A better-for-you sweet and spicy orange chicken that’s quick and easy to make at home. Chicken is quickly saute in a skillet, then combined with a sweet, spicy orange sauce so you get great flavor without all the fat and calories.
My family loves Panda’s Orange Chicken, but it’s breaded and fried, and fairly high in calories. So when Add a Pinch recently posted her Skinny Orange Chicken, I knew my family would like it too.
I made a few changes to the recipe to accommodate what I had on hand, my version is below. Robyn’s recipe is Paleo-friendly, gluten-free, and grain-free, so if you have special dietary requirements use Robyn’s version instead.
I served it with steamed broccoli and Forbidden Black Rice. According to legend, black rice was grown only for the emperors of ancient China and was called forbidden rice, because it was off limits to the general public. It has the similar nutty flavor of brown rice, but Forbidden black rice is a superfood. It has more antioxidants than blueberries with less sugar and more fiber.
My husband and family gave this recipe two thumbs up. A recipe that’s healthy and delicious, and one I’ll definitely be making it again.
Easy Spicy Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup chicken stock
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ½ cup fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds optional
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Once the pan is hot heat the oil, then add the chicken and stir fry for 5-6 minutes until chicken is no longer pink inside. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together chicken stock, honey, garlic, orange zest, orange juice, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
- Pour the sauce into the skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the sauce is thick and syrupy. Add chicken to the skillet and stir to coat with the sauce.
- Serve topped with toasted sesame seeds, if desired.
Notes
Kung Pao Chicken, Barbara Bakes
Szechwan Chicken Stir Fry, Barbara Bakes
Chicken and Asparagus Stir-Fry, Gimme Some Oven
Beef, Broccoli & Snow Pea Stir Fry, Fifteen Spatulas
Honey Soy Chicken, Table for Two
Baked Chicken Stuffed with Pesto and Cheese, Kalyn’s Kitchen
Shannon @ Bake.Frost.Repeat.
I love sweet and spicy together. This looks simple and delicious and I can’t wait to try it.
Suzanne
Barbra, this recipe looks fantastic. It’s light for the new year better eating habit I’m trying to adhere too 🙂
Suzanne
oops..sorry for misspelling your name I didn’t mean to type that
JG
Black Rice is new to me, how interesting! This is a yummy chicken recipe.
~Judy
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Love orange chicken! Great with black rice.
angela@spinachtiger
I love these kinds of recipes. Light, modern, and comfort. Chinese food is comfort food isn’t it?
My Inner Chick
–You had me on “Orange!”
YUMMMmmmmmmmmm! Xx
kelley {mountain mama cooks}
Where did you find the black rice? Would you believe I’ve never had it? I saw Robyn’s post the other day and it looked amazing- yours does too!!
Barbara Schieving
Thanks Kelley! I bought mine in the bulk food section at Winco, but Kalyn said she saw it at Costco and I’ve seen it at Harmons as well. I bet even Trader Joes has it.
KgReciPes
In your recipe you use black rice. But In our area We don’t have that. Can I use normal rice in this recipe?
Barbara Schieving
Of course, it would be delicious with white or brown rice as well.
Carol
Oh boy…quick, easy, delicious-how much better can it get? Not much in my book. Now all I need to do is track down some Forbidden Rice-I’m intrigued.
Thank you Barbara!
Emily
I’m coming right over!
Rachel
Sounds delicious and easy – will put it away for when oranges are in-season down here in NZ. Looks as if it would be good with duck too.
Melissa B
Sounds delicious! I love Orange Chicken and your recipe looks so good!
Pinning to save – and to try soon!
megan
I’m going to make this tonight – the kids love chinese food and this is so much healthier than the deep fried version 🙂
Barbara Schieving
Hi Megan – hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Rocky Mountain Woman
I love the Orange Chicken at Blue Bay in Cottonwood and this really looks a lot like it.
Can’t wait to try it!
KalynsKitchen
Sounds delicious. And I have black rice on my shopping list! (Thanks for the mention too; always appreciated!))
Rosa
Easy and surely very delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa