Milk or other dairy ingredients aren’t necessary to make orange chicken. However, do some orange chicken meals contain dairy anyway for taste, texture or other purposes?
Below you will learn if it is common for frozen, restaurant, and homemade orange chicken meals to contain dairy. Here is what you need to know…
Frozen Orange Chicken & Dairy
We reviewed the ingredients of the orange chicken products listed below to see if any contain dairy. These products are found in the frozen section of grocery stores and are heated at home for a relatively quick meal.
Of the 16 orange chicken products featured below, 7 have dairy ingredients. In other words, some frozen orange chicken meals have dairy while others do not.
It is vital that you read the product label if you wish to avoid dairy and/or other potential food allergens. The label will provide the most accurate and up-to-date ingredient and allergen information.
| Orange Chicken Product | Dairy Ingredients ? | Listed Allergens |
|---|---|---|
| InnovAsian | Yes (Nonfat Dry Milk) | Egg, Milk, Soy, Wheat |
| Kahiki | No | Wheat, Egg, Soy |
| P.F. Chang’s Home Menu | No | Egg, Soy, Wheat |
| Foster Farms | No | Wheat, Soy |
| Tai Pei | No | Wheat, Soy |
| Lean Cuisine – Balance Bowls | No | Wheat, Sesame, Soy |
| Crazy Cuizine Mandarin Orange Chicken | Yes (Whey Solids) | Milk, Egg, Soy, Wheat |
| Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Sweet & Spicy Zest Orange Chicken | No | Soy, Wheat |
| Hart | Yes (Dried Whey Powder, Nonfat Dry Milk) | Egg, Soy, Milk, Wheat |
| Crav’n Flavor Mandarin Orange | Yes (Nonfat Dry Milk) | Milk, Egg, Soy, Wheat |
| Member’s Mark | No | Eggs, Soy, Wheat |
| GreenWise Organic Skillet Meal | No | Soy |
| Meijer Skillet Meal | Yes (Milk Solids, Whey) | Milk, Wheat, Soy |
| Signature Select – World Cuisine | Yes (Nonfat Milk, Whey Protein Isolate, Dehydrated Butter, Buttermilk Powder) | Milk, Egg, Soy Wheat |
| Kroger | No | Wheat, Sesame Seeds, Soy |
| HEB | Yes (Nonfat Dry Milk) | Milk, Wheat, Soy, Sesame |
Be aware that we did not verify if any of the non-dairy products above were made in facility that uses share equipment where dairy cross-contamination might occur.
SEE ALSO>>>Does Yum Yum Sauce Have Dairy?
Restaurant Orange Chicken & Dairy
Similar to frozen orange chicken, you should be cautious about eating restaurant orange chicken if you want to avoid dairy. As the table below shows, the orange chicken at some restaurants has dairy.
Be sure to review the restaurant’s allergen information before you dine if avoiding food allergens is a concern for you. The restaurant will have the most accurate information.
| Orange Chicken | Dairy Ingredients |
|---|---|
| P.F. Chang’s – Orange Chicken | Yes |
| Panda Express – The Original Orange Chicken | Yes |
| Pei Wei – Orange Chicken | No |
| Pick Up Stix – General’s Orange | No |
| Leeann Chin – Orange Chicken | No |
Homemade Orange Chicken & Dairy
Orange chicken made at home is really the best way to avoid dairy if you wish to do so. You control the ingredients and can monitor for any potential cross-contamination. You aren’t relying upon a manufacturer or restaurant kitchen staff to get it right in regard to ensuring no dairy is in your food.
Fortunately, there are many orange chicken recipes online that have no milk or other dairy ingredients. In fact, we reviewed the first 15 recipes for orange chicken that pulled up through a Google search and found that no recipes called for dairy ingredients.
Given the abundant options for dairy-free homemade orange chicken recipes, you’re almost certain to find one you’ll love. Having made several ourselves, we can tell you that they can taste pretty similar and sometimes better than many delicious chain restaurant orange chicken meals.