Crockpot Orange Chicken + Stove Top (GF, LC, K)

Folks, this Orange Chicken recipe is goooood. It’s good as in ‘I want to eat this every night of the week’ good. Citrusy sweet, easy to make, can be whipped up in a jiffy two different ways (Instant Pot Orange Chicken or  Crockpot Orange Chicken), packed with protein… what’s not to love?

Much like my Chinese Chicken Salad (in which you can use this Orange Chicken if you’d like), this recipe is bound to become one of your favourite fakeaways. By making it at home, you know exactly what is in it – no wondering if your favourite restaurant added an ingredient you wouldn’t typically stock in your pantry.

Making it at home also means this is a 100% gluten-free recipe thanks to the use of gluten-free tamari soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce. (Non-gluten-free folks, feel free to use regular soy sauce if you would like.) It’s also a keto recipe with only 6g net carbs/serving.

This easy Orange Chicken will likely make you the family hero. When everyone is tired and doesn’t want to go out to eat (even to get a takeaway meal), you can save the day by whipping this up from pantry staples.

You probably won’t be able to hide your ‘secret food project’ from them for long……. because the intoxicating smells of this fab Orange Chicken will give away your secret long before it’s done cooking. That’s okay – you’ll still be the hero when they finally dig into the tangy, sweet flavour of Orange Chicken.

Why This is the Best Orange Chicken Recipe

• It is a healthier Orange Chicken recipe. A lot of Orange Chicken recipes require deep frying. Yes this gives you a very crispy chicken (and it is what you often get when ordering takeaway) but this version is just as good without the need to use lots of oils. (No deep frying = an easier recipe too.)
• It can be made three ways. I’ve provided instructions for the Instant Pot, stove top and slow cooker. You have no excuses not to try this easy peasy Orange Chicken.
• It is gluten-free. Yeap, no need to worry about a restaurant sneaking in gluten. Use a gluten-free tamari soy sauce and you are good to go.
• It is low in carbs. With only only 6g net carbs per serving, low carb and keto dieters alike will be happy with this recipe.
• It can be made in 30 mins or less. If you use the Instant Pot or stove top version, dinner will be served in a jiffy.
• Just look at it. Could a chicken recipe that looks this good be anything other than the best???

How to Make Stove Top Orange Chicken

Step 1. Mix together the orange juice, tamari soy sauce, cider vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, garlic, ginger, chilli flakes and salt in a bowl and set aside.

Step 2. Add the chicken and the cornflour into a Ziploc bag and mix until the chicken is coated.

Step 3. Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the chicken pieces in 2 batches till cooked through and set aside somewhere warm (might take 8-10 mins).

Step 4. Put the orange sauce in a separate pot over medium and bubble away for about 5 mins until thickened and reduced by about a third.

Step 5. Switch off the heat, add the cooked chicken to reduce the sauce and mix well.

Step 6. Garnish with spring onion and toasted sesame seeds before serving.

How to Make Crockpot Orange Chicken

• Step 1. Mix together the orange juice, tamari soy sauce, cider vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, garlic, ginger, chilli flakes and salt in a bowl and set aside.
• Step 2. Add the chicken and the cornflour into a Ziploc bag and mix until the chicken is coated.
• Step 3. Add the chicken pieces into the slow cooker insert followed by the sauce and mix.

Step 4. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5.

Step 5. If you want a thicker sauce then decant sauce in a small pot over medium heat and bubble away for about 5-7 mins until thickened and return to the chicken.

Step 6. Garnish with spring onion and toasted sesame seeds before serving.

Orange Sauce Recipe

The Orange Sauce used in this recipe consists of orange juice, tamari soy sauce, cider vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, garlic, ginger, chilli flakes and salt.

If you would like, the Orange Sauce recipe can be made ahead of time and placed in the refrigerator for up 2 days. To freeze the Orange Sauce, you can place it in an airtight Ziploc freezer bag and store it for up to 2 months. (Make sure you remove as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it.)

Serving Suggestions

• Instant Pot White Rice
• Herbed Cauliflower ‘Rice’ for a low carb option
• Grilled Broccoli
• For an extra orangey boost, serve your Orange Chicken with mandarin orange slices.

You can also use Orange Chicken in my Chinese Chicken Salad recipe.

Weight Watchers Points 

If you replace the 1 tsp coconut sugar/dark brown sugar with a calorie-free sugar alternative, there are:

•  1 Blue Plan SmartPoint per serving
•  5 PointsPlus points per serving

More Must-Try Chicken Recipes

I like to view chicken breast as a ‘blank canvas’ that can be infused with sooo many lovely flavours. If you this easy Orange Chicken recipe, you MUST try my 7 Chicken Marinades for Chicken Breast – so many flavourful chicken breast ideas at that post. And if you have an Instant Pot, do try my Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Breast.

Thank you for reading my easy Orange Chicken recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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