Krolls Korner - 1 brown bowl with white rice, orange chicken, topped with chopped green onions and sesame seeds - 2

Skip the Panda Express Orange Chicken tonight and opt for this healthy orange chicken recipe instead!

It’s full of orange flavor, is gluten free and the boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite sized pieces) are cooked on the stove in the sauce instead of being deep fried.

The orange chicken sauce is really simple to make and uses pantry staple ingredients like honey, soy sauce and rice vinegar.

orange chicken garnished with green onions and sesame seeds in a skillet. - 3

We love this recipe with steamed white rice, cauliflower rice, or sometimes my fried rice recipe if we’re feeling extra!

Some of our other Asian-inspired family favorite meals include my Crock Pot Teriyaki Steak Bites , Cashew Chicken Stir Fry , and Crispy Sesame Chicken .

Ingredient Notes

You can scroll down to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements.

ingredients to make orange chicken in small glass dishes. - 4
  • Oranges: The key ingredient to this sweet and savory, drool-worthy orange chicken sauce! You’ll want to zest the oranges first, and then squeeze the juice out of them.
  • Chicken : you can use boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
  • Honey : Instead of white sugar, this recipe uses honey. It’s the ticket to sweeten the sauce!
  • Soy sauce: feel free to coconut aminos or a low sodium soy sauce to reduce the salt. (use gluten-free if you need)
  • Ginger: fresh ginger is recommended to bring out the most flavor of the sauce
  • Cornstarch : helps thicken the sauce and turn it into to a glossy, luscious sauce.
  • Garnish ideas: green onions, sesame seeds

Step by Step Directions

Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe instructions.

  1. Whisk all of the ingredients together for the sauce in a measuring cup or bowl.
  2. Cube up the chicken and cook until no longer pink in a large non-stick skillet.
  3. Pour the sauce over the chicken and simmer.
  4. Add in cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
  5. Serve with rice and vegetables. (we usually serve with broccoli!)
sauce ingredients whisked together in a glass bowl. - 5 sauce being poured onto chicken in a skillet. - 6 thickening orange chicken sauce with cornstarch in a skillet. - 7

Expert Tips and Variations

  • Add some sweet heat to the sauce by adding in 1-2 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce.
  • Add more orange flavor by using more orange zest.
  • Make the sauce ahead of time and store in the fridge so when you go to make the meal, that part is already done!
  • Turn it into a stir fry by adding in your favorite vegetables.
  • Chop the chicken into 1 inch cubes. If you cut it too small, it can dry out as it cooks.
  • Enjoy with ramen noodles or udon noodles if you don’t feel like rice!
  • Sub the chicken for tofu if you are feeling like a meatless meal.
orange chicken with rice in a bowl garnished with green onions and sesame seeds. - 8

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Healthy Orange Chicken - 9

Healthy Orange Chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 2 large breasts)
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1-2 tsp. orange zest
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce use gluten-free if needed
  • 2 tsp. garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp. rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp. ginger, minced
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper chili flakes (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp. white pepper
  • 1-2 Tbsp. cornstarch + 1-2 Tbsp. water to make slurry to thicken sauce
  • Garnish ideas: green onions, sesame seeds
Healthy Orange Chicken - 10

Instructions

  • In a large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce: orange juice, orange zest, honey, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, red pepper chili flakes, and white pepper. (Cornstarch gets added at the end). 1 1/2 cups orange juice, freshly squeezed, 1-2 tsp. orange zest, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tsp. garlic, minced, 2 tsp. rice vinegar, 1 tsp. ginger, minced, 1/2 tsp. red pepper chili flakes (optional), 1/4 tsp. white pepper
  • Heat a wide non stick skillet; add oil and once the oil is hot add the chicken pieces. *Note: if you feel like the chicken is crowding your pan, don’t put all of the chicken in at once. Cook in batches if needed and take the first half out and set it on a paper towel lined plate while you cook up the second half. Cook chicken on medium heat, stirring chicken occasionally, until chicken is cooked. 1 Tbsp. olive oil, 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 2 large breasts)
  • Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet, making sure you get all the honey too that might have settled at the bottom!
  • Allow the sauce to come to a simmer, and then add in the cornstarch slurry: whisk together the cornstarch and water, and then whisk that into the sauce. (Watch the video for reference!) The sauce will thicken and you’ll know it’s just right when your spatula leaves a little blank trail behind it. 1-2 Tbsp. cornstarch + 1-2 Tbsp. water to make slurry to thicken sauce
  • Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds and serve with rice or noodles and your favorite veggies. Garnish ideas: green onions, sesame seeds

Video

Notes

  • You’ll want to bring the sauce to a boil, then down to a simmer and after you whisk in the cornstarch slurry allow it to thicken for ~5 minutes. Stirring occasionally. It will thicken more especially the longer it sits.
  • To make gluten free: Please ensure that all of your ingredients are gluten free, including the cornstarch and the soy sauce .

Nutrition