Keto Orange Chicken Recipe

This Keto Orange Chicken Recipe is made with boneless chicken thighs, oranges, rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic.

Craving Panda Express orange chicken but you don’t want the calories? Look no further! This is a un-fried, healthier recipe to satisfy your cravings! This meal requires a ton of prepping. It is very helpful to use small bowls to measure each ingredient before you start cooking.

This is my go to order whenever I go to a Chinese restaurant. I have always been obsessed with orange chicken. When getting it at a restaurant, I am never sure hwat is in it. This recipe is totally organic and sweetened with honey instead of sugar. If you are keto, use erythritol instead!

If you like these noodles, feel free to try my Pork Birria Tacos and my Peruvian Ceviche.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Top tip
• Keto Orange Chicken Recipe
• Food safety

Ingredients

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

• Oranges
• Rice vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Honey or, if keto, use erythritol
• Red pepper flakes
• Chicken
• Flour
• Soy sauce

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine the chicken, flour and soy sauce in a Ziplock back and shake until the chicken is fully coated.

In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the sauce: orange juice and zest, rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, honey, red pepper flakes. This is your sauce.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken in an even layer and cook, stirring, until browned, about 5 minutes. Raise the heat and pour the sauce into the skillet and bring to a boil. Once boiling, immediately reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the chicken is coated, 5 to 10 minutes. (If the sauce needs extra thickening, see note below). Remove the skillet from the heat and garnish with sesame seeds and green onion.

Note: If the sauce does not thicken, mix together 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water and pour into the chicken sauce mixture.

Substitutions

Chicken: Feel free to use chicken thighs or chicken breasts for this recipe.

Flour: Flour is a great way to thicken the sauce and make the chicken crispy. You can also use corn starch or xanthan gum.

Oil: If you don't have any olive oil on hand, you can substitute another neutral high-heat oil. Canola, safflower, peanut or grapeseed oils are all great choices.

Erythritol: You can buy erythritol on Amazon which lasts very long.

Soy Sauce: Instead of soy sauce you can use Tamari, Worcestershire sauce, Miso, Maggi seasoning, Salt, Coconut aminos, or Liquid aminos.

Garlic: For best quality, use fresh garlic instead of garlic from a jar.

Honey: You can use maple syrup or honey.

Variations

Cooking is a chance to be creative! Have fun with it and feel free to make your own variation.

• Spicy - add extra chili pepper flakes while cooking to imbue heat into the dish.
• Deluxe - add sesame seeds or everything but the bagel seasoning.
• Kid friendly - add crushed wonton chips on top.

Check out these Sweet and Sour Chicken balls.

Equipment

Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Stone bakeware takes longer to heat up than metal pans, and also retain heat for longer, which could make the recipe more watery, or burnt on the outsides.

I love using my Caraway pots, pans and baking sheets for best quality. Get yourself a discount by clicking here!

Storage

This will be good in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, or freeze the chicken for up to three months.

Top tip

If you double the recipe, you can cook the chicken in batches.

Print

Food safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.