Description
Skip the takeout and make this cozy Ground Orange Chicken right at home in just 30 minutes. Tender ground chicken is simmered in a bright, sticky orange sauce with garlic, ginger, soy, and a touch of heat, then piled over fluffy white rice for the ultimate easy dinner. It’s a quick weeknight meal that tastes like your favorite orange chicken bowl, perfect when you need simple dinner ideas, a satisfying yet easy recipe, or new food ideas for busy nights. This dish is a great option for a quick breakfast-for-dinner twist, easy dinner, or even a make-ahead healthy-ish snack style bowl you can reheat for lunch.
Ingredients
1 lb ground chicken
1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon orange zest
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
3 green onions thinly sliced plus extra for serving
3 cups cooked white rice for serving
Instructions
1. Brown the ground chicken in a large skillet over medium high heat, breaking it into small crumbles as it cooks until no longer pink.
2. Stir in the minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes and cook for 30 to 60 seconds until very fragrant.
3. In a small bowl whisk together the orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and brown sugar until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
4. Pour the orange sauce over the cooked chicken, stir to coat, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
5. In another small bowl whisk the cornstarch and water together to make a smooth slurry with no lumps.
6. Drizzle the cornstarch slurry into the pan while stirring constantly, then simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce is thick, glossy, and clinging to the chicken.
7. Turn off the heat and stir in the toasted sesame oil and most of the sliced green onions, reserving a little for garnish.
8. Spoon the ground orange chicken over warm cooked white rice, top with the remaining green onions, and serve right away.
Notes
For the best texture, avoid overcrowding the skillet when browning the ground chicken—let it sear in an even layer so it caramelizes instead of steaming.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 780
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 110