I think it’s safe to say that in our house, we definitely have our fair share of chicken for dinner at least 2 times a week. But what better way to switch things up a bit than to create your very own takeout experience right in the comfort of your home.
And speaking of takeout, Orange Chicken would be my #1 go to on the menu when dining at my favorite Chinese restaurant, simply because of the sweet citrus flavors that it gives. Have you ever ordered something so much that you thought to yourself “I need to make this at home”. The best thing ever! After a few tries in my test kitchen, I can say that this has become my #1 “Take in” meal. Get it? Take In! Any who just a little humor here! lol
Lets get into the Sauce.
The sauce is really the star of the show in my opinion and this is what makes the dish. Here are the key ingredients of what you’ll need to make your orange sauce a hit.
1 Whole Orange – okay for the 1 whole orange washed and ready to go. Give it a good hand roll to loosen up the juice. In a small mixing bowl you will be adding the zest and fresh squeezed orange juice. Also feel free to cut some small orange pieces for some added garnishments and flavor.
Brown Sugar – In this recipe I used the Stevia light brown sugar for more of an healthier option. Using 2 tbsp. gave this sauce just the right amount of sweetness and of course you can adjust this according to your taste preference.
Soy Sauce – The choice of Soy sauce that I used in this sauce is the low sodium soy sauce.
Best Served with…
It all boils down to your tastebuds. Honestly you can’t go wrong with your preference. I mean after all it’s all about what you want. But here are a few common side pairings to make your meal complete.
- White Rice
- Brown Rice
- Fried Rice
- Lo Mein Noodles
For more of a low carb option, you may prefer to just enjoy the Orange Chicken and Broccoli by itself. But if you want to add another other Veggies you can definitely create a Orange Chicken Bowl with these other two options listed below.
- Zucchini noodle
- Sauté Cabbage
Healthier Orange Chicken and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
- ¼ cup Shredded Carrots
- 2 cups Broccoli Florets
- Green Onions
- pinch Black Pepper (for taste)
- 1 tsp. Cornstarch
- 1 tbsp. Soy Sauce
- 2 tsp. Rice Wine Vinegar (optional)
- 2 tbsp. Sesame Oil
- 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
Orange Chicken Sauce
- 1 tbsp. Minced Garlic
- ½ tsp. Ginger
- 2 tbsp. Brown Sugar
- 1 tbsp. Corn Starch
- 2 tbsp. Water
- ¼ cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp. Orange Zest
- Fresh Juice from Orange
- 1 tsp. Red Pepper Chili Flakes (optional)
Instructions
Cooking the Chicken
- Rinse the chicken then pat dry.
- Cut Chicken Breast into thin small strips and Place Chicken in a small mixing bowl.
- To the Chicken Add Soy Sauce, Rice Wine Vinegar, Cornstarch and Black Pepper and Mix well.
- Heat both oils in a medium size skillet over medium high heat.
- In a small mixing bowl, add Brown Sugar, Red pepper chili flakes, Water, Soy Sauce, Juice from the half cut orange and zest. Mix well and set bowl aside.
- To the heated skillet, add Shredded Carrots, Ginger, Garlic and Chicken.
- Cook Chicken until the liquid has cooked out from the skillet and the chicken has turned a nice golden brown with a light crispy layer on the outside.
- Then add the Sauce, Green Onions and some orange pieces and give it a good stir or toss. Ready to be served. Enjoy!
Cooking The Broccoli
- Steam or light boil your Broccoli to your desired texture. (if boiling, please drain excess water off broccoli) then add fresh orange juice, Salt and pepper to taste. Serve on the side with cooked rice.