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Healthy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken

A quick, light, and sticky orange chicken dish that's better than takeout, made in just 30 minutes.
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Temps de préparation 10 minutes
Temps de cuisson 20 minutes
Temps total 30 minutes
Portions: 4 servings
Type de plat: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingrédients
  

For the Orange Chicken
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch for coating chicken
  • 2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger or 0.5 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 0.75 cup orange juice (fresh or bottled)
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
  • 2 tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • Pinch red pepper flakes optional
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste
  • Cooked rice and steamed broccoli for serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the chicken dry, season with salt and pepper, and toss with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Cooking
  1. Cook the chicken in a single layer until golden and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
  2. Lower heat to medium and add garlic and ginger to the skillet, stirring for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Whisk orange juice, zest, maple syrup, soy sauce, and vinegar together. Pour into the skillet and simmer for 2 minutes.
  4. Stir 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water to make a slurry. Whisk this into the sauce and simmer until thick and glossy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  5. Return the chicken to the pan, toss to coat, and taste for seasoning, adjusting with more soy sauce or juice if needed.
Serving
  1. Spoon the orange chicken over rice with broccoli and sprinkle with green onions or sesame seeds if available.

Notes

Leftovers warm up nicely for lunch. Keep the rice separate to prevent soaking up all the sauce. For extra protein, stir in cashews during the last minute, and for extra veggies, add snap peas or bell peppers with the sauce.