Keto Orange Chicken

What’s Orange Chicken?

The first question you will ask me is, can you eat orange chicken on keto? Before starting this keto orange chicken recipe, let’s do a little reminder of a traditional orange chicken recipe!

Orange chicken is a popular Chinese dish made of juicy bite-size fried chicken, previously dipped into a cornstarch/egg mixture to create a crispy layer around the chicken pieces.

These pieces are then coated with a high-carb sugar-loaded orange sauce made of white sugar, orange juice, soy sauce, and rice vinegar.

Is Orange Chicken Keto-Friendly?

A classic orange chicken recipe from your local restaurant like Panda Express is not keto-friendly.

The traditional sauce is loaded with white sugar and rice vinegar, and the chicken pieces are full of cornstarch, one of the highest-carb flour.

So let me guide you through the process of making a healthy homemade orange chicken within 30 minutes!

How To Make Keto Orange Chicken

This recipe requires quite a few ingredients but it’s super easy to make.

Ingredients

All you need to make the crispy chicken are:

• Boneless Chicken Thighs – choose free-range chicken for the best taste.
• Coconut Flour – it’s a low-carb flour that will perfectly coat the chicken.
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Eggs – eggs are perfectly keto-friendly.
• Heavy Cream – make sure to pick a keto-friendly cream.

And for the low-carb orange chicken sauce recipe:

• Fresh orange juice – fresh oranges bring the best orange flavor, so press your own rather than buying store-bought juice that will probably have additives or added sugar!
• Chicken broth 
• White vinegar – it replaces the high-sugar rice vinegar used in traditional recipes.
• Orange zest – make sure the orange is untreated, or the orange skin may contain additives that are not good for you.
• Erythritol – you can play with sweetness depending on how sweet you like your sauce. Always start with 1/4 cup and increase, adding up to 2 extra tablespoons to taste. Since erythritol is a zero-GI sugar alcohol, adding more won’t impact the recipe’s net carbs. Learn how to convert sweeteners.
• Low-carb sauce or coconut amino – check the nutrition panel to make sure there’s no added sugar in the sauce you buy.
• Garlic cloves
• Xanthan gum – this is your keto sauce thickener. It replaces the classic high-carb cornstarch used in the traditional Chinese dish.

Choosing The Chicken

First, you need to choose the right meat. The classic Chinese dish uses boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces.

This is the juiciest meat, and while regular chicken breast will work too, I recommend the thigh to keep the meat extra juicy.

Coating The Meat

Since you want to achieve the same texture as a classic orange chicken recipe, you must coat the meat with an egg wash and coconut flour mixture.

Coconut flour is low in carbs compared to the cornstarch used in restaurants, and when fried, this coating mimics the classic starchy layer pretty well.

Frying The Chicken

To fry your chicken the healthy way, choose avocado oil, it has a higher smoke point, and it’s a keto-friendly oil.

I don’t recommend baking the chicken pieces for this recipe. You would end up with dry chicken bites.

Preparing the Keto Orange Chicken Sauce

This is a healthy orange chicken sauce recipe, very low in sugar since I am using a low amount of orange juice, no sugar but keto-friendly sweeteners, and no cornstarch to keep your carb in control.

The ratio of ingredients brings the best balance of flavors to make a healthy orange chicken recipe that everyone loves!

The keto orange sauce is pretty easy to make. All you have to do is simmer all the ingredients together in a saucepan over medium-high heat for about 5-7 minutes.

Whisk constantly to avoid having the sauce stick to the pan and remove from heat when sticky and thick.

Assembling The Keto Orange Chicken

When your sauce is ready, it’s straightforward to assemble your orange chicken keto recipe.

First, pour the keto orange sauce onto the fried chicken and stir to coat the fried chicken pieces.

Then, serve immediately, topped with a pinch of sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Cauliflower rice and orange chicken go very well together, and it’s my recommendation as a side to this low-carb orange chicken recipe.

However, any super greens like kale, green beans, or any keto vegetables from my list are great!

To make stir fry cauliflower rice, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan, add the cauliflower rice, and stir fry for 2 to 3 minutes and season with salt, pepper, and garlic.

Storage Instructions

This recipe can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Reheat it in a saucepan or frying pan.

You can also freeze individual portions for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find below my answers to the most common questions about this recipe.