Yield: 1 serving | Per serving: 324 calories | 44g protein | 9g fat | 17g carbs
Make air fried Panda Express Orange Chicken right at home, with fewer calories and more protein! You'd be surprised - the chicken from this recipe will come out crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with the sauce providing a flavorful and sticky coating. ✌️
WHAT IS ORANGE CHICKEN?
Orange chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish that is traditionally made with battered and fried chicken pieces that are coated in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy orange-flavored sauce. The sauce can be a combination of orange juice, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sometimes chili flakes or other spices for an extra kick. My recipe is a great hack to create this popular dish with fewer calories and higher in protein! This way, you can enjoy your fast foods while reaching any fitness goals.
INGREDIENTS
Skinless chicken thigh: I used "skinless" chicken thighs since there is less fat and therefore fewer calories. It's juicier than using chicken breast or tenderloin for this recipe, but you can substitute to your preference - just know that the macros will be different.
Black pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, ginger, soy sauce: To season and for flavor!
Cornstarch: Cornstarch is used to coat the chicken so that it stays crispy.
Chicken stock: This is the base of the orange chicken sauce. Don't worry, we'll thicken the sauce later!
Light orange juice: Light orange juice is about 80 calories per serving, whereas regular orange juice is about 112 calories per serving. This will give the orange chicken sauce that tangy orange flavor without the extra calories.
Sugar-free maple syrup: This is used to sweeten the orange chicken sauce and also help with the sauce consistency. Note, some sugar-free maple syrup brands will have 0-5 calories per serving, while others will have 10-15 calories per serving.
Cornstarch slurry: Mixing some cornstarch with water to create a slurry will help thicken your orange chicken sauce.
MSG: Optional! MSG can help enhance the flavor.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, it'll be higher in protein with chicken breast, but keep in mind, it might come out drier. The sauce will help with the dryness.
There's some differences but if you want my take on General Tso's chicken, check it out here. [link coming soon]
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1
First, cut the skinless chicken thighs into cubes. Then, in a mixing bowl, add in chicken and season with garlic powder and pepper.
STEP 2
Add in cornstarch and mix until chicken is evenly coated.
STEP 3
Spray the air fryer with some oil spray, add the chicken to the air fryer, and spray a little bit more oil spray on top so that they don't stick together. Then, air fry the chicken at 390°F for 18 minutes or bake in oven at 420°F for 25 minutes.
STEP 4
In a pan over medium heat, add in sauce ingredients: chicken stock, garlic, soy sauce, orange juice, maple syrup, ginger, red pepper flakes, and MSG (optional).
STEP 5
In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water to create a slurry, and then add to the pan with sauce ingredients.
STEP 6
As the sauce is beginning to thicken, add in cooked chicken and cook until sauce is desired consistency. Enjoy!
RECIPE
How did it turn out? Take a photo and tag me on Instagram @cooklikeimbook so I can see and share!!
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