This easy Gluten Free Orange Chicken is perfectly flavored and so good! This AIP/paleo recipe uses ground chicken which is tossed in a delightfully tangy and sweet orange sauce that comes together in 20 minutes for a quick and delicious meal.
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Gluten Free Orange Chicken Recipe
Perhaps like many of you, back in the day I used to really love Panda Express orange chicken. It was a treat I’d get when travelling to the US and this recipe takes me back!
This healthier, paleo and AIP version of orange chicken uses ground chicken for a super quick and convenient meal. The sauce is sweet and tangy, just like the original, and is completely gluten free and soy free.
Unlike Panda Express Orange Chicken, this recipe doesn’t include a flour or egg coating and involves no frying. The ground chicken gets slightly crisp and is browned as is with garlic, ginger and orange zest before adding the sauce for more of that delicious orange flavor.
This dish is the perfect weeknight meal because it comes together in literally 20 minutes. You can prep the sides while the chicken cooks for the ultimate quick dinner.
Ingredients
- avocado oil
- ground chicken
- fresh garlic
- fresh ginger – together with the garlic, these aromatics season the ground chicken before adding in the orange sauce
- fresh orange juice
- orange zest – this really amps up the flavor of the dish. You’ll want to ensure you only get the outermost layer of the orange and not the pith/white part or the dish will be very bitter!
- honey
- apple cider vinegar – together with the coconut aminos, these two create the acidity and tanginess that’s so characteristic of orange chicken sauce.
- coconut aminos – also adds an umami flavor in lieu of soy sauce or a gluten-free soy sauce.
- tapioca starch – the tapioca slurry thickens the sauce so that it coats the chicken perfectly!
- green onions – although optional, I highly recommend adding this garnish which brightens the finished dish so well.
Ingredient Substitutions
- I prefer the milder flavor of avocado oil in this recipe, but feel free to use olive oil instead.
- You can definitely substitute the ground chicken with ground turkey. I haven’t tried the dish with ground pork, but think that would be delicious too!
- You can use maple syrup instead of honey to sweeten the orange sauce.
- Make the slurry with arrowroot starch instead of tapioca starch.
How To Make Gluten Free Orange Chicken
Step 1. Make the Orange Sauce
Combine the orange juice, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos and honey into a small bowl and set aside.
Step 2. Sauté the Aromatics
Heat oil on medium heat in a large skillet. Once hot, add the ginger and garlic and sauté until fragrant.
Step 3. Sauté the Ground Chicken
Next, add the ground chicken, salt, and orange zest. As the meat browns, stir frequently. I like to leave a few clumps of ground chicken together for some texture and to crisp up that way. This is so good once the sauce hits it!
Step 4. Add the Orange Sauce
Once the chicken is fully cooked, lower the heat slightly and add the orange sauce mixture.
Step 5. Thicken with Tapioca Slurry
Next up, combine tapioca starch and water. Once the pot is simmering, stir the slurry into the dish until the sauce begins to thicken.
Garnish with green onions, optional.
Step 6. Serve
Serve on top cauliflower rice, rice, or another carb of your choice and some broccoli for good measure!
Tips & Tricks
Zesting the Orange
Make sure you only get the outermost layer of the orange and not the pith/white part or the dish will be very bitter! Zest the orange/s before juicing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
This pairs so well with rice (if you don’t need to be grain-free) or cauliflower rice, and steamed broccoli. You can prepare these sides quickly while the chicken cooks to have everything ready in under 30 minutes.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Fridge: Store this gluten-free orange chicken in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
I don’t recommend freezing this one. - Reheating: Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through.
Here are some other easy and quick AIP dinners you might enjoy:
- Sheet Pan Beef and Broccoli with Mushrooms
- Japchae-inspired Sweet Potato Noodle Stir Fry
- Beef and Broccoli Rabe
- Chicken Noodle Stir Fry
If you try this easy paleo/AIP and Gluten Free Orange Chicken, I would love it if you would give it a star rating and short review. Also, be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @healmedelicious and using the hashtag #healmedelicious.
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Gluten Free Orange Chicken Recipe (AIP, paleo)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3 –4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Gluten Free Orange Chicken is paleo and AIP and made with ground chicken tossed in a delightfully tangy and sweet orange sauce that comes together in 20 minutes for an easy, quick and delicious meal.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
- 3 TBSP coconut aminos
- 1 TBSP honey
- 2 TBSP avocado oil
- 1-inch piece ginger, grated or minced
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 TBSP orange zest
- 1/2 TBSP tapioca starch + 1/4 cup water
- green onions (for garnishing, optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine orange juice, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos and maple syrup and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat avocado oil on medium heat.
- Once hot, add ginger and garlic, and sauté in the oil until fragrant.
- Then, add ground chicken, salt, and orange zest and brown the meat, leaving clumps of ground chicken together for some texture if desired.
- Once the chicken is fully cooked, lower the heat slightly and add the orange sauce.
- Bring to a simmer and then combine tapioca starch and water to make a slurry. Stir slurry into the dish until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Remove from heat, garnish with sliced green onions and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Mains
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Asian Inspired
Very tasty and easy to make! I love that I will have leftovers for lunch.
very satisfying
Delicious and i usually do not enjoy ground chicken!
just added some honey and some gluten free soy sauce to finish it more to our liking but very easy recipe!
Absolutely delicious! Have to eat AIP now and tried this recipe. Id make this whether AIP or not!! My daughter, 20, helped out and loves it as well.
Very flavorful!
This is perfect! Deeply satisfying and flavorful!
I agree with the earlier commenter that the scallions are the perfect finishing touch and took Nicole’s suggestion to pair this recipe with a side of steamed broccoli.
My meat CSA was out of ground chicken so I pressure cooked a whole chicken in the sauce, stuck the chicken in the broiler to crisp the skin afterward, and reduced the sauce to eventually pour over the chicken and broccoli combo! It was wonderful.
As always, I look forward to following the recipe exactly when my CSA restocks ground chicken! I cherish Nicole’s recipes as-is and remain grateful for them!
Made this recipe this week and it was soooo good! We will definitely be adding this to our rotation of favourites. Thank you so much. (Also, don’t skip the green onions- they add to the yumminess!)
Easy and flavorful! Great for weeknight meals.
Quick and delicious!
Fast, tasty, and AIP? I couldn’t ask for more
Easy to make and delicious!
Your orange chicken recipe is absolutely delicious! It’s the perfect combination of sweet, tangy and salty in every bite. I’ll definitely be doubling the recipe next time I cook it. Thank you.