Easy, Healthy Orange Chicken
This Easy, Healthy Orange Chicken is a quick dish that is low in calories but high in flavor, perfect for a healthy meal.
Equipment
- bowl
- large nonstick pan
- whisk
Ingredients
Sauce
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice approximately 2 medium oranges
- ⅓ cup brown sugar tightly packed
- 2 tablespoons Asian white rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons tamari sauce
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch fully dissolved in 1 TB water
Chicken and Garnish
- 2 teaspoons olive or canola oil
- 1.5 lbs boneless/skinless chicken thighs
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 stalks scallions thinly sliced
- Cooked rice for serving (optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- In a bowl, whisk together the orange zest, orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, Sriracha, ginger, garlic powder, and dissolved cornstarch. Whisk until there are no white streaks left from the cornstarch.
- Towel dry the pieces of chicken, as it's important to remove excess moisture for even browning. Cut into small bite-size pieces.
- In a large nonstick pan, heat oil over high heat until hot. Add chicken and kosher salt. Cook and stir until chicken is just-cooked through, 3-4 min. Transfer cooked chicken to a bowl and cover to keep warm.
- In the now-empty pan, add the orange sauce mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened, 30 seconds. Return the cooked chicken back to the pan, along with any accumulated juices. Toss to coat chicken.
- Serve immediately over cooked rice. Sprinkle with scallions for garnish and extra Sriracha sauce on the side, if desired.
Notes
Chicken breast can be used, though dark meat yields more tender results. Leftovers can be covered and refrigerated for several days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 249kcalCarbohydrates: 4.6gProtein: 39.5gFat: 6.9gSaturated Fat: 1.2gCholesterol: 124.1mgSodium: 529.1mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 1.2g
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