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Easy 30 Minute Orange Chicken with Rice

30 Minute Meals· Gluten-Free· Main Courses· Poultry and Pork· Real Food

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Skillet Orange Chicken: Chicken is coated in a sweet and spicy citrus sauce, for a dinner that will make you drool. The best part?!  In less than 30 minutes, you can make your favorite Chinese take-out meal at home.

Orange Chicken

There is something about Asian cuisine that excites me. I do believe it is the balance of sweet and salty in every bite and flavors that play off each other to enhance the dish and bring a flavor explosion in your mouth and also the fact that there is such a large range of recipes and spins on dishes to experiment with.

I could eat Asian dishes like Vegetable Potstickers and Spring Rolls at least once a week. This orange chicken–I think I could eat it at least a couple times a week!

Easy Orange Chicken

Orange Chicken happens to be one of my family’s favorite meals. It is not overly spicy and sweet which pleases the kids, but yet complex enough in flavors, adults love it as well. Plus being that I am able to pull this Orange Chicken off in less than 30 minutes, this mom is REALLY happy! I really love easy 30 minute meals!

Did I mention this meal is so much better tasting and better for you than any take-out you can get? As if you needed any more convincing than 25 minute family pleaser to make this dish!

Notes on Homemade Orange Chicken

  • Serve this Healthy Orange Chicken over steamed rice, cauli-rice, or quinoa.
  • Make this gluten-free Orange Chicken by using gluten free soy sauce.
  • If you don’t want to use canola oil, use avocado, peanut of coconut oi. I don’t recommend using olive oil, as the flavor is too strong.
  • Freeze any leftovers in individual size portions for a quick grab and go lunch!
  • If you happen to have a pressure cooker, you MUST try my Instant Pot Orange Chicken. 

Healthy Orange Chicken Recipe

5 from 4 votes
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Orange Chicken

A homemade version of a favorite take-out dish, this easy chicken dish that is kissed in a sweet citrus sauce, will become a family favorite. 

Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Keyword Easy Orange Chicken
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 217 kcal
Author A Mind Full Mom

Ingredients

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • zest of 1 orange
  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce Tamari for gluten free
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 3 tbs white vinegar
  • 1 tbs fresh ginger grated
  • 1 tbs cornstarch
  • 1 tbs canola oil
  • 1 bunch of green onions chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine the juice, zest, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, vinegar, ginger and cornstarch together and whisk until sugar dissolved.
  2. Heat 1 tbs canola oil in large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Once a drop of water sizzles in the oil, add the chicken to the oil, stirring constantly. After the chicken has been browned, 3-4 minutes, remove chicken to a large plate. Add the sauce to the skillet and bring to a boil. Turn to a simmer and return chicken to pan to finish cooking in the sauce, about 5 minutes.
  3. Serve over steamed rice or quinoa and garnish with green onion slices.
Nutrition Facts
Orange Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 217 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 9%
Cholesterol 72mg 24%
Sodium 665mg 28%
Potassium 510mg 15%
Total Carbohydrates 12g 4%
Sugars 8g
Protein 25g 50%
Vitamin A 1.9%
Vitamin C 20.7%
Calcium 1.7%
Iron 4.5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

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Comments

  2. I really want to try this! I’ve made sweet and sour chicken but never orange. Can’t wait to try it! Thank you for all the great tips and recipes!

    Reply

  5. I am loving my instant pot and always looking for new recipes to make in it. This is going on the list! Yum!

    Reply

  6. My daughter loves loves loves orange chicken. I’m going to share this recipe with her for sure. She needs quick and easy with her busy schedule. I might have to get her an instant pot, but thank you for sharing the non instant pot way of cooking too!

    Reply

    • YAY!! I hope your daughter LOVES this Marion! I bought my mom an Instant Pot awhile back as well–she had been comlaining she got home from work too late too cook–NOT anymore 🙂

      Reply

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