Easy Orange Chicken Recipe
I love taking popular fast food takeout dishes like this Orange Chicken and making them over! You have so much more control of what you’re consuming when you cook your own food. Chinese Orange Chicken is usually battered and deep fried, not a dish I would order because I’m not a fan of fried sweet dishes, but I was happy to tackle a lighter version. My solution was to skip all that frying, and make a flavorful orange sauce to simmer with chunks of lean chicken breast. The outcome was great, and my husband even gave it two thumbs up! A few favorite fast food makeovers are Chicken and Broccoli, General Tsos Chicken and Pepper Steak. Chinese orange sauce is super easy and simple to make. It’s certainly a healthier option than using a bottled orange sauce with unknown ingredients and higher sugar content. And since there is no flour, this is naturally gluten-free.
Orange Chicken Ingredients
chicken pieces: diced up boneless skinless chicken breast seasoning: cornstarch, salt aromatics: garlic and ginger flavor: orange zest, sesame oil garnish: chopped scallions or green onions and sesame seeds
Orange Chicken Sauce:
fresh squeezed orange juice, for the orange flavor chicken broth soy sauce 2 tablespoons white or brown sugar rice wine rice vinegar sriracha or red pepper flakes (for a touch of heat) cornstarch (to thicken the sauce) white pepper
How To Make Orange Chicken
Variations:
You can swap chicken for a white fish like Tilapia or make it vegetarian with tofu. Add some sauteed vegetables like asparagus, bell pepper, or zucchini. If you prefer dark meat, use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead. To lower the sodium, use low-sodium soy sauce instead. If you can’t have sesame oil, you can swap it for peanut oil.
What To Serve with Orange Chicken
It’s often served with steamed rice and broccoli or other steamed vegetables. Serve it over cauliflower rice or Cauliflower “Fried Rice” Serve it over brown rice for a healthier option. Try other vegetables like some sauteed bell peppers, snow peas, or asparagus.
Storage
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days, or freeze up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight then microwave or heat in a skillet.
More Stir Fry Recipes You Will Love
Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry Tofu Stir Fry Garlic Ginger Chicken Stir Fry Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry Thai Chicken and Pineapple Stir Fry
