Soy-Free Homemade Orange Chicken

Discover the perfect balance of tangy-sweet flavors with this Soy-Free Homemade Orange Chicken recipe—an irresistible twist on the classic takeout favorite tailored for soy-free diets. Tender bites of chicken thighs are lightly coated in a seasoned cornstarch mixture, pan-fried until crispy, and tossed in a vibrant orange sauce made with fresh orange juice, zest, honey, and aromatic ginger and garlic. This healthier version skips soy sauce but doesn’t skimp on flavor, offering a zesty glaze that clings perfectly to each piece of chicken. Ready in just 40 minutes, this recipe is ideal for a quick weeknight dinner and pairs beautifully with steamed rice or fresh veggies. Garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, it's sure to be a hit for the whole family!

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 0.5 cup Cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 0.5 cup Fresh orange juice
• 1 Zest of one orange
• 0.25 cup Honey
• 3 tablespoons Rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Sesame oil
• 2 cloves Minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon Minced ginger
• 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons Water
• 2 Sliced green onions
• 1 tablespoon Sesame seeds

Directions

Step 1

Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.

Step 2

In a large bowl, mix the cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Add the chicken pieces and toss until coated.

Step 3

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces, cooking in batches if necessary, and fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Step 4

In a medium bowl, whisk together the orange juice, orange zest, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and minced ginger.

Step 5

Pour the sauce mixture into the same skillet used for the chicken. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Step 6

In a small bowl, mix the tablespoon of cornstarch with the 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry.

Step 7

Add the slurry to the sauce in the skillet and stir continuously until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 8

Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, stirring to coat all pieces in the sauce.

Step 9

Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving.

Step 10

Serve immediately with steamed rice or your favorite side dish.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(854.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1801.0

Total Fat 97.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 20.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 10.6g
Cholesterol 567.0mg	0%
Sodium 2897.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 106.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 3.5g	0%
Total Sugars 60.2g
Protein 122.0g	0%

Vitamin D 31.8IU	0%
Calcium 120.3mg	0%
Iron 6.3mg	0%
Potassium 1517.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 49.0%

Protein: 27.2%

Carbs: 23.8%