Got 30 minutes? Then you’ve got this delectable Skinny Orange Chicken. This dish comes together in a snap, is light and healthy, and robust with flavor. We’re keeping bold, delicious flavors alive in this waist-friendly dish.
I know plenty of people who have been waiting for fall, and those people are jumping for joy now that summer’s on its last leg. If you’re one of them, your happy time’s just around the corner. You guys know I’m not one of those people.
I’m hanging on to every little thread of summer there is left to enjoy here in Minnesota. I’ll still paint my toes and wear sandals, despite the gusty 20+ mile/hour cold winds that have been making August feel like October (silent tears.)
Yeah, I was out there on the soccer fields a couple nights ago, wrapped in a big ‘ol green fleece blanket. With flip flops on – because there’s no way I’m giving those up yet.
Along with the quickly vanishing summer is the fast approaching school year. Some of my friends have already sent their Littles back to school. For us, the day after Labor Day is it…
The upcoming Labor Day weekend is always bittersweet for us. It’s a 3-day weekend to enjoy with family, but it’s also the last hurrah. Immediately after Labor Day, the Littles will fly into another school year, set free to grow up that much faster.
Busy will take on a different meaning. Instead of loud, rambunctious boys to keep actively engaged all day long, we’ll be back to a routine of homework, piano lessons, volunteering, meetings, and team sports every night.
I’ll be relying heavily on 30-minute meals, ya’ll.
Just ’cause a dish takes only 30 minutes or less does not mean it has to be frozen pizza. (Though sometimes it does mean just that.)
Most busy weekdays, we go for healthy-ish meals at home that are nutritious yet tasty enough to make the kiddos want seconds. It’s gotta be delicious is our motto.
But it’s also gotta happen on the double. Like pronto. Because time, like money, does not grow on trees.
Oh, yeah. Skinnified meals preferred.
Is that asking too much? We can do this.
This 30 Minute Skinny Orange Chicken is light, full of protein, and absolutely scrumptious.
No messy breading, frying, or excess oiling is going to happen here.
Just tender, mouthwatering pieces of chicken breast smothered with a deliciously bright and citrusy orange-soy-brown sugar sauce that is awesome over fluffy rice.
Here’s to the last morsels of warm summer days left.
And plenty of tantalizing, fast meals…skinnified.
Enjoy.
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This 30-Minute Skinny Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 tsp grated orange zest, plus 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 TB Asian rice vinegar
- 3 TB soy sauce
- 2 tsp Sriracha
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp olive or canola oil
- 1 1/2 lb chicken breasts or thighs, skinless and boneless
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 2 stalks scallions, thinly sliced
- Optional: Cooked rice for serving
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the orange zest, orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, Sriracha, ginger, garlic powder, and cornstarch. Whisk until cornstarch is fully dissolved, with no white lumps left.
- Towel dry the pieces of chicken. Cut into bite-size pieces. In a large nonstick pan, heat oil over high heat until hot. Add chicken and kosher salt. Cook and stir until chicken is just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to a bowl and cover to keep warm.
- In now-empty pan, add the orange sauce mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened, 30 seconds. Return the cooked chicken back to pan, along with any accumulated juices. Toss to coat chicken. Serve immediately over cooked rice. Sprinkle with scallions for garnish.
Source: Chew Out Loud
Here are some of our favorite 30-minute meals that are sure to please:
- 30-Minute Steak Teriyaki. Everyone loves chicken teri, but where’s the beef? This is the most mouthwatering, tender steak teri we’ve ever had the pleasure of noshing.
2. 30-Minute Kung Pao Shrimp. If shrimp is your thing, you’ll love this quick kung pao recipe. Easily adaptable for chicken as well.
3. 30-Minute Steamed Buns (bao). It’s a snap, and the kiddos love this one.
4. 30-Minute Asian Orange Beef. Here’s the delicious twin to the orange chicken recipe. It’s every bit as fast, easy, and tender-delish!
Chew Out Loud Never loads properly so that I can see the entire recipe
That is strange; I’ll definitely look into this. Thanks for the heads up!
Darn. I was hoping to find some comments about this recipe. I am a little scared to make this, like I am with most meals because something always goes wrong. I hope this is delicious! I’ll give it a shot!
Thanks for the great recipe and the wonderful blog. I still have Polish on my toe nails and I’m 65 and hanging on to every last day of Indian Summer!! Have a great Fall. Thanks.
You’re so welcome, Cheryl! We’re so glad you came over today 🙂
Great flavor in the orange chicken and a really quick meal to prepare. Thanks for the great recipe!!!
Thanks so much, Jim! So glad you liked it; thanks for coming over to let us know 🙂
Do I have to use Sriracha? I don’t eat spicy food.
No, you can skip the Sriracha 🙂
I would love to give this a go. Is it a spicy dish cause I saw Sriracha. Plz let me know.
I was wondering about the nutritional information? I’m counting calories but could live off of orange chicken.
my son LOVES this recipe, and it’s normally impossible to get him to eat any kind of chicken that’s not a breaded chicken strip. definitely adding this into my rotation of meals!!
YAY, Kristine! So so happy to hear it 🙂 Happy new year!!!!