Description
Simmering orange peel chicken delivers a zesty Chinese-inspired main dish that brings restaurant-quality flavor straight to your dinner table. Tangy citrus and tender chicken create a perfect balance your family craves during weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb chicken breast, diced
Sauce and Seasoning:
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons orange peel, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Cooking Fat:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ¼ cup green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Whisk together ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 teaspoon minced ginger, and 2 tablespoons finely chopped orange peel in a mixing bowl.
- Drop 1 lb diced chicken breast into the marinade and refrigerate for exactly 30 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure even coating.
- Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat (375°F) until oil shimmers slightly.
- Transfer marinated chicken pieces into hot skillet, spreading them in a single layer to ensure maximum browning.
- Cook chicken for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until exterior turns golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Dissolve 1 tablespoon cornstarch in 2 tablespoons cold water, creating a smooth slurry without any lumps.
- Pour cornstarch mixture into skillet, stirring continuously to help sauce thicken and coat chicken evenly.
- Remove skillet from heat after sauce reaches desired consistency, about 1-2 minutes of stirring.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup chopped green onions over chicken just before serving for fresh, bright flavor and color contrast.
Notes
- Marinate chicken for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors deeply penetrate the meat, but don’t go beyond 2 hours or the citrus can start breaking down the protein.
- Patting chicken dry before cooking ensures a perfect golden-brown exterior that seals in all those delicious orange and soy sauce flavors.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari and use arrowroot starch instead of cornstarch to thicken the sauce.
- Zest your orange fresh instead of using dried peel for a brighter, more vibrant citrus punch that really makes the dish sing.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 222 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg