I can’t stop making healthy versions of takeout I grew up loving. Next up is this naturally sweetened Whole30 Orange Chicken! It is lightly and naturally sweetened thanks to fresh oranges and still has plenty of that delicious flavor I remember from years ago.
Naturally Sweetened Whole30 Orange Chicken
Naturally sweetened with fresh oranges, this dish is a great, healthy alternative to the kind you might be used to ordering in. Although delicious, there are lots of ingredients hiding in that takeout box that might be keeping you from feeling your best. Luckily, I created this healthified version that won’t have that same negative affect.
While I fully believe in balance and a realistic lifestyle, I love creating recipes that are made from real ingredients that I can enjoy any time I wish. I absolutely eat out and enjoy foods that are not always made with “perfect” ingredients. That’s just part of life, in my opinion! I don’t stress over those things but I do try my best to eat well as often as possible. That’s why I love to share my healthy and delicious recipes with all of you!
Tapioca Starch vs. Tapioca Flour
Wondering which you need for this recipe? Either is fine! Tapioca starch and tapioca flour are the same thing in the United States. And what is it? It comes from the root of the cassava plant. If you’ve been here awhile, you know that I love using cassava flour in my recipes, like my favorite, this Cassava Flour Breaded Chicken!
Naturally Sweet
This dish is Whole30 friendly, but if you’re craving a little extra sweetness, you can add some honey for a natural sweetener option. I have made it both ways, and don’t even miss the honey while I’m eating Whole30 or watching my sugar intake! If you’re not on Whole30 though, I’d highly recommend pairing it with my Healthy Fried Rice! It also pairs perfectly with fresh, steamed broccoli. The extra sauce on the veggies is a match made in heaven.
Dietary Notes
This Naturally Sweetened Whole30 Orange Chicken is made with real ingredients and fits seamlessly into the following dietary needs when using the products/brands (or ones that are similar) listed in the recipe:
- gluten free
- grain free
- dairy free
- soy free
- refined sugar free
- dairy free
- paleo
- Whole30
Hungry for more?
It’s not a secret that I love creating Asian inspired recipes using ingredients that fit into my dietary needs/preferences. If you enjoy this particular recreation, you’ll love my:
- General Tso’s Chicken (whole30, paleo, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free)
- Spaghetti Squash Chicken Pad Thai (whole30, paleo, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free)
- Firecracker Chicken (paleo, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free)
- Miso Ramen Soup (gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan)
- Zucchini Noodle Ramen (whole30, paleo, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free)
- Asian Inspired Turkey Lettuce Wraps (whole30, paleo, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free)
- Sticky Chicken (whole30, paleo, gluten free, grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free)
If you’re looking for a vegetarian and vegan version of this recipe, click here for my No Sugar Added Vegan Orange Tofu recipe!
FOLLOW ALONG
Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see all of the behind the scenes of recipe creation as well as how to videos to watch them come to life! You can also head over to my Pinterest to save all of my recipes in one spot that you plan whip up in the future.
PS – If you make this Naturally Sweetened Whole30 Orange Chicken or any of my other recipes, I would be so grateful if you left a review so I can hear what you think! I also am happy to answer any questions you may have on here, but if you want a quicker response, be sure to shoot me a message on Instagram. Thank you so much and talk soon!
Naturally Sweetened Whole30 Orange Chicken
Ingredients
Sauce
- ⅓ cup orange juice, fresh (1 large orange)
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water/broth
- 2 tbsp compliant ketchup (I use Primal Kitchen's)
- salt and pepper, to taste
Thickening Paste
- 2 tbsp water/broth
- 1 tbsp tapioca starch
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup tapioca starch
- salt & pepper, to taste
Toppings
- green onion
- sesame seeds
- ½ cup raw cashews
Instructions
- Place skillet on medium heat and coat with oil to warm up.
- While the oil heats, prepare your sauce by juicing the oranges (I did this by hand, you don't need a fancy juicer) and whisking all ingredients together. Set aside. You can add red pepper flakes here if you like a little spice (I don’t so I left mine out).
- Whisk the egg in a medium/large bowl and add the tapioca starch in another. Cut the chicken into pieces then place them into the egg wash.
- Coat each piece of chicken in the egg then use a fork to transfer the chicken piece by piece into the tapioca starch. Be sure to shake the excess egg off.
- Coat chicken completely then carefully place into the skillet with the heated oil. Add more tapioca starch if you need.
- Continue this process until all pieces are in the skillet. Flip chicken carefully and be sure all sides are cooked.
- Once cooked, remove chicken and set aside. Remove any burnt pieces from your skillet and return to the stove.
- Bring the stove to medium/low heat, add the sauce to the skillet and then bring to a simmer.
- Combine 1 tablespoon of tapioca starch and 2 tablespoons of chicken broth then stir to form a paste. Stir your paste into your skillet and let simmer for a few minutes.
- Once the sauce has thickened slightly, add in the chicken and cashews and cover each piece completely. Serve with sautéed broccoli for W30 or rice/fried rice if not! Top with additional sesame seeds and green onions if you wish.
This is delish!!!! I love that the ingredients are so clean & we usually keep most of these ingredients on hand in our house. So easy to make!! My husband loved it too & already asked if we could make it again 😅
Hi Allissa! I’m so excited to hear how much both you and your husband loved this! Nothing better than already having the ingredients on hand too, right?! 🙂
SO yum!! Easy to make + a perfect meal to satisfy cravings on whole30 (and after).
So glad to hear, Khloe! I’m so glad this is a meal you’ll love both on and off of Whole30 🙂 Thanks so much!
One of my favorite KKF meals! Clean ingredients, simple to make, and the flavor of the sauce is unmatched.
Sooo happy to hear this, Kelsey! Thank you so much. 🙂
my boyfriend and i made this last night it was a huge hit! it tastes just like the takeout version but was much healthier and conducive to my allergies, it also heated up great for lunch the next day. definitely going to add this into the rotation.
Nothing better than leftovers that actually taste as good as the day before. I am so happy to hear you loved this recipe and it fit into your dietary needs! Thank you for making and reviewing! 🙂
Looking for a way to satisfy your takeout craving and still meet your goals? This recipe is what you’re looking for!
I made this for my husband who’s a huge Chinese food lover and he absolutely loved this clean take on a classic. We’ve found a new favorite for when we need a Chinese food fix.
That’s the best compliment! Thank you so much, Ashley! I’m so so so happy that you and your husband loved this. 🙂