Copycat Panda Express Entree Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the most unhealthy thing at Panda Express? ›

The #1 worst Panda Express order is…the Chow Mein and Orange Chicken. The combination of Orange Chicken, a dish inspired by a Chinese dish called chen pi niu rou, and classic chow mein stir-fried noodles is nothing short of delicious. Unfortunately, if it's a nutritious meal you're on the hunt for, this one isn't it.

Panda express uses Stir Fried Wheat Noodles similar to these. I used these Chow Mein noodles for this recipe. You can find them in your local grocery store where they have a dedicated section for Asian ingredients.

Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food. Panda Express uses only 100% pure soybean oil in the preparation of recipes.

Which came first, the chicken or the fame? Technically, Panda Express opened its doors a good four years before inventing the Original Orange Chicken. But, the dish unmistakably acted as a catalyst for the chain's success, and it now stands as the poster child of the entire franchise.

"Panda Express can be unhealthy due to the high amount of sodium found in their meals as well as added sugar," says Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Miami, Florida. "Some meals can also be high in total fat, too."

How do Chinese restaurants get their meats to come out with such a delicate texture? Many Chinese dishes use a technique known as velveting, marinating thin slices if meat in cornstarch. It creates a smooth, soft texture when stir frying.

FRIED RICE

Steamed white rice with soy sauce, eggs, peas, carrots and green onions.

The chicken thighs are marinated, then grilled and brushed with a delicious thick, sweet, and savory teriyaki glaze. It's also gluten free friendly.

Chef Andy Kao develops The Original Orange Chicken® entree for Panda Express. Inspired by the flavors of Hunan Province, the dish features crispy chicken bites in a sweet and spicy orange sauce.

Who owns Panda Express? ›

Meet the billionaire couple behind Panda Express, who built a $3 billion fortune selling 90 million pounds of orange chicken each year and run 2,000 restaurants across the globe. Husband and wife duo Andrew and Peggy Cherng are the co-CEOs of Panda Restaurant Group, the company behind Panda Express.

While the dish is very popular in the United States, it is most often found as a variation of General Tso's chicken in North America rather than the dish found in China. Chef Andy Kao claims to have developed the original Chinese-American orange chicken recipe at a Panda Express in Hawaii in 1987.

"Panda Express's Orange Chicken and Chow Mein are considered unhealthy due to their high levels of sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats," says Young. The Chow Mein and Orange Chicken is packed with: Calories: 1,000. Total fat: 43 grams.

However, Panda Express is one of the healthiest fast food chains because it has the 'Wok Smart' menu. The items on this menu have at least eight grams of protein and less than 300 calories, which makes it a good option if you're looking for something healthier on-the-go.

Teriyaki chicken may sound like a healthy choice, but again, it depends. If you end up eating too much rice with it or if the chicken was completely covered with sweet, MSG-rich sauce and glazes, it's not a healthy choice. Affordable teriyaki chicken may be using quite some MSG.

Orange chicken is Panda Express's most iconic dish. First launched in 1987, it now makes up one-third of the chain's business. In 2021, Panda Express partnered with Beyond Meat to co-develop a non-meat version, called, officially, Beyond the Original Orange Chicken—and it was a quick success.