Description
This Healthy Orange Chicken recipe offers a fresh, zesty twist on the classic takeout dish. With a tangy orange sauce, tender chicken, and minimal oil, it’s a lighter, healthier version that’s quick to prepare in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (approximately 2 medium oranges)
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, tightly packed
- 2 tablespoons Asian white rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons tamari sauce
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch, fully dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
- 2 teaspoons olive or canola oil
- 1 ½ lbs boneless/skinless chicken thighs
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 stalks scallions, thinly sliced
- Optional: Cooked rice for serving
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together orange zest, orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, tamari sauce, Sriracha, ginger, garlic powder, and dissolved cornstarch. Whisk until there are no white streaks left from the cornstarch.
- Pat chicken pieces dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Cut chicken into small bite-sized pieces.
- Heat oil in a large nonstick pan over high heat until hot. Add chicken pieces and kosher salt. Cook for 3-4 minutes until chicken is just cooked through. Transfer cooked chicken to a bowl and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the orange sauce mixture and cook over medium heat for about 30 seconds, or until the sauce thickens.
- Return the cooked chicken to the pan and stir to coat it in the sauce. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, allowing the sauce to fully coat the chicken.
- Serve immediately over rice and garnish with sliced scallions. Optionally, serve with extra Sriracha sauce on the side.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 249 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 6.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 39.5 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: Healthy Orange Chicken, Orange Chicken, Healthy Recipe, Quick Dinner