Lighter Baked Orange Chicken

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Lighter Baked Orange Chicken makes dinner simple on busy nights. It all bakes on one sheet pan, which keeps cleanup fast and easy. The sweet citrus glaze caramelizes as it cooks, giving the chicken a slightly sweet golden finish.

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Lighter Baked Orange Chicken

We like this recipe because it takes the stress out of dinner. You can easily make it a one-pan meal by adding your favorite vegetables to the sheet pan. Onions, peppers, and broccoli are our favorites to add, but you may like carrots, snap peas, sweet potatoes, or squash. Really, the only thing you need to remember is to cut the vegetables all the same size, slightly larger than your chicken, so everything cooks evenly.

A similar recipe and just as easy is this Orange Chicken and Asparagus (I like to use baby asparagus.) And, you may not think of stew being a sheet pan meal, but SWEET POTATO HOOSIER STEW SHEET PAN MEAL is ‘just the good stuff’ of a stew and it cooks super fast. You can do SHRIMP FOIL PACKS IN OVEN or campfire. Additionally, you can prepare them on a sheet pan instead of using foil. (We also enjoy Keto Fajita Shrimp Dinner.)

Close-up of orange chicken garnished with sesame seeds, chopped green onions, and orange slices, with a spoon serving a portion.

Lighter Baked Orange Chicken Nutrition

Sheet Pan Orange Chicken is rich in protein. The orange sauce brings natural sweetness and vitamin C.

Adding vegetables will increase your intake of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.

A blue bowl filled with orange chicken garnished with sesame seeds, green onions, and two orange slices.

Bake Orange Chicken Cooking Tips and Substitutions

I usually use chicken breasts for a leaner meal, but you can use thighs for extra juiciness and flavor. Substitute pork for the chicken, like this yummy Honey-orange glazed pork.

You can add broccoli, bell peppers, or snap peas to the pan. I prefer to use freshly squeezed orange juice, but you can use canned for convenience.f you want less sugar, use fresh orange juice and reduce the amount of sweetener in the sauce.

Pieces of cooked protein garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions on a baking sheet.

A helpful tip is to line the pan with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup. Spread the chicken pieces out so they don’t touch, which helps them brown better.

Also, flip them once during baking to prevent them from getting soggy.

You can prepare the sauce for Lighter Baked Orange Chicken a day ahead, so when it’s time to cook, everything comes together more quickly. This also allows the flavors to blend, making the chicken even more delicious

A spoon drizzles sauce over pieces of cooked protein garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions on a baking sheet.

Why you’ll ❤️ this Lighter Baked Orange Chicken.

🏃🏼‍♀️Quick to make

😎Easy cleanup

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Family friendly

😋Great mix of sweet and savory

🥦Works well with different vegetables

A blue bowl filled with orange chicken topped with sesame seeds and garnished with orange slices, placed on a beige napkin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen chicken in Lighter Baked Orange Chicken?

Thaw it first for even cooking and better texture.

Can I make it ahead of time?

Yes, cook it and store in the fridge for up to three days, then reheat in the oven.

Can I use bottled orange juice?

Yes, but fresh juice gives a brighter flavor

Do you have any other quick meals?

Yes, absolutely! Check out My 17+ Favorite Weeknight Pasta Dinners.

A bowl of white rice topped with orange chicken pieces, orange slices, and chopped green onions, with chopsticks picking up a piece of chicken.

Conclusion

If you’ve made it this far, you probably like orange. Try my ORANGE BUNDT CAKE, Orange Juice Bundt Cake, and Orange Cookie Cups too!😍

Lighter Baked Orange Chicken is a simple yet hearty and satisfying dinner. It’s perfect for busy nights. It also reheats well, so leftovers never go to waste. Make extra and have enough for another meal.

A spoon drizzles orange sauce over pieces of cooked chicken garnished with sesame seeds, chopped green onions, and orange slices on a baking sheet.

Lighter Baked Orange Chicken

Sweet orange chicken sheet pan. This tender and sticky meal is a delicious takeout weeknight dinner for the whole family. Ready within 30 minutes.

Author: Paula

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Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 25

Servings: 4 servings

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Equipment

Ingredients

Chicken

2 large, (1lb) chicken breast boneless, skinless (453 g)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Glazed Orange Sauce

½ cup orange juice 4.22 fluid oz | 125 ml
½ cup chicken broth 4.22 fluid oz | 125 ml
½ cup hoisin sauce 5.32 oz | 151 g
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon garlic minced
1 tablespoon ginger minced
1 teaspoon sriracha sauce omit if you don't want it hot

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 392℉ | 200℃. Grease a sheet pan with vegetable oil.

Chicken:

Pat the chicken breast dry. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Toss in a large bowl with cornstarch. Place on a greased sheet pan, drizzle with oil, and bake for 25 minutes.
2 large, (1lb) chicken breast, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Glazed Orange Sauce:

In a saucepan, stir together orange juice, chicken broth, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and sriracha sauce. Simmer on medium low heat until thickened.
½ cup orange juice, ½ cup chicken broth, ½ cup hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1 tablespoon ginger, 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
Remove chicken from the oven and pour orange sauce on top. Toss to cover all chicken pieces.
Garnish with green onion and orange slices, if desired. Serve with rice.