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This 20-minute healthier orange chicken is the perfect weeknight dish. Why pay for takeout when you can make this quick and easy dish from scratch?
I have this weird love-hate relationship with Chinese food.
I love it for the fact that it’s typically cheap, fast, and always available but I hate it for the fact that I’m always a little worried about why it’s so cheap.
How can good (as in quality) food cost so little? Well, the fact is that it’s probably not good quality.
Yeah, no thanks.
I mean I’m not a food elitist or anything.
I’m not sitting here on some sorta food pedestal. I will (when necessary) go face-deep in a box of chicken nuggets with sweet sour sauce BUT for the most part, I try to keep it real.
You know?
This is where this quick and easy meal comes into play.
It’s ready in 20 minutes and is about a million times better than anything you could get delivered.
It’s full of fresh orange flavor and perfect when served with brown rice and a big side of vegetables.
I like it served with broccoli but you live your life and serve it with anything you see fit.
I don’t run your vegetable-filled life. Your life. Your vegetable choice.
I’m also not opposed to you serving it with zero rice or vegetable and just eating it straight from the pan.
I’m super classy. I’m assuming the majority of my audience is just as class as myself.
Now, get into the kitchen and make this chicken. You will not be sorry. TRUST ME!
Oh and be prepared to burn your Chinese take-out menu because you won’t need them ever again.
More easy Asian-inspired recipes
Healthier Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 1-1/2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3/4 cup orange juice, fresh squeezed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, more if desired
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, optional
Instructions
- In a large nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat add coconut oil.
- Once the oil is hot add in the chicken and cook until lightly browned and fully cooked – about 8 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and place the pan back on the heat.
- Add in orange juice, garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, orange zest, fish sauce, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a slight boil.
- In a small bowl mix together cornstarch and cold water until the cornstarch is fully dissolved.
- Add cornstarch to the orange mixture and mix together until slightly thickened. This will not take too long so keep an eye on the mixture.
- Once you have reached your desired thickness remove from the heat, stir in your sesame seeds and add the chicken back to the pan and toss with the sauce.
- Serve with brown rice and vegetables if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ha! love that you stated a fear of mine–worry because Chinese is so cheap 🙂 This looks great and beats any take-out any day of the week!
My husband spent about 15 years in Singapore so he is very picky about Chinese food. He would love this recipe and since we don’t have a Chinese restaurant that delivers it will be so much quicker to make too.
Orange chicken is one of my favorite things to get on the rare occasion that we order Chinese food. This looks delicious!
This looks delicious. I always just order my chinese from the local carryout. Now I can make this at home and pretty certain homemade will be healthier and tastier. Will have to give this a try.
A 20 minute dinner? CONVINCED!!
Right there with you on the love hate relationship with Chinese food, seriously what is making it so cheap…I probably don’t want to know. Orange chicken is one of my top picks for takeout, so happy you created this healthier version!
This orange chicken look delicious! Love that it’s ready in just 20 minutes. So simple!
I most definitely want to try this, it looks like a dinner my whole family would eat and who could ever say no to a 20 minute meal!?
I want to live where you live if Chinese food is cheap there! 🙂 I never order orange chicken because it’s usually fried up and there’s so much batter, but this orange chicken looks stunning and the recipe sounds amazing! And in 20 minutes? Sold!
Good Chinese food is seriously lacking in my small town. I was just wondering what kind of real food to make on a nutso night like tonight, and now I have my answer!
P.S. I’m glad I’m not the only one that occasionally trips and falls face first into a pile of chicken nuggets.