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Baked Orange Chicken

Baked Orange Chicken
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Enjoy a healthier take on a family favorite with this delicious baked orange chicken recipe. Tender chicken pieces are coated in a vibrant, sweet, and tangy orange sauce, perfect for a happy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch (for dredging)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice (from 2-3 oranges)
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for sauce thickening)
  • 2 tablespoons cold water (for cornstarch slurry)
  • Optional Garnish: Sesame seeds, chopped green onions

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a shallow dish, combine flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Toss chicken pieces in the flour mixture until lightly coated, shaking off excess.
  3. Arrange coated chicken in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until cooked through and lightly golden.
  4. While the chicken bakes, prepare the orange sauce: In a medium saucepan, whisk together orange juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey/brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and orange zest.
  5. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water to create a slurry. Pour the slurry into the simmering sauce, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency (about 1-2 minutes).
  7. Once the chicken is baked, remove it from the oven. You can either toss the baked chicken directly with the sauce in a large bowl, or pour the sauce over the chicken on the baking sheet and return to the oven for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to caramelize slightly.
  8. Serve immediately over rice or noodles, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.

Notes

For extra crispiness, broil the chicken for the last 2-3 minutes after tossing with the sauce, watching carefully to prevent burning. Serve with steamed broccoli or snap peas for a complete meal.

Find it online: https://kierasrecipes.com/baked-orange-chicken-recipe/