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.
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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.
Keto Orange Chicken Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This Keto Orange Chicken Recipe is made with chicken, oranges, rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and honey.
Ingredients
Sauce:
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (if keto use erythritol)
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
Chicken:
- 1 ½ pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, to cook chicken
- Garnish with sesame seeds or scallions
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.
Notes
- 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.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 10.7 g
- Sodium: 1023.4 mg
- Fat: 5.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 26.6 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 34.4 g
- Cholesterol: 128 mg
Keywords: Orange Chicken, Asian, Sesame Seeds
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
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