Panda Express Orange Chicken Calories: Every Serving Size Explained
Orange Chicken is Panda Express's best-selling item — and also one of the most mis-reported on nutrition tracking apps. This guide uses verified official data: 510 calories and 16g protein per serving, broken down for every plate size and side pairing.
Quick Answer
One serving of Panda Express Orange Chicken has 510 calories, 16g protein, 24g fat, and 53g carbohydrates. A Bowl with Fried Rice adds up to 1,130 calories; a Plate with Fried Rice and Broccoli Beef totals 1,280 calories. Many apps show 490 calories or 26g protein — both figures are wrong per official Panda Express data.
Orange Chicken Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
The official Panda Express serving size for Orange Chicken is approximately 5.7 oz (one entree portion as served in-store). All macros below are from Panda Express's official nutrition data.
| Nutrient | Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 510 |
| Total Fat | 24g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g |
| Cholesterol | 70mg |
| Sodium | 850mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 53g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g |
| Sugars | 19g |
| Protein | 16g |
Source: official Panda Express nutrition data
The 850mg sodium figure is notable — one entree serving covers 37% of the FDA's 2,300mg daily sodium limit. Orange Chicken is also one of the higher-sugar entrees at 19g sugars per serving, driven by the sweet glaze sauce.
Orange Chicken Bowl Calories (By Side)
A Panda Express Bowl includes 1 side and 1 entree. With Orange Chicken as the entree, total calories depend entirely on which side you choose. Super Greens is the lowest-calorie side at 130 calories; Fried Rice is the highest at 620 calories.
| Bowl Combination | Total Cal | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Super Greens + Orange Chicken | 640 | 25g |
| Chow Fun + Orange Chicken | 920 | 25g |
| White Steamed Rice + Orange Chicken | 1030 | 26g |
| Chow Mein + Orange Chicken | 1110 | 31g |
| Fried Rice + Orange Chicken | 1130 | 29g |
Source: official Panda Express nutrition data
Orange Chicken Plate Calories (12 Verified Combos)
A Panda Express Plate includes 1 side and 2 entrees. The table below shows 12 verified combinations with Orange Chicken as one of the two entrees, sorted from lightest to heaviest.
| Side + Entrees | Total Cal | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Super Greens + OC + Broccoli Beef | 790 | 40g |
| Super Greens + OC + String Bean Chicken Breast | 850 | 37g |
| Super Greens + OC + Black Pepper Sirloin Steak | 810 | 44g |
| Super Greens + OC + Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | 915 | 58g |
| White Steamed Rice + OC + Broccoli Beef | 1180 | 41g |
| Chow Mein + OC + Broccoli Beef | 1260 | 46g |
| Fried Rice + OC + Broccoli Beef | 1280 | 44g |
| Fried Rice + OC + Black Pepper Sirloin Steak | 1310 | 48g |
| Fried Rice + OC + String Bean Chicken Breast | 1340 | 41g |
| Fried Rice + OC + Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | 1405 | 62g |
| Fried Rice + OC + Kung Pao Chicken | 1450 | 46g |
| Fried Rice + OC + Beijing Beef | 1600 | 43g |
Source: official Panda Express nutrition data. OC = Orange Chicken.
Build Your Exact Orange Chicken Combo
Use the calorie calculator to get a live total for any Panda Express combination — bowl, plate, bigger plate, or à la carte.
Open Calorie Calculator →Orange Chicken Bigger Plate Calories
A Bigger Plate adds a third entree to the Plate. With Orange Chicken as one of three entrees, here are the most common builds:
| Bigger Plate Combination | Total Cal | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Super Greens + OC + Broccoli Beef + Black Pepper Sirloin Steak | 940 | 59g |
| Super Greens + OC + GTC + Broccoli Beef | 1065 | 73g |
| Fried Rice + OC + Broccoli Beef + Black Pepper Sirloin Steak | 1460 | 58g |
| Fried Rice + OC + GTC + Broccoli Beef | 1555 | 77g |
| Fried Rice + OC + Kung Pao + Beijing Beef | 1940 | 60g |
Source: official Panda Express nutrition data. GTC = Grilled Teriyaki Chicken. OC = Orange Chicken.
How Orange Chicken Compares to All Entrees
Orange Chicken is the second-highest-calorie entree on the standard menu (behind Hot Orange Chicken at 550 cal). If you want the same familiar comfort but fewer calories, Kung Pao Chicken (320 cal) is the closest flavor profile.
| Entree | Calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli Beef | 150 | 15g |
| Black Pepper Sirloin Steak | 180 | 19g |
| String Bean Chicken Breast | 210 | 12g |
| Mushroom Chicken | 220 | 13g |
| Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | 275 | 33g |
| Kung Pao Chicken | 320 | 17g |
| Teriyaki Chicken | 340 | 41g |
| Honey Sesame Chicken Breast | 340 | 16g |
| Sweetfire Chicken Breast | 360 | 15g |
| Beijing Beef | 470 | 14g |
| ★ Orange Chicken | 510 | 16g |
| Hot Orange Chicken | 550 | 17g |
Source: official Panda Express nutrition data, sorted by calories
Why Most Orange Chicken Calorie Counts Are Wrong
Common errors on competitor sites and apps
- 490 calories — outdated figure from a previous formulation. Current official data: 510 calories.
- 26g protein — this is the most widespread error, appearing in MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, and several nutrition databases. Official data: 16g protein. This 10g gap matters significantly if you're tracking protein for fitness goals.
- "Orange Chicken = 14g protein" — the plan document originally cited this lower figure. Verified from official JSON: 16g.
The 16g protein figure means Orange Chicken has a protein-to-calorie ratio of 31.9 calories per gram of protein — among the poorest ratios on the menu. For comparison, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken delivers 1g of protein for every 8.3 calories. If protein efficiency matters to you, Orange Chicken should be a treat, not a protein strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in Panda Express Orange Chicken?
One serving of Panda Express Orange Chicken has 510 calories. That serving is approximately 5.7 oz and includes 16g protein, 24g fat, and 53g carbohydrates. Many third-party apps show 490 calories or 26g protein — both figures are incorrect. The official Panda Express data shows 510 calories and 16g protein per serving.
How many calories in a Panda Express Orange Chicken Bowl?
A Panda Express Orange Chicken Bowl (1 side + Orange Chicken) ranges from 640 to 1,130 calories depending on the side. Super Greens + Orange Chicken = 640 cal; Chow Fun + Orange Chicken = 920 cal; White Steamed Rice + Orange Chicken = 1,030 cal; Chow Mein + Orange Chicken = 1,110 cal; Fried Rice + Orange Chicken = 1,130 cal.
How many calories in a Panda Express Orange Chicken Plate?
A Panda Express Plate with Orange Chicken (1 side + Orange Chicken + 1 more entree) ranges from 790 to 1,680 calories. Common combos: Super Greens + Orange Chicken + Broccoli Beef = 790 cal; Fried Rice + Orange Chicken + Broccoli Beef = 1,280 cal; Fried Rice + Orange Chicken + Kung Pao Chicken = 1,450 cal.
How many calories in a Panda Express Orange Chicken Bigger Plate?
A Bigger Plate with Orange Chicken (1 side + 3 entrees including Orange Chicken) ranges from 940 to 1,830+ calories. A common order — Fried Rice + Orange Chicken + Broccoli Beef + Black Pepper Sirloin Steak = 1,460 cal. The highest Bigger Plate with Orange Chicken: Fried Rice + Orange Chicken + Hot Orange Chicken + Beijing Beef ≈ 2,150 cal.
How much protein is in Panda Express Orange Chicken?
Panda Express Orange Chicken has 16g protein per serving. Many fitness apps and restaurant tracking sites show 26g — that figure is incorrect. The official Panda Express nutrition data confirms 16g protein per 5.7 oz serving. At 510 calories with 16g protein, Orange Chicken has a poor protein-to-calorie ratio of 31.9 cal/g.
Is Orange Chicken the highest-calorie item at Panda Express?
No. Hot Orange Chicken (550 cal) and Honey Walnut Shrimp (430 cal) rank similarly, while the highest-calorie entrees are Hot Orange Chicken at 550 cal and Beijing Beef at 470 cal. Among sides, Fried Rice (620 cal) and Chow Mein (600 cal) are higher-calorie than Orange Chicken. Orange Chicken at 510 cal is a mid-to-high range entree by calories.
What is the lowest-calorie way to order Orange Chicken at Panda Express?
Order Orange Chicken à la carte, or build a Bowl with Super Greens (130 cal) for a 640-calorie total. If you want a full plate, pair with Super Greens + Broccoli Beef (150 cal) for a 790-calorie Plate. Avoid adding Fried Rice or a second high-calorie entree — Fried Rice alone adds 620 calories.
How does Orange Chicken compare to other Panda Express entrees by calories?
Orange Chicken (510 cal) is one of the higher-calorie entrees. For comparison: Broccoli Beef = 150 cal; Black Pepper Sirloin Steak = 180 cal; String Bean Chicken Breast = 210 cal; Grilled Teriyaki Chicken = 275 cal; Kung Pao Chicken = 320 cal; Beijing Beef = 470 cal; Hot Orange Chicken = 550 cal. Orange Chicken is the 2nd highest-calorie standard entree.
Does the Panda Express Orange Chicken calorie count include the sauce?
Yes. The 510-calorie count for Orange Chicken includes the sauce — the sauce is integral to the dish and is factored into the official serving weight of approximately 5.7 oz. Panda Express does not list the sauce separately. The sodium figure (850mg) also includes the sauce contribution.