A side shot of a plate of healthy orange chicken

Healthy orange chicken that isn't breaded or deep-fried while still being delicious as ever!

This recipe originally appeared in my eCookbook, Fueled: 30-Minute Dinners to Live and Run Well. Grab your copy here!

Healthy orange chicken made extra simple and delicious thanks to a star ingredient: orange marmalade. This orange marmalade chicken is ready in a snap and takes on a few simple cooking steps. Try it out today!

An overhead shot of two bowls of healthy orange chicken

If you love the flavors of Chinese takeout but don't love the sodium, fat, and other processed ingredients often found in it, this recipe is for you!

If you're intimidated by baking Chinese food and/or think that it will require hours in the kitchen and a list of hard-to-find ingredients, this recipe is also for you.

And finally-- if you just want a quick dinner that your family will love, this healthy orange chicken recipe is most certainly also for you!

Talk about an inclusive recipe!

This recipe is made ultra-easy (and tasty!) easy thanks to a star ingredient: orange marmalade! Already thick and jammy, all we need to do is step it up with soy sauce, pantry seasonings, soy sauce, and rice vinegar.

Reduce the sugar in this recipe by using a sugar-free, low-sugar, or all-fruit orange marmalade, but this recipe is still so much lower in sodium and fat than the original deep-fried chicken at Panda Express.

Easily double this recipe for meal prep or to feed a crowd. Either way, this chicken cooks up fast and disappears even quicker. A winning recipe no wonder what type of dinner you're looking for!

An overhead shot of a pan of healthy orange chicken

Healthy orange chicken that isn't breaded or deep-fried while still being delicious as ever!

This orange marmalade chicken is...

Sweet
Saucy
Tender
Meaty

Say "goodbye" to the days that you don't know what to make for dinner. This orange maramalade chicken is easy enough to make regularly and delicious enough the the family will ask for more!

The ingredients for the orange marmalade sauce

An overhead shot of a bowl of raw chicken pieces

Skinny orange chicken recipe ingredients:

Boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs - or a combination of both
Orange marmalade - storebought or homemade both work great
Sriracha sauce
Soy sauce - or coconut liquid aminos if gluten-free
Rice vinegar
Ginger powder
Cornstarch - also known as "cornflour" in the U.K.
Coconut or avocado oil
Minced garlic

A side shot of a saute pan full of healthy orange chicken

Ingredient substitutions:

Low sugar orange marmalade - reduce the sugar in this recipe by using a low-sugar, sugar-free, or all-fruit orange marmalade in place of the traditional variety
Ginger - 2 ½ teaspoons grated fresh ginger can substitute for the ginger powder
Sriracha - ¼ to ¾ teaspoon cayenne or red pepper can replace the sriracha
Garlic - 1 teaspoon garlic powder can substitute for fresh garlic. Only saute for 30 seconds to 1 minute if doing so, however
Vinegar - in a pinch, distilled white vinegar can work in place of the rice vinegar

An angled overhead picture of a plate of healthy orange chicken

How to make healthy orange chicken:

In a small mixing bowl, whisk the marmalade together with the other sauce ingredients.
Stir-fry the chicken and black pepper in the oil for 10-11 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Add the garlic to the pan with the chicken and stir-fry until the garlic is fragrant.
Add the sauce to the chicken and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring the sauce as it simmers until it has thickened.
Remove the chicken from the heat. Garnish with green onions or cilantro (if desired) and serve hot. Enjoy!

chicken thigh pieces and minced garlic in a saute pan

Pouring the orange marmalade sauce over the sauteing chicken and garlic

Orange chicken stir-fry pro-tips:

Prepare all the ingredients ahead of time - this recipe cooks quickly so you will have the best success if you have all of the ingredients measured out and ready to use before the recipe starts.
Cook over high heat & stir frequently - the two foundations of stir-fry cooking are to cook over high heat and stir the recipe frequently. This helps the recipe cook quickly and evenly while keeping the meat juicy.
Cut the chicken into uniform sizes - this helps the chicken to cook evenly.

An up-close overhead shot of a pan of healthy orange chicken

Orange chicken FAQs:

How do you thicken the sauce for orange chicken?

You thicken the sauce for orange chicken by simmering it over the heat. The cornstarch in the sauce, in combination with the marmalade, will thicken up when it boils.

Where do you buy orange marmalade?

You can buy orange marmalade at most major grocery stores, Whole Foods/Amazon, and at Trader Joe's.

Will bitter orange marmalade work for this recipe?

Bitter orange marmalade does not work well for this recipe. The recipe won't have the same balanced flavor as it does with sweet orange marmalade.

Serving suggestions:

For a weeknight dinner, serve this orange glazed chicken over steamed rice, quinoa, or even cauliflower rice.

This recipe is delicious alongside...

Stir-fried veggies
Steamed broccoli
Steamed carrots
Air fryer green beans
Roasted asparagus

Dietary adaptations:

Reduced sugar - make this orange ginger chicken lower in sugar or even sugar-free by substituting low-sugar or sugar-free orange marmalade or only fruit orange marmalade.
Gluten-free - make gluten-free orange chicken by substituting coconut liquid aminos in place of the soy sauce

Storage directions:

Refrigeration - leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
Freezing - leftovers can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. For best results, defrost the chicken in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours before reheating (directions below).
Reheating - reheat refrigerated or defrosted leftovers in a microwave-safe container over medium or medium-high heat for 1- 1 ½ minutes or until heated through. Reheat frozen leftovers over low heat, stirring every few minutes, or until defrosted. Then reheat on medium-high heat at 30-second intervals until heated through.

An up-close shot of healthy orange chicken in a saute pan

An up-close side shot of a plate of healthy orange chicken

Tools needed to make this recipe:

More quick chicken recipes:

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4-5 Servings

Healthy Orange Chicken

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Juicy Healthy Orange Chicken is stir-fried in a sweet and jammy soy-marmalade sauce. This recipe is ready in under 20 minutes and is a hit with kiddos!

To reduce the sugar in this recipe, chow a low-sugar or fruit-based marmalade. Adjust the amount of sriracha to your liking.

Ingredients

⅓ cup orange marmalade
1 - 2 ½ teaspoons sriracha sauce
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (or coconut liquid aminos if gluten-free)
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
¾ teaspoon ginger powder
1 ½ teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon avocado oil or unrefined coconut oil
1 ¾ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs and/or breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
⅛-1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
Hot steamed rice or quinoa
Sliced green onions or cilantro, to garnish (optional)

Instructions

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the marmalade, sriracha, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger powder, and cornstarch until combined. Set aside.
Heat a dutch oven or 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and heat until it sputters when flicked with water.
Add the chicken and black pepper and stir-fry for 10-11 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the chicken is cooked through and starting to turn golden on the edges.
Add the garlic to the pan with the chicken and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes, continuing to stir frequently, or until the garlic gets fragrant and golden.
Add the sauce to the chicken and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring the sauce as it simmers until it has thickened.
Remove the chicken from the heat. Garnish with green onions or cilantro (if desired) and serve hot over rice or quinoa. Enjoy!

Notes

1. Leftovers store covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

2. Leftovers can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. For best results, defrost in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours before reheating or reheat over low heat in the microwave, stirring every few minutes, until defrosted. Then, heat on medium-high heat at 30-second intervals until heated through.

3. To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute coconut liquid aminos for the soy sauce.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

⅕ recipe, made with chicken breast and served without rice
Amount Per Serving Calories 376Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 135mgSodium 549mgCarbohydrates 16gFiber 0gSugar 13gProtein 50g

This nutrition breakdown is just an estimate of the nutritional value of this recipe and cannot be taken as facts. The owners of Mae's Menu are not nutritionists or dietitians and therefore cannot be held accountable for this nutrition estimate. Please contact your nutritionist or medical professional for a nutritional breakdown of this food. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.

Healthy Orange Chicken

Healthy orange chicken that isn't breaded or deep-fried while still being delicious as ever!

This recipe originally appeared in my eCookbook, Fueled: 30-Minute Dinners to Live and Run Well. Grab your copy here!