Made with a sweet and tangy citrus sauce and lean chicken breast, this recipe for homemade orange chicken allows you to enjoy a takeout favorite without the excess calories and sodium.
1poundboneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighscut into 1 inch pieces
1bunch of green onionschopped (optional)
Instructions
In a small bowl, combine the juice, zest, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, vinegar, ginger, and cornstarch together and whisk until the sugar and cornstarch are fully dissolved.
In a large non-stick frying pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Once a drop of water sizzles in the oil, add the chicken to the pan. Allow the chicken to saute until browned on each side for about 3-4 minutes, and then remove the chicken from the skillet and place it onto a large plate.
Add the sauce to the skillet and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once bubbling, turn the heat to medium-low and return the chicken back to the pan. Simmer the chicken in the sauce for about 3-5 minutes.
Serve the chicken with the sauce over steamed rice or quinoa and garnish with green onion slices if desired.
Video
Notes
Vinegar: Use white distilled vinegar in place of rice wine vinegar if desired.Fresh Orange Zest and Juice: Wash and dry the orange before using. Then use a microplane to grate just the orange part of the orange peel. Cut the orange in half and use your hands or juicer to squeeze out the fresh orange juice into a measuring cup. You can substitute bottled orange juice if needed. Sodium-Content: Be sure to use low-sodium soy sauce to keep the sodium content lower in this dish. Gluten-Free Modifications: To keep this dish free from gluten, use Tamari sauce in place of the soy sauce. Corn-Free Modifications: If you need this Orange Chicken to be free from corn, use tapioca starch in place of the corn starch.Add Spice: Feel free to add up to ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes to the orange sauce to add some kick to the final dish. Storage: Allow leftover orange chicken to cool slightly and then store in a sealed container for 3-4 days in the fridge. You can also freeze the leftover for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. To reheat the frozen orange chicken, allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and then warm in a skillet over medium-low heat.