Make Healthy Orange Chicken at home with real ingredients and a zesty homemade sauce. It’s a quick, flavorful meal without the extra oil or refined sugar.
If you love Orange Chicken, you'll also enjoy Healthy General Tso Chicken for a sweet-savory twist, Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl for an easy, flavorful option, or Healthy Chicken Stir Fry for a quick and veggie-packed meal!
In This Post You'll Find:
I don't think I've shared this with you yet, but I love Asian food. I know...groundbreaking as that may be. "Wow, did you hear that? Lacey likes another type of food. Shocking."
I am quite proud of my Cauliflower Fried Rice and Healthy Spring Roll recipes. Then there's my famous Healthy Beef With Broccoli and Healthy General Tso's Chicken. But when it all comes down to it, I love to eat Chinese, Japanese, Thai food and the like. I'm just slightly less comfortable with the actual cooking part.
That's what makes this easy Healthy Orange Chicken so fantastic. Not only is it quite simple to make, but you probably have most, if not all, of the ingredients already. Plus, it's healthier than the takeout version (very fresh and vibrant)!
Reasons You'll Love It
- Works with rice, quinoa, or even tofu.
- Ready in under 30 minutes.
- Stays fresh for easy leftovers.
- Fresh orange juice and soy sauce create a perfect tangy-sweet glaze.
Ingredients For Healthy Orange Chicken
Chicken Breast: The main protein, providing a lean and tender bite that soaks up the flavorful sauce. I prefer boneless, skinless chicken breast, but chicken thighs will work, too. You can use a mix. You can also check out my Ultimate Guide To The Best Vegan Protein Substitutes for great vegan protein options, too.
Coconut Sugar: Brings just the right touch of natural sweetness without refined sugar. If you're looking for sugar alternatives, check out my guide on Healthy Sugar Substitutes.
Arrowroot Starch: Helps thicken the sauce into a silky, glossy glaze. If you don’t have it, cornstarch works too, or check out my The 9 Best Healthy Flour Substitutes for more thickening options.
Garlic & Ginger: The flavor boosters, giving depth and warmth to the sauce. Dried powder will also work, but fresh is best.
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: A little kick of heat to round out the sweet and tangy notes. You can also use Chili Sauce.
Pro Tips
Making Healthy Orange Chicken is simple, but these tips will help you get the best flavor and texture every time.
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice gives a more natural citrus flavor without added sugars. And don't forget the zest!
- Cook in batches so you don't overcrowd the pan and the chicken browns properly instead of steaming.
- Simmer until the sauce fully coats the chicken for a sticky, glossy glaze.
- Add more coconut sugar for sweetness or extra red pepper flakes for heat preference.
- Lightly toss the chicken in arrowroot starch before cooking for a light, crispy coating.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1: Combine the orange juice, soy sauce, coconut sugar, and seasonings together in a bowl.
- Step 2: Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook the diced chicken until lightly browned, stirring occasionally for even cooking.
- Step 3: Pour the sauce over the cooked chicken, and bring it to a simmer.
- Step 4: Stir in the arrowroot starch slurry to thicken the sauce, coating the chicken evenly before serving with rice or vegetables.
Healthy Orange Chicken Goes Well With:
- Rice: The perfect base to soak up all that sweet and tangy orange sauce. You could do brown rice for a hearty option or jasmine rice for a softer, more fragrant bite. For a lighter carb option, try my Cauliflower Rice.
- Veggies: My personal favorites are Roasted Broccoli and Sugar Snap Peas, but you can substitute them with any of your go-to veggie sides.
Recipe FAQs
Most of the time, dark meat - specifically the thigh - is used for orange chicken. But for this recipe I'm using chicken breasts because they are higher in protein, and have less fat. You can also do a 50/50 mix for more flavor.
To reheat your orange chicken, first allow it to thaw (if frozen) for around 2-3 hours. Doing so will allow it to reheat better and closer to it's original form. Then, reheat it in the oven for around 10-12 minutes at 325 degrees, covered in foil or in the microwave on High for 2 minutes.
When I make my orange chicken glaze, I use vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, orange zest, and crushed red peppers. My kids absolutely love this flavor!
Pack your leftovers in an air-tight food container and pop it in the fridge. Just make sure that the dish has already cooled down before you store it, that way you don't get any excess moisture build up. Check out my Ultimate Guide To Meal Prep Containers for my favorite air-tight containers.
More Healthy Chicken Recipes
If you want more healthy chicken recipes, check out these delicious options!
Healthy Orange Chicken
Equipment
- Skillet
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb boneless and skinless chicken breast boneless and skinless
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, to coat chicken
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, to coat chicken
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced (for topping)
For the Sauce:
- ½ cup plus 2 tbsp. water, divided
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar
- 2 ½ tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 2 tablespoon coconut sugar
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp arrowroot starch
Optional
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds for garnish
- 1 cup brown rice for serving
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine ½ cup water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, orange zest, coconut sugar, and red pepper flakes, and then set this aside while we prep the chicken.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Dice Chicken into 1-inch cubes, and season with salt and pepper.
- Once the oil is hot, add the chicken in a single layer into the pan, and cook, without moving, for 2 minutes, and then stir and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Then, add minced garlic and minced ginger, and stir-fry until the garlic is fragrant, about a minute.
- Now, add the orange sauce to the pan and allow to simmer for 1 to 2 minutes.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine arrowroot starch and remaining 2 tbps of water until the starch is dissolved. Add this mixture to the pan, stirring to combine. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute.
- Top chicken with sliced green onions, sesame seeds and serve with brown rice.
Notes
- Let the sauce simmer until it thickens and fully coats the chicken. If it’s too thin, cook a little longer or add a small amount of arrowroot starch mixed with water.
- Freshly squeezed orange juice gives the best flavor, but bottled juice works in a pinch. Avoid juices with added sugar to keep it healthier.
- If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add a bit more coconut sugar or honey. For a tangier flavor, increase the vinegar slightly.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat to maintain the best texture.
Nutrition
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Grace
This orange sauce was delicious! Was the chicken meant to be 1.5 lbs total weight? The recipe says 1/2 lbs and it seemed there was enough sauce for more meat.
I also added some broccoli florets in the last 2 minutes of cooking and it turned out great!
Lacey Baier
I’m so glad you loved the orange sauce! Yes, the recipe is meant to use 1/2 lb of chicken, but you’re right—there’s plenty of sauce, so you can easily scale up to 1–1.5 lbs if you prefer more chicken.
Adding broccoli sounds like a fantastic idea! It’s a great way to pack in extra veggies while soaking up that flavorful sauce. Thanks for sharing your experience—I love hearing how you customize the recipe! 😊
Dustin
Such a good dish.
Lacey Baier
So happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Lyn
Thank you for posting this great dish, one in a series of delights you've shared with me--teriyaki sauce, hollandaise sauce, ice cream. You're my first "go to". Simple and great without a lot of standing on my head. Many blessings, Lyn
Lacey Baier
Wow, thank you so much for your kind words! It means a lot to hear that my recipes have become your go-to. I love keeping things simple and delicious, so I’m thrilled they’ve been helpful to you. Wishing you many more happy meals ahead—can’t wait to hear what you try next! 😊