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Healthy Orange Chicken Recipe

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4.1 from 283 reviews

This Healthy Orange Chicken recipe offers a flavorful and nutritious twist on a classic favorite. Featuring tender, bite-sized chicken pieces cooked to perfection and coated in a tangy, slightly sweet orange sauce made from natural ingredients like fresh orange juice, honey, ginger, and coconut aminos, this dish is both wholesome and satisfying. Perfectly paired with steamed green beans or broccoli and served over fluffy rice, it’s an ideal meal for those seeking a balanced dinner packed with vibrant flavors and healthy components. The recipe features both stovetop and Instant Pot methods, providing flexibility for quick or hands-off cooking while maintaining maximum taste.

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (2 tablespoons for Instant Pot method)

Sauce

  • 2 cups orange juice (1 cup for Instant Pot method)
  • 1/4 cup coconut aminos (2 tablespoons for Instant Pot method)
  • 3 tablespoons honey (1.5 tablespoons for Instant Pot method)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon for Instant Pot method)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (1/4 teaspoon for Instant Pot method)
  • 1/2 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (1/4 tablespoon for Instant Pot method)
  • 1/2 tablespoon orange zest (1/4 tablespoon for Instant Pot method)

Additional Ingredients for Instant Pot Method

  • 3 teaspoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder
  • 1/4 cup chicken stock

Sides

  • 4 cups steamed broccoli or green beans
  • 2 cups cooked rice

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sides: Cook green beans (or broccoli) and rice according to package directions until tender and properly cooked. Set aside.
  2. Cook chicken on stovetop: Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken cubes and cook for 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the edges are brown and slightly crispy and the chicken is cooked through.
  3. Mix sauce ingredients: While the chicken is cooking, combine orange juice, coconut aminos, honey, garlic powder, black pepper, grated fresh ginger, and orange zest in a bowl. Stir well.
  4. Remove chicken: Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a clean bowl and set aside.
  5. Cook sauce: Pour the sauce mixture into the same pan used for the chicken. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring every minute. Continue boiling and stirring for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens and pulls away from the pan when scraped with a spatula.
  6. Combine chicken and sauce: Add the cooked chicken back into the pan and stir well to coat all pieces evenly with the thickened sauce.
  7. Serve: Plate the orange chicken over steamed broccoli or green beans and cooked rice for a delicious, healthy meal.
  8. Instant Pot instructions – sauce prep: For the Instant Pot method, halve all sauce ingredients except chicken stock. Mix these halved ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
  9. Instant Pot sauté chicken: Turn on Instant Pot to sauté on high heat. Add 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil and heat until hot. Trim and dry chicken breasts, then sear in the Instant Pot 2 breasts at a time for 2 minutes per side, just to achieve a golden sear without cooking through. Remove and dice into 1-inch pieces.
  10. Pressure cook chicken: Return diced chicken to Instant Pot. Pour prepared sauce mixture and 1/4 cup chicken stock over the chicken. Close lid, seal vent, and set to Manual High Pressure for 3 minutes. Allow 3-5 minutes for pressure build-up before timer starts.
  11. Quick release pressure: When cooking ends, carefully quick release the steam using a towel or pot holder. Open lid once safe.
  12. Thicken sauce: Remove chicken with a slotted spoon and place on a plate. Mix chicken broth with cornstarch to create slurry. Turn Instant Pot back to sauté on high. When sauce bubbles, whisk in slurry and boil 7-9 minutes until thickened.
  13. Recombine and serve: Return chicken to the thickened sauce in the Instant Pot, switch to Keep Warm mode, and serve over steamed vegetables and rice or quinoa.

Notes

  • Use freshly grated ginger and orange zest for maximum flavor brightness.
  • If you prefer a thicker sauce without the Instant Pot, continue simmering the sauce on the stovetop to desired consistency.
  • Substitute coconut aminos with low-sodium soy sauce if needed, but it will alter the flavor profile slightly.
  • For paleo or low-carb options, serve the chicken over steamed vegetables instead of rice.
  • Adjust honey quantity to control sweetness.
  • Ensure the chicken is cooked thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  • When using Instant Pot, do not overcrowd during searing to ensure proper browning.
  • Use arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch if gluten intolerance is a concern.
  • Author: ELLA
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American Asian Fusion
  • Diet: Low Fat

Find it online: https://ellarecipe.com/healthy-orange-chicken-recipe/