Healthy Orange Chicken
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.
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- Skillet
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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
Serving: 1mealCalories: 271kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 31gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 1062mgPotassium: 539mgSugar: 7gVitamin A: 195IUVitamin C: 26.6mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 0.8mg
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