Instant Pot: Orange Chicken

Need to satisfy that Chinese craving? Do you like Orange Chicken? Want to do it in a healthy and quick fashion?? This Instant Pot Orange Chicken is your answer!

I love Orange Chicken. What I don’t love about Orange Chicken is how unhealthy it is. (News Flash: anything fried is not usually classified as healthy).

INSTANT POT

This was my first instant pot experience and even though it was a learning curve, the recipe came out DELICIOUS! I didn’t miss the fried aspect at all and it is the perfect dish to satisfy that craving.

I adapted this recipe from Sweet and Savory Meals. I changed it up and tossed the chicken in cornstarch before sauteing and sauteed the chicken on the stove top first. I also changed up some of the proportions to meet my tastes.

NUTRITION & GLUTEN-FREE OPTION

Per serving this recipe has 500 calories, 9g fat, 53g carbs and 50g of protein. If you want to cut some of the carbs, don’t toss the chicken in cornstarch first. That will eliminate 10g of carbs per serving. To make this recipe Gluten-free use gluten-free soy sauce or Tamari.  I served this with white rice to give me that authentic Chinese feel. Remember everything in moderation!

CROCK-POT INSTRUCTIONS

To make this in the crock-pot, follow steps 1, 2 & 3 below. Instead of putting the chicken and sauce in the Instant Pot, put it in the crock-pot. Cover and set crock-pot on low for low for 4 hours. Make the slurry, gently stir it in and cook on high for 20 more minutes.

PRO TIPS

#1 When dicing the chicken don’t worry about a specific size measurement. Just think about what bite size means to you and cut them accordingly.

#2 Don’t skip out on the orange zest! It makes a huge difference! Click here to view/buy the zester I use!

#3  While the chicken is cooking in the Instant Pot. Clean up! Then you will be rearing and ready to go by the time it is done!

Hope you enjoy!

Products I love to use when cooking this recipe:

Instant Pot

Hamilton Beach Crock-Pot

Oxo Zester

Cuisinart 4 cup Mini Food Processor

Chicken Scissors

Calphalon Knives

Calphalon Saute Pan

Print

Instant Pot: Orange Chicken

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

55 mins

 

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: orange chicken

Servings: 6

Calories: 500 kcal

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup cornstarch
• 3 lbs chicken breast, cubed
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

SAUCE

• 3 tsp minced garlic
• 1.5 cup orange juice
• 1.5 tbsp ginger, peeled and finely chopped
• 1.5 tbsp rice vinegar
• 3/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup lite soy sauce
• 2 tbsp sirarcha
• 1 orange, zested

CORNSTARCH SLURRY

• 3 tbsp cornstarch
• 3 tbsp orange juice

SERVE WITH

• white rice or cauliflower rice
• green onions

Instructions

1. toss chicken breast with 2/3 cup cornstarch

   

2. heat 3 tbsp olive oil over medium high heat. add cubed chicken and saute for approximately 7 minutes or until it starts turning golden color. 

   

3. add chicken and all sauce ingredients to Instant Pot. Stir. 

   

4. Set Instant Pot on manual high for 5 minutes. make sure vent is set to sealed. Use 10 minute natural release (let IP go into warm mode and wait 10 minutes. then turn knob to venting release the rest of the air). 

   

5. while Instant Pot is doing its thing, make white rice (or cauliflower rice) and make the cornstarch slurry by whisking the ingredients together. 

   

6. when Instant Pot is done switch function to saute on low. add cornstarch slurry and stir gently for a couple minutes until sauce begins to thicken. 

   

7. serve with white rice, cauliflower rice. Top with green onions and extra orange zest if desired.