Sweet Citrus Orange Chicken

Today's meal is pack with all of the amazing sweet and savory orange flavor you love from your favorite take-out spot. This version is only half of the calories and fat of what you'd find in a restaurant.  It is naturally sweetened with honey, and can be served over brown rice or quinoa.

So you might be wondering how this dish remains so healthy without sacrificing flavor. It's simple! Instead of frying, just sauté the chicken until it's golden brown.  Then cover it with the delicious sweet citrus sauce, and I'll guarantee you'll want seconds. The next time you're thinking about ordering take-out, why not try this simple recipe that you can have on your table in less than 30 minutes?


Sweet Citrus Orange Chicken:
Serves about 6
Prep time: 10-15 minutes
Cook time: 10-12 minutes

Orange Chicken Ingredients:

• 2lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• salt and pepper
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• all purpose seasoning (optional)
• orange chicken sauce (ingredients found below)
• toppings (optional): sesame seeds, orange zest

Orange Chicken Sauce Ingredients:

• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup light soy sauce
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• zest of an orange 
• dash of crushed red pepper flakes

Directions to make orange sauce:

1. Whisk all ingredients together until well combined.
2. If you would like sauce to be sweeter, add an extra 2 tablespoons of honey.

Directions to make the orange chicken:

1. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. (I lightly sprinkled all purpose seasoning for flavor)
2. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sauté for about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned and nearly cooked through.
3. Pour in the orange chicken sauce, and stir to combine. Let the sauce come to a boil, then boil for an additional two minutes until thickened.
4. Remove from heat and serve over brown rice or quinoa.
5. Garnish with  the sesame seeds and orange zest.

Note: When I cooked this dish most recently, I added fresh broccoli with great results.