The beauty of Healthy Orange Chicken is that the healthy parts feel like they take a backseat to the flavor. The savory chicken is still coated in a sweet and bright orange sauce, with notes of soy sauce umami and garlic goodness, and it’s just wonderful piled atop rice! With Healthy Orange Chicken though, the sugar is toned down, as is the salt. That way, you can enjoy it guilt-free! This is a great alternative to Chinese food that still scratches that itch!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 4 ounces chicken, boneless and skinless, sliced into strips
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 cups asparagus, woody ends removed, chopped
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1 orange, zested and juiced
- rice, optional, to taste, cooked and hot, for serving
Directions
Step 1 –In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil.
Step 2 –Add the chicken strips, the garlic, and the red pepper flakes to the hot oil and cook, while stirring, until the chicken strips are just shy of cooked through, about 7 minutes.
Step 3 –Add the asparagus and cook until it is crisp-tender and the chicken strips reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 3 minutes.
Step 4 –In a small bowl, add the soy sauce, the honey, the sesame seeds, the orange zest, and the orange juice and whisk to combine.
Step 5 –Add the sauce to the skillet and cook until thickened slightly, about 1 minute.
Step 6 –Serve over the rice.
