Description
This Skinny Orange Chicken recipe is a healthier take on the classic favorite, featuring tender chicken breast pieces cooked in a flavorful, homemade orange sauce that is both sweet and tangy. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and pairs beautifully with steamed rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 3 – 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup sweet orange marmalade (Smuckers recommended)
- 1/4 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the chicken broth, sweet orange marmalade, BBQ sauce, low sodium soy sauce, ground ginger, onion powder, and minced garlic. Whisk these ingredients together thoroughly. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a low boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Thicken the Sauce: After simmering, whisk in the cornstarch evenly to the sauce. Continue simmering the sauce until it thickens to a glaze-like consistency, stirring occasionally to prevent lumps.
- Cook the Chicken: Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the cubed chicken breasts to the skillet and cook them until no longer pink in the center, approximately 12 minutes. Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper during cooking.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Pour the thickened orange sauce directly into the skillet with the cooked chicken. Stir well to ensure each piece of chicken is thoroughly coated with the sauce.
- Serve: Serve the orange chicken immediately over steamed rice or your preferred side. Enjoy this flavorful, lighter version of orange chicken!
Notes
- For best results, use low sodium chicken broth and soy sauce to keep sodium levels moderate.
- Adjust the sweetness by reducing the amount of orange marmalade if desired.
- You can substitute chicken breasts with boneless skinless thighs for a juicier result but it will slightly increase fat content.
- Leftover orange chicken stores well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the soy sauce used is gluten-free.
