Panda Express Orange Chicken Calories — Bowl, Plate & Bigger Plate (2026)
510 calories per serving, 16g protein — not the 19–26g many sites list. Every Orange Chicken combination across all meal sizes, calculated from official data.
QUICK ANSWER — OFFICIAL DATA
Orange Chicken has 510 calories and 16g of protein per serving — not the 19–26g many sites list, which comes from outdated data. With Fried Rice as a Bowl, the total is 1,130 calories; with Super Greens instead, 640 calories. Every meal size — Bowl, Plate, and Bigger Plate — is covered below with exact totals.
Orange Chicken Nutrition Facts
Per standard serving (5.92 oz), from official Panda Express nutrition data. The protein figure (16g) is frequently listed incorrectly at 19–26g on third-party sites — the current official value is 16g.
510
Calories
16g
Protein
24g
Total Fat
53g
Carbs
850mg
Sodium
20g
Sugar
Orange Chicken is breaded, deep-fried, and coated in a sweet-tangy orange sauce. The sauce accounts for most of the 20g of sugar per serving. At 31.9 calories per gram of protein, it is one of the least protein-efficient items on the menu — Grilled Teriyaki Chicken (275 cal, 33g protein) delivers twice the protein for half the calories.
| Item | Cal | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Chicken | 510 | 16g | 24g | 53g | 850mg |
| Hot Orange Chicken | 550 | 17g | 27g | 59g | 950mg |
Source: Official Panda Express nutrition data (2026).
Orange Chicken Across Every Meal Size
Every total below is calculated by adding the official per-item calorie values. The side choice accounts for the largest calorie swing — up to 490 calories — regardless of meal size.
Bowl — Orange Chicken with every side
| Side | Side Cal | + OC (510) | Bowl Total | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Greens | 130 | 510 | 640 | 25g |
| Chow Fun | 410 | 510 | 920 | 25g |
| White Steamed Rice | 520 | 510 | 1,030 | 26g |
| Chow Mein | 600 | 510 | 1,110 | 31g |
| Fried Rice | 620 | 510 | 1,130 | 29g |
Plate — Orange Chicken with a second entree
A Plate = 1 side + 2 entrees. Orange Chicken fills one entree slot; the table below shows the total for common second-entree choices.
| Combination | Total Cal | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Super Greens + Orange Chicken + Broccoli Beef | 790 | 40g |
| Super Greens + Orange Chicken + Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | 915 | 58g |
| Super Greens + Orange Chicken + Kung Pao Chicken | 960 | 42g |
| White Rice + Orange Chicken + Broccoli Beef | 1,180 | 41g |
| Fried Rice + Orange Chicken + Broccoli Beef | 1,280 | 44g |
| Fried Rice + Orange Chicken + Orange Chicken | 1,640 | 45g |
Bigger Plate — Orange Chicken with two more entrees
A Bigger Plate = 1 side + 3 entrees. Orange Chicken fills one slot; the three examples below cover the lean, mid-range, and heavy ends.
Super Greens + Orange Chicken + Grilled Teriyaki + Black Pepper Sirloin Steak
130 + 510 + 275 + 180
1,095 cal
77g protein
Super Greens + Orange Chicken (×3)
130 + 510 + 510 + 510
1,660 cal
57g protein
Fried Rice + Orange Chicken (×3)
620 + 510 + 510 + 510
2,150 cal
61g protein
Build any Orange Chicken combo and see the exact calories
Add Orange Chicken with any side and entrees — live calorie, protein, carbs, and sodium totals update instantly.
Fried Rice: The 620-Calorie Side
Fried Rice is the highest-calorie side on the Panda Express menu at 620 calories per serving. It also carries 1,000mg of sodium — close to half the recommended daily limit before you add any entree. Paired with Orange Chicken, the sodium total from just these two items is 1,850mg.
620
Calories
13g
Protein
19g
Total Fat
101g
Carbs
1,000mg
Sodium
4g
Sugar
Orange Chicken + Fried Rice combined
Lighter Alternatives — Side and Entree Swaps
The side swap saves more calories than the entree swap. Switching from Fried Rice to Super Greens saves 490 calories. Switching from Orange Chicken to Broccoli Beef (keeping Fried Rice) saves only 360 calories. If you can only make one change, change the side.
Swapping the side — keeping Orange Chicken
| Side | Side Cal | + OC (510) | Bowl Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Greens | 130 | 510 | 640 |
| Chow Fun | 410 | 510 | 920 |
| White Steamed Rice | 520 | 510 | 1,030 |
| Chow Mein | 600 | 510 | 1,110 |
| Fried Rice | 620 | 510 | 1,130 |
Swapping the entree — keeping Fried Rice
| Entree | Entree Cal | + Fried Rice (620) | Bowl Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli Beef | 150 | 620 | 770 |
| Mushroom Chicken | 220 | 620 | 840 |
| Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | 275 | 620 | 895 |
| Orange Chicken | 510 | 620 | 1,130 |
| Hot Orange Chicken | 550 | 620 | 1,170 |
Source: Official Panda Express nutrition data (2026).
About the data on this page
Orange Chicken protein is one of the most widely misstated figures in Panda Express nutrition guides. Values of 19g, 22g, and 26g appear across major tracking apps and nutrition sites — the current official figure is 16g at 510 calories. The discrepancy comes from data that was not updated after Panda Express revised the recipe. At 31.9 calories per gram of protein, Orange Chicken is a low-efficiency protein source regardless of which figure you use — but the correct figure matters for accurate calorie and macro tracking.
All values on this page come from official Panda Express nutrition data. The calorie calculator on this site uses the same source — so totals you build in the calculator match exactly what is in the tables above.
How to order Orange Chicken without the full calorie impact
Orange Chicken is one of the most ordered items at Panda Express for a reason — the flavor profile is consistently satisfying. But the default order (Fried Rice + Orange Chicken) is 1,130 calories with 29g of protein and 1,850mg of sodium. That is a substantial meal for what most people consider a standard takeout order.
The most effective single change is the side. Super Greens drops the Bowl to 640 calories while keeping the Orange Chicken you actually want. That is a 490-calorie reduction from a swap most people do not consider because Fried Rice feels like the default. The 640-calorie Orange Chicken Bowl with Super Greens is below what many people would estimate for an Orange Chicken order, and it requires no entree sacrifice.
If you are building a Plate and want to include Orange Chicken, pairing it with Broccoli Beef (150 cal, 15g protein) on a Super Greens base gives you 790 calories and 40g of protein total — a more balanced meal than Orange Chicken alone with rice. The Broccoli Beef contributes meaningful protein at a very low calorie cost, which partially compensates for Orange Chicken's poor protein efficiency.
For a Bigger Plate, Orange Chicken works well as one of three entrees when the other slots go to high-protein items. Super Greens + Orange Chicken + Grilled Teriyaki Chicken + Black Pepper Sirloin Steak = 1,095 calories with 77g of protein. You get the Orange Chicken flavor alongside a genuinely high-protein meal. That is a substantially better nutritional outcome than a Bigger Plate built entirely from Orange Chicken.
Common questions about Panda Express Orange Chicken calories
How many calories is Orange Chicken at Panda Express?
Orange Chicken at Panda Express has 510 calories per standard serving (5.92 oz) with 24g of fat, 53g of carbs, 16g of protein, and 850mg of sodium. Hot Orange Chicken is slightly heavier at 550 calories with 27g of fat and 17g of protein.
How many calories is Fried Rice at Panda Express?
Panda Express Fried Rice has 620 calories per side serving with 19g of fat, 101g of carbs, 13g of protein, and 1,000mg of sodium. It is the highest-calorie side on the menu — 490 calories more than Super Greens.
How many calories in a Bowl with Orange Chicken and Fried Rice?
A Bowl with Orange Chicken (510 cal) and Fried Rice (620 cal) totals 1,130 calories. Swapping the side to Super Greens drops it to 640 calories — a 490-calorie saving from a single change with the same entree.
How many grams of protein does Orange Chicken have at Panda Express?
Orange Chicken has 16g of protein per serving. Many sites list it at 19–26g — these figures come from outdated data. The current official value is 16g at 510 calories, which works out to 31.9 calories per gram of protein — one of the least efficient protein sources on the menu.
How many calories in a Plate with Orange Chicken and Fried Rice?
A Plate with Fried Rice, Orange Chicken, and one additional entree varies: add Broccoli Beef (150 cal) = 1,280 calories total. Add another Orange Chicken = 1,640 calories. The Plate format requires 1 side and 2 entrees — Fried Rice counts as the side.
What's a lighter swap for Fried Rice at Panda Express?
Super Greens (130 cal) saves 490 calories vs. Fried Rice (620 cal). White Steamed Rice (520 cal) saves 100 calories and has zero sodium — useful if sodium is also a concern. Chow Fun (410 cal) saves 210 calories and has a similar noodle-style texture to some fried rice alternatives.
What's the difference between Orange Chicken and Hot Orange Chicken?
Hot Orange Chicken has 550 calories vs. 510 for regular Orange Chicken — 40 calories more. It has slightly more fat (27g vs. 24g), slightly more protein (17g vs. 16g), and higher sodium (950mg vs. 850mg). The main difference is added heat from chili peppers; the calorie and macro difference is small.
Is Orange Chicken a good protein source at Panda Express?
Not relative to other options. Orange Chicken has 16g of protein at 510 calories — 31.9 calories per gram of protein. Grilled Teriyaki Chicken delivers 33g of protein at 275 calories — 8.3 calories per gram. If protein is your goal, Orange Chicken is among the least efficient choices on the menu. It is worth ordering for flavor, but not for protein value.
All calorie and nutrition values are sourced from official Panda Express nutrition data (). Not affiliated with Panda Express, Inc. Nutrition values can change — confirm in-store or at pandaexpress.com if precision matters for dietary needs.