Sweet, spicy and flavorful – this makeover Orange Chicken is a lighter and healthier version of the popular Chinese fast-food take-out dish
Orange Chicken Makeover
I love taking popular fast food dishes like this Orange Chicken and making them over! You have so much more control of what you’re consuming when you cook your own food. Orange Chicken is usually battered and deep fried, not a dish I would order because I’m not a fan of fried sweet dishes, but I was happy to tackle a lighter version. My solution was to skip all that frying, and make a flavorful orange sauce. The outcome was great, and my husband even gave it two thumbs up! A few favorite fast food makeovers are Chicken and Broccoli, General Tsos Chicken and Pepper Steak.
Asian orange sauce is super easy and simple to make. It’s certainly a healthier option than using a bottled orange sauce with unknown ingredients and higher sugar content.
Orange Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken breast
- corn starch
- salt
- sesame oil
- garlic and ginger
- orange zest
- chopped scallions
- sesame seeds
Orange Sauce Ingredients:
- fresh squeezed orange juice
- chicken broth
- soy sauce
- sugar
- rice wine
- rice vinegar
- sriracha
- corn starch
- white pepper
How To Make Orange Chicken
- Mix the orange sauce ingredients and set aside.
- Season the chicken lightly with salt and coat evenly with corn starch, set aside.
- Heat a wok on high heat, add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and add half of the chicken. Cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side until well browned, set aside.
- Add 1 teaspoon of oil and chicken and repeat cooking 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Set aside with the rest of the chicken.
- Add remaining teaspoon of oil and quickly stir-fry the minced garlic and ginger until fragrant.
- Add the orange zest then return the chicken to the pan.
- Quickly stir the chicken then add the orange sauce and cook until the sauce thickens.
- Divide between 4 plates and garnish with the scallion and sesame seeds.
Variations:
- You can swap chicken for a white fish like Tilapia or make it vegetarian with tofu.
- Add some sauteed veggies.
What To Serve with Orange Chicken
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Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size: 3 /4 generous cup
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Mix the orange sauce ingredients and set aside.
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Season the chicken lightly with salt and coat evenly with corn starch, set aside.
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Heat a wok on high heat, add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and add half of the chicken. Cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side until well browned, set aside.
-
Add 1 teaspoon of oil and chicken and repeat cooking 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Set aside with the rest of the chicken.
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Add remaining teaspoon of oil and quickly stir-fry the minced garlic and ginger until fragrant, about 1 minute.
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Add the orange zest then return the chicken to the pan.
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Quickly stir the chicken then add the orange sauce and cook until the sauce thickens,about 1 to 2 minutes.
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Divide between 4 plates and garnish with the scallion and sesame seeds.
Last Step:
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Serving: 3 /4 generous cup, Calories: 288 kcal, Carbohydrates: 18 g, Protein: 32.5 g, Fat: 9 g, Saturated Fat: 0.5 g, Cholesterol: 81 mg, Sodium: 463 mg, Fiber: 0.5 g, Sugar: 9 g
