Honey Orange Chicken is easy to make and an absolutely delicious dinner! The orange glazed chicken recipe is quick to prepare too. It is ready in under 30 minutes!
The orange chicken recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner for busy families and the orange honey glaze appeals to kids.
Honey Orange Chicken in sauce
I made this Honey Orange Glazed Chicken for my daughter yesterday. She has been fighting a bad cold, and it has been hard to get her to eat, so I wanted a meal that not only featured some of her favorite flavors, but had some ingredients that were at least rumored to help her get over this nasty cold (She won't eat soup of any kind).
The orange sauce features fresh orange juice, honey, garlic and ginger. All cold fighting ingredients that a fussy kid can palate.
I served the orange glazed chicken with simple boiled Ramen noodles, just tossed in a drizzle of sesame oil. Typically, I would have this glazed chicken over Jasmine rice or brown rice with a side such as Baked Asparagus or sauteed vegetables. My little one loves her noodles though.
....and the verdict.
She ate it all up!
How to Make Honey Orange Glazed Chicken
Let's make this orange honey chicken. I've included some pictures to guide you along. Printable recipe card below.
The recipe makes six servings.
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cooking Time: 15 mins
Ingredients for Honey Orange Chicken
- 2 teaspoons oil any flavorless high heat oil such as grapeseed, avocado, canola, vegetable or light olive oil
- ½ large sweet onion sliced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 ½ pounds chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips about the size of tenders
- kosher salt and black pepper to season
- cornstarch for dredging
Honey Orange Glaze for Chicken
- ½ cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce use gluten-free, if that is a concern
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil ** optional
Making
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil. Once the pan is hot lightly sauté the onions and garlic.
Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then dredge in cornstarch and add to the pan.
Sauté, until the onions start to caramelize and the outside of chicken is cooked with slight golden brown color. Mix the Honey Orange Glaze sauce ingredients together in a small bowl while this is happening.
Pour the orange juice mixture over the chicken and reduce burner to medium heat. Stir regularly, until the chicken is cooked through and orange honey sauce has thickened.
Variations on the Recipe
Here are a few simple changes you may like to make when you prepare the dish.
- If you use chicken breasts and prefer not to cut them up, add to cooking time to make up for the larger chicken breast.
- For those that prefer boneless chicken thighs, time should also be increased a bit. You will likely need to add a little more orange juice, as it will steam off.
- Those that love hot and spicy foods, can add a pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes or try a half teaspoon of sambal olek (garlic chili sauce) or sriracha sauce in the recipe.
- Swap maple syrup for the honey in the recipe. You may need to cook down the glaze just a little more.
- Garlic lovers feel free to 2-3 cloves garlic rather than one.
- Boost the orange flavor by adding a teaspoon or two of fresh orange zest to the sauce before simmering.
- For a sweeter dish or thicker glaze add a little more honey or toss in a tablespoon or two of brown sugar into the orange glaze recipe.
Storing
If you prepare this chicken in orange sauce ahead or have leftovers, simply seal in an airtight container after the dish has cooled. The glazed chicken will last in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For longer term storage freeze for up to 3 months.
More Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes
- Cheesy Chicken Sausage Skillet with Italian Veggies
- Keto BBQ Chicken Instant Pot Recipe
- Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
- Chicken Chop Suey
- Marmalade Chicken Stir Fry
- Yum Yum Chicken
Honey Orange Glazed Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons oil any flavorless high heat oil such as grapeseed, avocado, canola, or vegetable oil
- ½ large sweet onion sliced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 ½ pounds chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into thick strips
- kosher salt and black pepper to season
- cornstarch for dredging
Honey Orange Glaze Sauce
- ½ cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce use gluten-free, if that is a concern
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil ** optional
Instructions
- Place oil in skillet over med-high heat. Once hot add the onion and garlic. Stir.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper
- Dredge the chicken in cornstarch. Continue stirring the onions, once they are lightly cooked and just starting to soften, add the chicken to the pan.
- Whisk together all glaze sauce ingredients except sesame oil.
- Turn the chicken once first side just start to show golden color.
- Once the onions are starting to caramelize and outside of tenders are cooked and golden tinged, add the sauce.
- Reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered until sauce has thicken to a gravy and chicken is cooked through (about 6-7 minutes).
- Stir the sesame oil in at the end, if you wish to add it.
- Serve with your choice of starch.
Notes
Nutrition
katrina g says
oh that looks good. I'll have to have my husband make this for us this weekend. I love orange chicken.
LaVonne says
I love how simple this orange glaze is. I can use this for our vegetarian meat substitutes too! Thank you!
Travel Blogger says
That looks delicious. I would eat it with rice also!
rachel says
This chicken was SO good!! Yummy. Thanks for sharing.
Maria Healey says
Excellent dish! I did not have cornstarch, so I used flour for dredging and it worked just fine. Also, next time, I would add more onions, only because we love them! Definitely a keeper recipe.
OLIVIA T says
This orange chicken stir fry was so good. We prefer chicken thighs and made it with them. I cooked the chicken thighs for about the same amount of time, maybe 5 minutes more.
Celia Jennings says
My family loved this meal. I used chicken thighs and pineapple orange juice since it was what I had. The flavor of the glaze was amazing. This one is going into our regular dinner rotation.