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Get a delicious and healthy Chinese inspired recipe on the table in less than 30 minutes! This healthy orange chicken recipe is incredibly flavourful and so easy to make. The homemade orange sauce is made from scratch and is a great healthier alternative to your usual takeout. It’s perfect for meal prep too! {Gluten-free & dairy-free}
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Healthy Orange Chicken – So Easy & Delicious!
If you’ve got a craving for Chinese food, this healthy orange chicken recipe is a delicious homemade alternative that’s so easy to make!
What I love the most about this dish is that you can control exactly what goes into it, so there’s no need for highly processed ingredients, and it’s so flavourful, the kids practically lick the bowl!
The healthy orange chicken sauce is perfectly sweet, sticky and tangy all at the same time, and when paired with the tender chicken, is delicious served over rice, quinoa or in lettuce wraps. It’s one of those meals that you’ll definitely want to make on repeat because of its simplicity and mouthwatering taste.
The perfect weeknight dinner!
If you’re a fan of Asian flavours, be sure to try my Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe and Healthy Stir Fry Sauce too!
Why We Love This Homemade Orange Chicken
- Quick: Ready to serve in less than 30 minutes, this is a perfect go-to recipe after a busy day.
- One Pot: This easy orange chicken recipe is all cooked in one pan on the stove, so even the clean up is a breeze!
- Made from scratch: Rather than going for Chinese takeout which is loaded with sodium and sugar, you can make up your own homemade orange chicken. And with the tasty tangy orange sauce, it tastes just as good (if not better) than the original version!
- Family-friendly: The whole family loves this recipe (kids included) so it’s a great recipe to include in your regular menu rotation.
Ingredient Notes
- Sesame oil: Sesame oil adds a great flavour to this dish. You can also use another oil like olive oil or canola to cook the chicken.
- Chicken: You can use chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. Dice it into bite-sized pieces before cooking.
- Flour: Used to coat the diced chicken before cooking, acting as a primer to help the orange sauce cling to the food. I use brown rice flour since that’s usually what I have on hand, but you can also used regular all purpose flour or gluten-free flour if required.
- Orange juice: Use a no added sugar orange juice for the healthiest option. Store-bought or freshly squeezed orange juice both work well.
- Soy sauce: Use a low sodium soy sauce. Tamari or coconut aminos can also be used.
- Honey: Used to sweeten the orange sauce. Maple syrup can also be used, or another liquid sweetener.
- Ginger and garlic:Use fresh ginger and garlic for the best flavour. Mince or grate finely.
- Orange zest: Grated orange zest helps to enhance the orange flavour of the sauce.
- Chili garlic sauce: Adds a kick of spice to the sauce. Use less or leave out altogether if you prefer less heat. You can also replace it with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- Corn Starch: To thicken the sauce. Arrowroot starch or tapioca starch can also be used.
How to Make Orange Chicken – Step by Step Instructions
- Place the raw diced chicken into a large bowl and toss with flour until well coated.
- In a large skillet, heat sesame oil over medium high heat. Add the pieces of chicken breast and cook until lightly golden and no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a separate bowl until there are no lumps.
- Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked remove it from the pan and place it off to the side in a separate bowl.
- Drain any liquid from the pan and pour the sweet sauce mixture into the same pan you cooked the chicken in. Turn the heat up to high and bring the sauce mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and simmer for approximately 15 minutes, stirring every minute or so until it starts to thicken.
- Add the chicken back to the pan and mix to combine with sauce, cooking for another 2-3 minutes. Let it cool for about 5 minutes to allow the sauce to further thicken.
- Serve chicken with sticky orange sauce over rice or quinoa topped with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Recipe Notes:
- Use 100% pure orange juice with no added sugar. You can also use freshly squeezed orange juice if preferred. You’ll need about 6 medium sized oranges if you prefer to squeeze your own juice.
- If you prefer less spice, add less chili garlic sauce or leave it out altogether.
- As a time saving tip, prepare the sauce mixture in advance so that all you have to do is dump it into the pan after you’ve cooked the chicken. You can even make up a double batch and freeze half for future meals.
- Cut up the chicken into pieces that are roughly the same size so that it all cooks up evenly.
- For best results, allow enough time for the sauce to thicken. It typically takes about 15 minutes of simmering for the sauce to thicken. If you want a thicker sauce, add a bit more cornstarch until desired thickness is achieved. Keep in mind that it will thicken more as it cools.
- Stir frequently to prevent the sauce from sticking to the sides of the pan and to keep the chicken coated in the sauce so that it stays tender and juicy.
Storage & Reheating Guidelines
How to store: Leftovers can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
To reheat: You can reheat this recipe over medium low heat on the stovetop. You may wish to add a bit of water or broth if the sauce has thickened up quite a bit. You can also pop it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through.
Recipe FAQs
Is orange chicken healthy?
Traditional orange chicken that you find at Chinese restaurants like Panda Express isn’t the most nutritious option as it tends to contain high levels of sodium, sugar and other highly processed ingredients. This homemade version is a great healthier way to enjoy this popular Chinese option without the highly processed ingredients and lower levels of sodium and sugar typically found in most takeout orange chicken.
How do I thicken orange chicken sauce?
Cornstarch is mixed into the orange sauce to thicken it. Without it, the sauce will be runny and won’t coat the cooked chicken in the same way.
Is this recipe spicy?
I typically use 1-2 teaspoons of chili garlic sauce to add a little heat to this orange chicken recipe. It does give it a kick of heat, but it’s not unbearably spicy. If you don’t like things spicy, you can leave it out, or add in a little more if you like things hot!
What is the purpose of dredging the chicken in flour?
The primary reason why you dredge the chicken in flour before pan-frying is to give it a slightly golden crust and provide extra texture to the chicken so that no deep frying is required. The flour coating will also act as a primer to help the sauce cling to the chicken so that the chicken absorbs additional flavour.
What does orange chicken taste like?
Orange chicken is sweet, tangy, sticky and spicy all at the same time. It has a refreshing orange flavour from the orange juice and zest, and a kick of heat from the chili garlic sauce. There’s no shortage of flavour in this delicious recipe!
What to Serve with Orange Chicken
This healthy orange chicken recipe is great served over some jasmine rice, basmati, brown or white rice with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and green onion. It’s also delicious over rice noodles.
If you want more of a low carb option, serve it over cauliflower rice or in lettuce wraps.
Pair it with a side of steamed green beans, broccoli, or this Asian Cucumber Salad for a balanced meal.
Recipe Variations
- Make it vegetarian: Use extra firm tofu instead of chicken.
- Add in some vegetables: For an orange chicken stir fry, try adding red bell peppers, broccoli or carrots. You can cook them in the skillet with the sauce.
- Use ground meat: Make it with ground chicken rather than diced chicken breast if you prefer.
- Try other meat: Make it with other meats like beef or turkey.
More Healthy Meals
- Shrimp Noodle Stir Fry
- Healthy Chicken Stir Fry
- Asian Meatballs with Peanut Sauce
- Korean Ground Beef
- Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
- Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Healthy Chicken Marinades
- Mango Chicken Salad
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a rating and review!
Course Main Course
Healthy Orange Chicken
By: Elysia
Servings 6 servings
Get a delicious and healthy Chinese inspired recipe on the table in less than 30 minutes! This healthy orange chicken recipe is incredibly flavourful and so easy to make. The orange sauce is made from scratch and is a great healthier alternative to your usual takeout! {Gluten-free & dairy-free}
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs diced into 1-inch cubes
- 1/4 cup brown rice flour (or sub in regular flour)
For the orange sauce:
- 2 cups 100% pure orange juice unsweetened
- 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (optional)
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional – depending on how spicy you like it)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
To garnish
- Sliced green onion
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
Place the raw diced chicken into a large bowl and toss with flour until well coated.
In a large frying pan, heat sesame oil over medium heat. Add the diced chicken and cook until lightly golden on the edges and no longer pink, about 10 minutes. You may wish to add a splash of water to the pan if the flour coating starts to stick to the pan.
Meanwhile, whisk together the sauce mixture in a separate bowl until there are no lumps.
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it off to the side in a separate bowl.
Drain any liquid from the pan and pour the sauce mixture into the same pan you cooked the chicken in.
Turn the heat up to high and bring the sauce mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and simmer for approximately 15 minutes, stirring every minute or so until it starts to thicken.
Add the chicken back to the pan and mix to combine with sauce, cooking for another 2 minutes. Let it cool for about 5 minutes to allow the sauce to further thicken.
Serve warm over rice or quinoa topped with sliced green onion and sesame seeds.
Notes
- Use 100% pure orange juice with no added sugar. You can also use freshly squeezed orange juice if preferred. You’ll need about 6 medium sized oranges if you prefer to squeeze your own juice.
- If you prefer less spice, add less chili garlic sauce or leave it out altogether.
- As a time saving tip, prepare the sauce mixture in advance so that all you have to do is dump it into the pan after you’ve cooked the chicken. You can even make up a double batch and freeze half for future meals.
- Cut up the chicken into pieces that are roughly the same size so that it all cooks up evenly.
- Allow enough time for the sauce to thicken. It typically takes about 15 minutes of simmering for the sauce to thicken. If you want a thicker sauce, add a bit more cornstarch until desired thickness is achieved. Keep in mind that it will thicken more as it cools.
- Stir frequently to prevent the sauce from sticking to the sides of the pan and to keep the chicken coated in the sauce so that it stays tender and juicy.
Nutrition
Calories: 311kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 34gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 574mgPotassium: 786mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 227IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 1mg
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Reader Interactions
Maya says
It is delicious! I have a question though, is the nutrition information including with a serving of rice? if not, how much would you say it changes it with a few spoons of brown rice?Reply
- Elysia Cartlidge says
So happy you enjoyed it! The nutritional information is for just the orange chicken without the serving of rice. If you were to add rice, it would mainly affect the carbohydrate and calorie count. A quarter cup of cooked rice would add about 50 extra calories and 11 grams of carbohydrates. Hope that helps!
Reply
- Jo says
I made this for a family dinner and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved it!! I served it over rice and added some cashews on for some added crunch.Reply
- Elysia Cartlidge says
That’s amazing Jo!! So happy the whole family enjoyed it! Love the idea of adding the cashews on top for extra crunch! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review :)
Reply
- Mandy says
It had some good flavor but it doesn’t taste like the orange chicken that I am accustomed to eating. I’m sure I would have liked it better if I didn’t have that expectation in mind.Reply
- Elysia Cartlidge says
It definitely doesn’t taste exactly the same as your traditional orange chicken. A lot more sodium and sugar would be required to mimic the exact taste of what you’re probably used to and this recipe was created to be a healthier version. Glad you enjoyed the flavour though!
Reply
- Robin Forbes says
Made this last night and everyone loved it! I used the chili garlic sauce (the recipe says optional but it’s so good!), and it, combined with the red pepper flakes, gives it a mild heat. My daughter has already asked when we can have it again!Reply
- Elysia Cartlidge says
That’s AMAZING!! So glad it was a hit with the family! We also love it with the chili garlic sauce…it adds that little extra kick of flavour. Thanks so much for leaving such a glowing review! :)
Reply
- Betty says
Delicious! Made this tonight as an attempt to avoid takeout and it was a hit! Halved the recipe and added in some bell peppers and onion for some veggies. Served with quinoa and we both loved it!Reply
- Elysia Cartlidge says
So happy you enjoyed it!! Love the addition of the peppers and onions and serving it over quinoa! Thanks so much for swinging back to leave a review :)
Reply
