Chinese Orange Chicken - Lightened Up Recipe

Name: Chinese Orange Chicken - Lightened Up
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: ⅓ cup orange juice; ½ cup rice wine vinegar (Must be rice wine and not regular white vinegar); ½ cup white sugar; 2 ½ tablespoons soy sauce; 1 tablespoon orange zest or 1 tablespoon lemon zest; ½ tablespoon toasted sesame oil; 2 teaspoons cornstarch; 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes (more or less depending on your preference for heat); 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces; 4 tablespoons flour; salt and pepper; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or 1 tablespoon canola oil

Servings: persons

⅓ cup orange juice
½ cup rice wine vinegar (Must be rice wine and not regular white vinegar)
½ cup white sugar
2 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon orange zest or 1 tablespoon lemon zest
½ tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes (more or less depending on your preference for heat)
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
4 tablespoons flour
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or 1 tablespoon canola oil

1
Stir cornstarch into orange juice until all lumps are gone.
2
Combine orange juice mixture, sugar, soy sauce, zest, 1/2 tsp sesame oil, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan over medium heat.
3
Bring to a boil and cook until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon (about 5 minutes).
4
If the sauce fails to thicken, mix some more cornstarch with water and add it to the mixture.
5
Add flour, salt, and pepper to a medium ziplock bag.
6
Add chicken and toss until chicken is completely coated.
7
Heat oil over medium high heat in a large skillet.
8
Add chicken pieces.
9
Cook for 3 minutes until browned on one side, then turn over and cook for approximately 3 minutes on the other side until cooked through.
10
Pour sauce over chicken.
11
To serve, toss with broccoli and serve over pasta or rice.

420

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Brown sugar instead of white sugar adds a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.
A good 1:1 gluten-free flour blend works well if you need a gluten-free version.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 12 ingredients. The key ingredients include: ⅓ cup orange juice, ½ cup rice wine vinegar (Must be rice wine and not regular white vinegar), ½ cup white sugar, 2 ½ tablespoons soy sauce, and more.

Yes, Chinese Orange Chicken - Lightened Up falls under the Meat & Poultry category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

Chinese Orange Chicken - Lightened Up

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions