HEALTHY ORANGE CHICKEN
Skip the takeout and make this Healthy Orange Chicken Recipe for dinner! A simple, delicious dinner that is paleo, gluten free, packed with flavor and done in under an hour! Made with just a few ingredients, it’s tasty and easy to make!
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I really don’t play favorites with my recipes.. or at least I try not to.. but whenever someone asks me what my favorite recipe from my site it, I always say it’s this Healthy Orange Chicken Recipe
(with these Healthy Chicken Tenders coming in at a close second!).
Made with minimal ingredients, full of flavor, and easy to make – this dish is one I always turn to!
Orange Chicken is one of my favorite things to order when we get takeout. But as I’m sure most of you know.. Chinese food is definitely not the healthiest dinner option (Hello MSG overload!)
Years ago when I first started eating healthy was on a mission to try to make all my favorite foods healthy, and orange chicken was one of the first things to get a makeover!
I’ll admit, there were (and still are) many concoctions that I try that come out a total mess. Muffins that are flatter than pancakes… Breads that never rise..
But THIS lighter orange chicken recipe recipe is one where all the healthy substitutions turned into something SUPER delicious!
This was one of those recipes that as I was making it I was a little skeptical.. Would the flavor be right? Would the sauce be thick enough or would I just be eating chicken coated in a weird orange juice mixture??
So many questions. Thankfully the flavor was so on point and the sauce was perfectly thick. It had the same consistency of the amazing sauce you get at a restaurant!
On top of being super delicious + beyond easy to make, this recipe is so versatile. Here are different ways to serve this Healthy Orange Chicken.WAYS TO SERVE THIS HEALTHY ORANGE CHICKEN
- Feeding a crowd of hungry people? Serve it over a giant bowl of brown rice/quinoa + broccoli.
- Trying to keep paleo? Skip the rice entirely or do cauliflower rice.
- Not a huge fan of cauliflower rice? Serve it over zoodles!
- Broccoli, green beans, or steamed cauliflower are great for veggie side dishes
WHAT TO DO IF THE SAUCE DOESN’T THICKEN WITH THIS HEALTHY ORANGE CHICKEN
Give it time, I promise. Re-read the directions listed in the recipe. The chicken needs to be completely removed from the pan, and the sauce needs to boil for 15-20 minutes. Stir the sauce every few minutes, and once the sauce starts to pull away from the pan as you scrape it back, you’ll know it’s ready!
MY SAUCE IS MORE BROWN THAN ORANGE, IS THIS OK?
Yes! This is totally fine! Your sauce might look a little dark than these photos simply due to the ingredients you use. The color won’t impact the flavor!
The next time you’re tempted to get takeout… skip the delivery service and just make it yourself!
I hope you love this amazing twist on takeout as much as we do.
SUBSTITUTIONS FOR THIS HEALTHY ORANGE CHICKEN RECIPE:
- Orange Juice– you can sub regular bottled orange juice with freshly squeezed orange juice
- Ginger– you can substitute fresh ginger with 1/4 tablespoon ground ginger
- Coconut Aminos – You can sub coconut aminos with soy sauce or bragg’s liquid aminos – but the recipe will no longer be paleo.
HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY ORANGE CHICKEN:
Other healthy paleo chicken dinners you’ll love:
- Sheet Pan Lemon Rosemary Chicken Thigh Dinner
- Healthy Maple Mustard Chicken
- Whole30 Pesto Chicken Zucchini Noodles
Healthy Orange Chicken
Skip the takeout and make this Healthy Orange Chicken Recipe for dinner! A simple, delicious dinner that is paleo, gluten free, packed with flavor and done in under an hour!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Calories362kcal
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cleaned + cut into 1 inch cubes
- 4 cups steamed broccoli or green beans
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
Sauce
- 2.5 cups orange juice
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger***
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large frying pan, cook the cubed chicken in the toasted sesame oil until the edges are brown and slightly crispy (Approx 5-10 minutes)
- As the chicken is cooking, stir together the sauce mixture in a separate bowl
- Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked remove it from the pan and place it off to the side in a separate bowl.
- Pour the sauce mixture into the same pan you cooked the chicken in.
- Bring the sauce mixture to a boil for 15-20 minutes, stirring every minute or so until it starts to thicken. (You will know it has thickened when you scrape the pan and it pulls away from the pan)
- When the sauce thickens, add the cooked chicken back in + stir to coat the chicken
- Serve over steamed broccoli or green beans for a paleo option, or rice/quinoa.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds + enjoy!
- *** If substituting ground ginger for fresh ginger, cut the amount in 1/4 to 1/4 tablespoon.
Video
Notes
Ways to Serve this Healthy Orange Chicken:
Give it time, I promise. Re-read the directions listed in the recipe. The chicken needs to be completely removed from the pan, and the sauce needs to boil for 15-20 minutes. Stir the sauce every few minutes, and once the sauce starts to pull away from the pan as you scrape it back, you'll know it's ready!
My sauce is more brown than orange, is this ok?
Yes! This is totally fine! Your sauce might look a little dark than these photos simply due to the ingredients you use. The color won't impact the flavor!
- Feeding a crowd of hungry people? Serve it over a giant bowl of brown rice/quinoa + broccoli.
- Trying to keep paleo? Skip the rice entirely or do cauliflower rice.
- Not a huge fan of cauliflower rice? Serve it over zoodles!
- Broccoli, green beans, or steamed cauliflower are great for veggie side dishes
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Healthy Orange Chicken
Amount Per Serving (1.5 cups chicken + veggies (approx))
Calories 362Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Cholesterol 72mg24%
Sodium 610mg25%
Potassium 1048mg30%
Total Carbohydrates 39g13%
Dietary Fiber 3g12%
Sugars 27g
Protein 28g56%
Vitamin A18.2%
Vitamin C198.9%
Calcium6.5%
Iron8.7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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