Quick & Healthy Orange Chicken Recipe

Lighten-Up Takeout at Home

Orange chicken is a takeout staple for a reason. It's freakin' good. It's crunchy, sticky, sweet, tangy, savory, and just plain addictive. Unfortunately, like most takeout, it's usually loaded with deeply unsettling amounts of sodium, fat, preservatives, and mystery ingredients -- eek!

So if you're looking to satisfy that takeout craving sans the inevitable guilt and bloat that follows, then have I got a treat for you. This healthy orange chicken recipe packs the same classic orange chicken flavor you love using only fresh ingredients and lightened-up cooking methods. I dare-say it's better than the "real thing".

Healthed-Up Orange Chicken Recipe

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 Minutes

By using whole, organic ingredients and sautéing rather than breading and frying the chicken, this lightened-up orange chicken recipe is a nourishing meal fit for your family. Serve it with brown rice and stir fried vegetables for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

Ingredients

• 2.5 lbs. organic boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces

• salt and white pepper

• 3 tbsp. avocado oil

• orange chicken sauce (recipe below)

• sliced scallions for garnish

Orange Chicken Sauce

• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

• Zest of one orange

• 4 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 tsp. freshly grated ginger

• 1/2 cup honey

• 1/2 cup soy sauce (or Tamari or Coconut Aminos)

• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

• 3 tbsp. organic sweet thai chili sauce

• 1 tsp. red pepper flakes

• 3 tbsp. corn starch

Method:

• Whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce mixture and set aside.

• Season the chicken generously with salt and white pepper. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sauté for about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned and cooked through.

• Pour in the orange chicken sauce, and stir to combine. Let the sauce come to a boil, then boil for an additional minute or two until thickened. Remove from heat and serve immediately with brown rice, quinoa, or vegetables.

• Garnish with scallions.

BrookeSheCooks is a professional personal chef and in-home catering service providing gourmet-quality, custom meals to busy families in the DFW area. No shopping, no cooking, no clean-up. For booking and availability contact brookeshecooks@gmail.com.

#easydinner #chinese #light