Healthy Orange Chicken
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This healthy orange chicken is a wholesome spin on Chinese takeout. It’s kid friendly, flavorful, easy to make and always gets rave reviews!
Whenever Friday night rolls around, I like to make dinner time a little more fun for my family. We can eat without feeling rushed, so I usually make healthy spins on our favorite restaurant takeout meals.
But the best part? My kids LOVE this healthy orange chicken recipe. They really love it.
Instant download of our tips to cook the best chicken!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring or taste bland. You can still enjoy your favorites, with a few tweaks along the way!
This kid-friendly meal has no refined sugar and it’s lower in sodium than restaurant-style orange chicken.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This is really a great recipe. We eat a lot of chicken and this was such a nice surprise. The sauce was the best! I wish I would have doubled everything for leftovers today.
–Joi
It’s a nice way to incorporate veggies into dinner. The orange sauce tastes so sweet and delicious, even picky eaters will devour their vegetables.
Real food versions of my classic takeout recipes are a hit around here! Check out my Beef and Broccoli, Chicken Pad Thai, and Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce recipes.
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my mom-tested cooking tips for making healthy orange chicken! I’ve made this countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- The orange sauce is sweet, fragrant, sticky, and just absolutely delicious. You have the option to strain it, to make it smoother, or you can leave it exactly how it is. It’ll be a little bit thicker, but it doesn’t affect the flavor either way.
- Be sure to cut the chicken breasts into similar-sized pieces so that it all finishes cooking at the same time. Try to cut the pieces about an inch wide or so. Otherwise, they may be too thick to finish cooking in 20 minutes time.
Ingredients
The beauty of this recipe is that it’s made with very simple ingredients. The orange hoisin sauce features ingredients that are Whole30 compliant, because this recipe was created during one of my Whole30’s! They’re great for any food journey though.
You’ll need:
- chicken
- ghee or olive oil
- broccoli florets
- sesame seeds
- green onions
- salt & black pepper
Orange Hoisin Sauce Ingredients
- almond butter
- orange zest
- orange juice⠀
- garlic
- fresh ginger
- apple cider vinegar⠀
- tomato paste⠀
- pitted dates⠀
- coconut aminos⠀
- sesame oil
- Chinese five spice
- chili powder
- salt & black pepper
Substitutions and Variations
You can substitute cashew butter or sunflower seed butter in place of almond butter.
If you do not have fresh ginger, ground ginger will work in its place. It’s not near as tasty as fresh, but it will do!
Both frozen and fresh broccoli will work in this recipe. You can also swap out the chicken breast for boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
This recipe was specifically tested with dates, but honey can be a good substitute!
How to Make Healthy Orange Chicken
- Add all the sauce ingredients to a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Lower the heat and allow to simmer for about five minutes, stirring frequently. Then, pour the mixture into your blender or food processor and blend on high until smooth.
- Strain the sauce through cheesecloth, and if necessary, thin the sauce with more orange juice, a teaspoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency. It will thicken up a bit as it cools!
- Once the sauce is prepared, start preparing the chicken. Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch in size.
- Add the ghee to a large skillet over high heat, and add in the chicken. Allow to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until mostly cooked through.
- Then add the sauce to the pan, bring to a simmer, and allow the chicken to cook in the sauce over medium heat for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
In a separate skillet, steam the broccoli over medium heat for 5-6 minutes or until bright green. Serve by plating the chicken and broccoli, then top each serving with green onions and sesame seeds.
How to Store Leftovers
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and allow to cool completely. Then store in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw before reheating.
For best results, reheat on the stovetop with a little bit of oil.
What to Serve with Orange Chicken
I like serving this flavorful orange chicken with a side of rice.
Asian green beans are a great way to add some more veggies into your meal, too.
FAQ
This dish is perfect for meal prep! It stores well and reheats well too. Make it ahead of time, allow it to cool and transfer to storage container to refrigerate or freeze until needed.
If you make this recipe, please give it a star rating and leave a comment below to let me know how it went!
Healthy Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup orange hoisin sauce see below⠀
- 2 tablespoons ghee or use butter or dairy-free substitute
- ½ teaspoon sea salt⠀ use more/less as desired
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper⠀ use more/less as desired
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 4 cups broccoli florets⠀
Orange Hoisin Sauce
- 2 tablespoons almond butter⠀ or substitute cashew butter or sunflower seed butter
- 1 medium orange ⠀ juiced and zested
- 2 cloves garlic⠀
- ½ inch ginger peeled, about 1 teaspoon
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar⠀
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste⠀
- 3-4 dates⠀ pitted
- ¼ cup coconut aminos⠀ or low sodium soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon Chinese five spice
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil⠀
- ½ teaspoon chili powder⠀
- ¼ teaspoon salt⠀ use more/less as desired
- ¼ teaspoons black pepper ⠀ use more/less as desired
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
- Make the orange sauce: Add all the sauce ingredients to a medium sauce pan over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow sauce to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour the mixture into a blender or food processor. Blend on high speed until smooth.
- Strain the sauce through cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve (optional, but I like the texture better). If necessary, thin the sauce with more orange juice, a teaspoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency. Set aside.
- Heat ghee in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat, then add in the chicken. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is mostly cooked through.
- Pour the sauce into the pan and reduce burner heat to medium. Allow the chicken to simmer in the sauce for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cook the broccoli in an air fryer, microwave, or in a steamer basket over medium heat. The florets should be bright green and cooked, but slightly crisp. Be careful not to overcook it.
- Serve by plating the orange chicken with the broccoli, then top each serving with green onions and sesame seeds.
This is really a great recipe. We eat a lot of chicken and this was such a nice surprise. The sauce was the best! I wish I would have doubled everything for leftovers today.
So glad you liked it! It’s great leftover 😉
This recipe came out great and it fits my health goals perfectly! My husband enjoyed it too. The sauce is so good- I subbed in tahini in for the nut butter and to add some more sesame flavor. I’m making a double batch of the sauce to freeze. Thank you!
I’ve made this twice for my husband now and we really like it as a healthy alternative to takeout Chinese. First time I made the sauce I made it too runny, this time a tad too thick so it’s finicky to get just right. I recommend doubling the sauce off the bat (it’s the star of the show) so there’s enough to cover the chicken, broccoli, & the extra to mix with the cauliflower rice we serve it over. We are going to do two bags of broccoli bc we have been fighting over who gets the greens for once!
Hi Alyssa! Thanks for sharing your feedback, and I’m glad you enjoyed it! -Laura
This recipe is fantastically unique. I loved the texture unstrained and I skipped the extra salt since my aminos seem to be extra salty. Definitely a keeper on Whole 30 and off.
Hi! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe and that it works for your Whole30 & beyond! -Laura
This was SO GOOD! My husband and I loved it. I’m so excited to make this for family and friends the next time we see them.
Hi Carolyn! I’m so thrilled to hear your husband and you both enjoyed this recipe! You made my day! -Laura
What’s the ‘desired thickness’ of the sauce that you go for?
Hi Shannon! Personally, I go for the consistency of bbq sauce. 🙂 -Laura
Googled “Whole30 Chicken” and this came up. Decided to give it a try, and WOW oh WOW! Thank goodness I found it. I am going to recommend it to everyone I know who’s doing Whole 30 (or not). Thanks so much. I will def be following you from now on.
Hi Frannie! Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and that you’ll be back for more! -Laura
One of my favorite meals of all time! I make this every week.
Hi Lindsay, Thanks for letting me know you enjoy it! This is one of our favorite recipes too. -Laura
What sub for Chinese 5 spice?
Hi Christina! I did a quick web search and it looks like you can substitute any mix of cayenne, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper. Hope that helps! -Laura
If you have a nut allergy, can you substitute something else for the almond butter?
Hi Carla! Great question. I’d recommend substituting cashew butter or sunflower seed butter. -Laura
I am doing Keto so can’t have dates….is that for thickness or sweetness? Do you have a suggestion for something else?
Hi Carol! The dates are mainly for sweetness. I’d recommend leaving them out completely or substituting a tiny bit of keto-friendly sweetener. 🙂
Such an easy recipe with amazing results!!! I will for sure be making this again!!! Way better than soggy fried orange chicken takeout. I love feeding my body and my craving at the same time.
Hi Gina! So glad you enjoyed it!!! 🙂 It’s definitely one of my favorites too, and it always makes me feel like we’re enjoying a really special meal. Healthy doesn’t have to be boring!
Could u substitute for ghee to make this dairy free?
Hi Amy! The recipe is written dairy-free already, but yes, ghee is absolutely perfect in this!
You can use coconut oil! That’s what I did, because I was out of ghee and had no interest in leaving my house. lol!
Hi Rachel!
That’s a great idea, thank you so much for sharing!
Wow wow wow!!! I am so happy that I found this recipe randomly. Thank you for using your talent to provide a way to make delicious and healthy popular dishes like this one. Incredible!!!!! 🤤🤤🤤
Hi Sandra! Thanks so much for your sweet comment. You just made my day!
When doing Whole 30, this recipe is a must! It is so delicious, you won’t want anything else!
It’s my most remade recipe to date, and it’s always a crowd pleaser! So glad you liked it too!