Description

Tangy Ground Orange Chicken is a quick and flavorful dish combining tender ground chicken with bright fresh orange juice and a balance of savory, sweet, and slightly spicy notes. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy nights and appeals to whole families with its zesty, healthy ingredients and versatile preparation options.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

1 lb ground chicken

Sauce and Flavorings

1/2 cup fresh orange juice (about 2 oranges)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Garnishes

2 green onions, chopped
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Freshly grated orange zest (optional)

Instructions

Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather and measure out all ingredients. Zest and squeeze fresh oranges for juice, finely mince garlic and ginger, and chop green onions for garnish. This prep makes the cooking flow smoothly.
Cook the Ground Chicken: Heat a pan over medium heat and cook the ground chicken until browned and no longer pink, breaking it up with a spatula for even cooking and an ideal crumbly texture.
Add Aromatics: Add the minced garlic and ginger to the pan with the chicken and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, infusing the meat with vibrant flavors.
Mix the Sauce: Combine fresh orange juice, soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar in a bowl. Pour the sauce into the pan and stir well to coat the chicken evenly.
Simmer and Thicken: Allow the mixture to simmer for 5-7 minutes, letting the sauce reduce slightly and intensify, coating the chicken with tangy, glossy goodness.
Final Touches: Sprinkle red pepper flakes if using, stir to combine, and then remove from heat. Garnish with chopped green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and freshly grated orange zest before serving.

Notes

Fresh is Best: Using fresh orange juice makes all the difference in flavor brightness versus bottled juice.
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Cooking chicken in batches helps it brown evenly and develop better texture.
Balance Sweet and Tangy: Adjust honey and vinegar quantities slightly to suit your taste buds perfectly.
Let It Rest: Allow the dish to sit a few minutes off the heat so the flavors meld beautifully.
Garnish Generously: Fresh garnishes add texture and freshness that’s essential to uplifting this dish.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Asian-inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 280 kcal
Sugar: 8 g
Sodium: 700 mg
Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 14 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 32 g
Cholesterol: 85 mg

Keywords: orange chicken, ground chicken recipe, quick dinner, healthy chicken recipe, citrus chicken, gluten free chicken, weeknight dinner