Skinny Orange Sesame Chicken- This classic Asian dish gets a healthy makeover. All of the sweet orange chili glazed goodness with just a fraction of the calories. Ready in less than 30 minutes. (Vegetarian option with tofu listed in recipe details). Skip the take-out, make it at home! it's so easy and much healthier!
Let's face it, places like Panda Express have people lining up for Orange Chicken for a reason. Crispy chicken bites smothered in a sweet tangy orange sauce, with a subtle (or not so subtle) chili kick is really very tempting. This lightened up version substitutes sautéed chicken for the traditional fried chicken, and keeps all the sweet tangy orange goodness. You're family and friends will be lining up at your dining table for this healthy fast and flavorful meal.
How to Make Healthy Orange Sesame Chicken:
1 ) Start by sauteing the chicken in a little olive oil until slightly browned.
2) Whisk together the sauce ingredients ( orange juice, honey, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, corn starch, orange zest, red pepper flakes and sesame oil).
3) Add the sauce to the pan with the chicken, bring to a boil and continue to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
4) Garnish with some toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.Serve over white or brown rice, or if you want an even lighter version serve in lettuce cups.
It really is that easy! In less than 30 minutes you can have this healthy version of Orange Sesame Chicken on the dinner table, and your family begging for seconds.
Pair Skinny Orange Sesame Chicken with Sesame Bok Choy for a complete meal ( in 30 min.)
Skinny Orange Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ lbs. skinless chicken breast approx.3-4 medium chicken breasts (for vegetarian option substitute 1 14oz. package of extra firm tofu- cut into cubes)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper for seasoning chicken
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons corn starch
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon orange zest optional
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- sriracha to taste- if you like things spicier
- toasted sesame seeds for garnish
- sliced green onion for garnish
- 4 cups cooked white or brown rice optional to keep things lighter use cauliflower rice or lettuce cups)
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts (or tofu) into 1 inch pieces, season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large saute or fry pan over medium- high heat. Add chicken (or tofu) and cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken( or tofu) is browned on the outside and nearly cooked. ( don't over cook, chicken will cook for a few additional minutes with the sauce).
- While chicken(or tofu) is cooking, in a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, honey, ketchup, rice vinegar, corn starch, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, orange zest and red pepper flakes.
- Add the sauce to the pan with the chicken (or tofu). Let sauce come to a boil and continue to cook for an additional 2-3 min. until sauce is thickened. Remove from heat and serve immediately over white or brown rice.
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onion.
Allison Palmer
Made this tonight and it was awesome! Even my 6, 3 and 1 year old loved it. I added a small can of pineapple tidbits and it was a hit! Great recipe!
Alex
Awesome and easy! Love how this recipe doesn't call for a huge amount of cornstarch or oil. Plus no flour needed. Husband and I loved it and we'll be adding this to our weekly dinners 🙂
Susan
Hi Alex...thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I'm glad you enjoyed!
Jess
Amazing Win with the family. Teenagers, hubby and the little one all eating the same thing, it's a good day. Thanks for the new recipe. I will be using this.
Susan
Yeah! Thanks Jess...so glad to hear the WHOLE family enjoyed!
Debi Salanitro
Ok this is amazing! Even my picky 16 yr old loves it! My substitutions were - rice flour instead of corn starch and I didn't have the correct vinegar - but 1 teaspoon of white wine vinegar worked really well - and I used a smidge of evoo instead of sesame oil. Next time I hope to try it with monk fruit as sweetener instead of sugar! YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Susan
Thanks Debi! yeah! that brings a smile to my face! monk fruit is on my "i really need to try this" list..have heard great things, you just inspired me to put it on this weeks shopping list 🙂
MLE
My mom told me I had to make dinner tonight, so I made this cause it seemed easy and tasty! And it was! It was so good, and everyone loved it so much that I have to make dinner again!
Susan
LOL! @ MLE glad it was easy and tasty!
Chineze
This was so good! Substituted a couple of things as I didn't have them, but regardless great, thanks so much- my family loved it.
AB
Yum! The love of my life really loves orange chicken take-out, but she hates the way it makes her feel icky afterward. I surprised her with this recipe and she's so happy! Happy chicken, healthy ingredients, amazing flavor. Thank you for this all-star treat!!!!!!!
Susan
@ AB....Yeah! always good when you can make the love of your lifes day! and thanks for making mine too- appreciate you taking the time to comment! makes me happy to hear when someone enjoys a recipe.
Dessie
I simply love this recipe easy to make delicious and worth making a second and a third and a fourth time thank you
Susan
Thanks Dessie! so glad to hear you loved it! (it's one of my favs too)
AJ
Made this for the husband last night. Turned out really well.
Did a few things differently:
- Used fresh tangerine juice. Mainly cause I needed away to used the last few. Still delish.
- I put it over steamed veggies for myself and brown rice and steamed veggies for the husband. I didn't mix in the veggies - I just put the chicken and sauce over the veggies and rice. This way we still had some sauce left over.
- Coconut sugar instead of brown.
We really liked this. I was worried at first when I made the sauce because it was cloudy, but noticed its closer to being ready when it goes clear and has thickened.
Really liked this!! Nice dish.
Susan
Thanks AJ! Glad you liked it...and great idea to put over veggies!
Kim
This looks great! Do you have a calorie count/nutritional information?
Susan
Kim- I just added the calorie/nutritional information to the post. Info is for the orange sesame chicken portion only since there are many ways to serve this recipe - you'll just need to add the calories/nutritional values for whatever you decide to serve chicken over (rice, cauliflower rice, lettuce cups etc.)
Nicki Newton
This Sesame Orange Chicken recipe was exactly what I was looking for for dinner. Easy to make and very flavorful! I bookmarked it so I can amke it again. Thnk you!
Susan
So happy to hear Nicki! glad you enjoyed it! and thanks for your feedback...much appreciated!
Caroline
Cooked this over the weekend & it was delish!!! Thanks!
Susan
Thanks Caroline! Glad to hear!
Lisa Stepanian
Trying this tomorrow! Looks amazing
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Made this for dinner tonight, along with brown rice and steamed snow peas and carrots. Yum! It had a lot of flavor and richness, unlike most "healthy" recipes. The sauce was easy to mix and thickened up quickly in the pan. I could eat Asian food every day, and finding recipes my husband truly likes can be challenging, so I'll be working this dish into my dinner rotation.
Susan
Thanks for the feedback Michelle...much appreciated. I'm glad you enjoyed it:)