much!
Can someone please tell me how much a cup is? In Australia it is different
8 oz or 240 ml 🙂
Totally Awesome???
Wow! This exceeded my expectations. When my husband asked what’s for dinner, I wouldn’t tell him bc I knew it would be a struggle to try to sell it to him. Well he loved it too!! Not too sweet, not too tart. I can’t wait to have it again. Your recipes are extraordinary. I find myself always coming back to your site bc I can count on quality, tasty meals with straight forward instructions. You are making me a good cook! Thank you so much for sharing
I love when my recipes win over picky spouses – even if it has to be a sneak attack haha! I’m so happy to hear that you are enjoying and becoming a great cook! Thank you for sharing with me 🙂
I love your recipes and I love Chinese lemon chicken!
However, I found the solution to my problem to how to make the chicken exactly as in the picture. I put all the mixing together in one bowl: Flour, corn starch, Egg, salt, pepper, water, and oil and then dip my chicken in it and put it in either deep fryer or wok for 4 – 5 minutes then it takes it out, it will look exactly as what is in the picture you posted =].
I follow the lemon sauce in your recipe and <3!
Woohoo, happy you found success with this recipe! Glad you love the site and hope to keep putting out more recipes you love!
Made this Lemon Chicken today and served it with Singapore Noodles. I will definitely be making this again! I have to say I did buy ready to serve chicken tenders (which appealed to my lazy side) and just made the sauce, but it was fabulous.
No shame in that! We all deserve a little help in the kitchen every once in a while. So glad you enjoyed it.
This was my favorite boneless chicken from china express on ave D in Brooklyn, NY. I always ordered it for years every time I go to that place. None of the other Chinese food making that at all. So now I live in NC I try to make it by using your recipes and failed badly because my chicken looks more of KFC than what is in the picture. I try to figure out if more flour is needed and a deep fryer is needed or if a pancake mix is needed? Because in the picture it looks as if it is thick in flour than thinner. Help?!
Besides all that failure with the chicken, the sauce cooked nicely and taste good.
I’m so glad you found this recipe. Honestly you couldn’t have failed that badly if you still enjoyed the taste. Did you change any of the ingredients or amounts? We can try and figure it out for next time.
I’m so happy. Lemon Chicken was a must have at the Asian cuisine restaurant in my hometown growing up, the owner decided to retire and shut down the restaurant to keep it from being ran into the ground. While it was a smart choice it also left me wanting lemon chicken that I’ve yet to find at any other restaurant!
This recipe is the closest I’ve come to it and I can make it at home! Now just to find a replica of their hot and sour soup!
So glad to have helped fill a food void for you! It’s so hard when something we rememeber and love is gone. Thanks for the 5 star rating Ashley.
For diabetic folks, use Splenda or an equivalent sweetener. I’ve made variations of lemon chicken and have made the sauce only for other food. I’ve frozen it and it freezes fine. Shrimp, chicken, fish, pork, and more are better with lemon sauce.
Make orange chicken sauce and combine for a citrus treat!
Thanks for the feedback!
I don’t know what I am doing wrong that the sauce doesn’t thicken. Is it because I am using a pot instead of the pan I made the chicken in? ?
Sounds like you may just need to cook it longer. 🙂
If the sauce doesn’t thicken, try this – Add the lemon juice, sugar and water to the sauce pan and heat to just boiling…reduce to a simmer, THEN add the corn starch/water combination and simmer – much like you would making turkey gravy for Thanksgiving!
…if it still doesn’t thicken, try adding just a bit more corn starch (again mixed with water).
I used a full cup of water with a heaping table spoon of corn start for my sauce…but I was also making a large portion then what’s described here.
I also used a prepackaged Tempura batter mix (purchased at a local Asian grocery store) instead of the simple flour mix used here….worked GREAT and I would HIGHLY recommend it!
…I also let the chicken breasts “velvet” over-night…makes for a VERY tender, “Chinese restaurant” chicken! Look for a good “chicken and broccoli” recipe for how to velvet chicken.
I really want to try this it sounds and look amazing. Will be making it later this week!
I hope you enjoy it!
Would it be okay to cut up the chicken after 2 or 3 minutes in the pan then add the sauce ingredients to cook into and on the chicken?
Sure 🙂
As a picky eater with two younger sisters who, through the years, have generally been only slightly less picky than me, lemon chicken is the first thing I look for on the menu of any Chinese restaurant. But while I remember absolutely loving it when I was five and presumably eating at whatever my family’s favorite Chinese place was at that point, we moved soon after that and I most often find myself disappointed by the lemon chicken I’ve had since.
Recently our lemon tree became so loaded down with lemons that one of the branches broke and others threatened to. After picking and squeezing about two hundred large lemons, we’ve had a practically infinite amount of lemon juice sitting in glass jars in the fridge. So we’ve been making a lot of lemon dishes to use it up, and I decided to try making lemon chicken. This was the first recipe I went for, mainly because of the picture, and while I normally check a few different recipes before deciding which to use, that would have been wasted effort in this case, so I’m glad I didn’t. It’s unlikely that any other recipe would be noticeably simpler than this one, and considering that I found the chicken to be perfect and my dad declared his love of the sauce, the flavor’s about as good as it’s going to get too. In fact, I’m planning to make this again in the future, and probably double the sauce. We didn’t quite use it up this time, but my general impression is that most of us were looking at the amount available and holding ourselves back. (I’ve also resolved to use this particular breading whenever I make any sort of breaded chicken in the future, because it’s the best I’ve ever had and very simple.)
How wonderful to have so many lemons at your picking! I’m so glad you all loved it.
Wondering what would be a good side with this? Broccolini maybe> Any suggestions from the lemon chicken gallery?
Yes, any green vegetable would be wonderful as a side dish. I hope you enjoy it!
Used to eat this exact dish at my fav Chinese restaurant growing up & haven’t seen it since. Really hope my own family like it too. Thx so much!
So how exactly do I make the Lemon sauce? You pointed out the ingredients but not how to make it. Im a cooking newbie.
The lemon sauce is made in step 8. You’ll be adding those ingredients listed into the pan and whisking to combine. Hope this helps!
I can’t rate it yet but will after I make it this weekend! Looks soooo good and I’m hoping it will be a hit with the family but especially my granddaughter as she loves chicken breast and loves lemon! Can’t wait to make it!!! ?
Fantastic! Good with a little store bought sweet and sour too.
Thanks for dropping by to let me know! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This is a fabulous dish. Fresh, light and flavoursome. My family loves it and I can whip it up in no time … win win! Thank you.
Thanks for coming back to let me know how much you all enjoyed it!
It looks so good! I want to know can I see this recipe on video? We always see a video on your page but it’s never the recipe’s video
Thank you
It’s in the process so stay tuned. You can always view all of the videos we do have available on the facebook page too.
Very nicely thought out directions and pictures. Made this tonight and it is all gone! I like the chicken cutlets – you get just enough breading in each bite without overwhelming the chicken.
Thanks for dropping by to let me know! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Love this recipe! Family favorite 2 nights in row! Thank you! Very easy to make too served with rice and green beans!?????
Awesome!! So glad you are all enjoying it!
Cheese and lemon in a recipe! This is AH-MAZING!
Hi
Am I missing something? Where does it show or talk about cheese???
I’m missing it too, hahaha. I promise no cheese in the recipe.
I think she meant chicken and lemon. ?
Such a perfect flavor! Definitely must try this!
Hell yes! I love your indulgent takeout recipes…will make over the weekend. Probably with a side of sticky sushi rice 🙂
Okay I just made it and it was so successful! Restaurant quality. I didn’t use any sugar in the sauce, and even subbed half the lemon juice for orange juice (we only had a tiny lemon).
I will make this again in a heartbeat.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for letting me know how it turned out!
How did I forget to rate this? I’ve been making it weekly.
Thank you so much for the 5 stars Sarah!
So how much oil do you need in a frying pan or do you use a deep fryer? If using a fry pan I assume you have to flip at least once?
You’ll want about an inch of oil in your pan and you’ll be flipping it once during the frying process. Hope this clears up any confusion.
I would love to try this! Such a great weeknight meal!
Thanks Toni!
This chicken looks AMAZING! I think it is a great idea to use lemon with chicken!
The flavor is just so good!
This looks GREAT! Love anything with lemon flavor!