Description
Orange Chicken Bowls offer a quick, healthy, and flavorful meal combining tender chicken, a zesty homemade orange glaze, and vibrant sautéed vegetables served over rice or greens. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe balances sweet and savory tastes with wholesome ingredients and minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Protein
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs or Breasts – 1 lb, cut into bite-sized pieces
Orange Sauce
- Fresh Orange Juice – 1/2 cup
- Soy Sauce – 1/4 cup (use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari if needed)
- Garlic – 2 cloves, minced
- Fresh Ginger – 1 tbsp, grated
- Honey or Maple Syrup – 2 tbsp
- Rice Vinegar – 1 tbsp
Vegetables
- Bell Peppers – 1 cup, sliced
- Broccoli Florets – 1 cup
- Carrots – 1/2 cup, sliced
Base
- Cooked Rice or Cauliflower Rice – 2 cups
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped Green Onions – for garnish
- Toasted Sesame Seeds – for garnish
- Chopped Cilantro – for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Lightly season with salt and pepper, then cook in a hot skillet with a little oil until golden brown and cooked through, forming the flavorful base for the bowl.
- Make the Orange Sauce: While chicken cooks, whisk together fresh orange juice, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, honey (or maple syrup), and rice vinegar. Pour the mixture into the pan and simmer until it thickens into a sticky glaze that coats the chicken well.
- Cook the Vegetables: In a separate pan or the same skillet once the chicken is done, quickly sauté the vegetables until tender-crisp, preserving their bright color and crunch.
- Assemble the Bowls: Place cooked rice or cauliflower rice into serving bowls. Layer the sautéed vegetables on top, then spoon the orange-glazed chicken generously over them. Garnish with chopped green onions, toasted sesame seeds, or cilantro as desired.
Notes
- Use fresh orange juice for brighter flavor and better sauce quality.
- Cook chicken in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding and ensure a nice sear.
- Allow the sauce to simmer and reduce fully so it thickens and clings to the chicken.
- Prepare all ingredients beforehand to streamline the cooking process.
- Choose chicken thighs for juiciness or breasts for a leaner option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg