Orange Chicken Recipe

There’s nothing quite like the bold, tangy-sweet flavor of orange chicken to bring a little excitement to your dinner table. This version keeps things simple and fresh, using sautéed chicken breast and real orange for a dish that’s just as satisfying as takeout—but lighter and quicker to prepare.

One of the best parts? It can start with something many of us already have on hand: frozen chicken breast. Keeping a stash in your freezer means you’re never more than a quick thaw away from whipping up a flavorful, homemade meal without a trip to the store. With just a few pantry staples and a fresh orange, this recipe comes together in no time—perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous cravings.

Last night I pulled a breast out and then went to a tried and true cookbook – my Cooking Light Complete Meals in Minutes. Every recipe I have cooked from it has been excellent. I found an Orange Sesame recipe but I didn’t have everything I needed so I switched it up a bit and created something a little bit different.

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Orange Chicken

Serves 2 – 3

1 chicken breast
1 large orange
1 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp butter
1/2 tsp sesame oil
salt to taste
chopped parsley

Zest the orange, set aside
Cut the orange into supremes (see video below). Squeeze the remains of its juice and reserve.
Cut the breast into slices and carefully pound them with a mallet to about 1/4″ thick
Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and butter.
When the butter has melted sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and cook them in the oil/butter mixture for about 3 minutes on each side.
Remove the chicken to a plate and keep warm.
Add the chicken broth, sesame oil and 1/3rd cup orange juice to the pan, scraping up any brown bits.
Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and let cook until reduced by about 1/3rd.
Add the orange zest and reserved orange juice back into the pan. Put the chicken back in the pan to finish cooking.
Serve the chicken over hot rice, sprinkle with parsley and serve with orange slices on top and some of the sauce.

This was delicious. Light and refreshing with a delightful orange flavor. I served it with some roasted cauliflower. The chicken was tender and moist and I can’t wait to make it again. It came together from start to finish in about half an hour. I love meals like that.