Keto Chinese Chicken Recipes: Satisfy Your Cravings the Low-Carb Way

Craving Chinese takeout but committed to your keto lifestyle? You're in luck! This article explores a variety of delicious and easy-to-make keto Chinese chicken recipes that will satisfy your cravings without derailing your diet. From sesame chicken to orange chicken and sweet and sour chicken, discover how to recreate your favorite takeout dishes with low-carb ingredients and smart cooking techniques.

Keto Sesame Chicken: A Quick and Easy Weeknight Meal

Skip the takeout and order in this evening with a low carb and keto sesame chicken recipe. This tender chicken breast covered in a sweet and tangy sesame sauce will be a hit with the whole family. These quick and easy low carb takeout meals, like this keto sesame chicken, can be ready in under 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights! In the time it would take to order delivery, you can have this keto version at home. This keto sesame chicken recipe is only 259 calories and 3 carbs per serving!

Ingredients and Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this keto chicken recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options.

• Chicken breast: Boneless skinless chicken breast is a staple in a low carb diet because it is low in calories but high in protein. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenders for this keto sesame chicken if you would like.
• Soy sauce: Since this keto sesame chicken recipe doesn't have any additional salt, use regular soy sauce instead of light. Coconut aminos can be used as a gluten-free and soy-free alternative.
• Ketchup: To make this low carb chicken recipe with the least amount of carbs, opt for no sugar added ketchup. Of course, ketchup has sugar from the tomatoes but the no sugar added version adds no additional sugar to the recipe and only adds 4 total carbs to the entire dish.
• Brown sugar sweetener: Use a keto friendly brown sugar sweetener made by Swerve for this keto chicken recipe. This alternative is sugar free as it is made from erythritol. There are other brands out there besides Swerve that you can use.
• Sesame oil: A little of this oil goes a long way and if you buy a small bottle, it will last for a while in your pantry. It has a very distinct flavor so there really is no alternative to replace the taste in keto sesame chicken.
• Arrowroot powder: To make the sauce thick, arrowroot powder can be used as a paleo-friendly thickener.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This section explains how to make this low carb chicken recipe step by step.

1. Cut the chicken into bite size chunks.
2. Make the sauce. All of the rest of the ingredients in this low carb chicken recipe are for the sauce. In a small mixing bowl, combine the soy sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, brown sugar, onion powder, sesame oil and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine ingredients and set aside.
3. Cook the chicken breast. Heat a non stick skillet over medium high heat. Add your chicken breast chunks. Cook until slightly brown and cooked through, should take about 5-8 minutes. Test the internal temperature with a meat probe thermometer to make sure the chicken is 165F. If you use a large skillet that isn't non-stick, you can use spray oil or add a tablespoon of oil to the pan before adding the chicken.
4. Add the sauce to the pan. Now we stir the sauce into the pan with our chicken breast and coat the chicken with the sauce. Turn your heat down to medium low and let simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken.

This keto sesame chicken recipe makes 4 nice servings and is best served with steamed cauliflower rice and green onions or zucchini noodles.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Is Chicken Keto-Friendly?

You may be thinking this is a weird question but it is a common misconception that any chicken is keto friendly because it is meat. But there are many chicken recipes that would not be keto and that is because of a breading or a sauce with sugar and carbs.

Freezer Meal Option

To make this keto sesame chicken a freezer meal, simply place the chopped raw chicken in a freezer safe zip top bag along with the combined sauce ingredients. Store flat in the freezer for up to 4 months. When you are ready to cook, remove from the freezer the night before and let thaw in the refrigerator.

Keto Orange Chicken: A Healthier Takeout Favorite

When you’re in the mood for Chinese takeout (hello, Panda Express) but want to stay within your macros, this easy keto orange chicken is the best dupe recipe! If you have ever looked at the sugar content of Panda Express orange chicken, you probably know why I remade a keto-friendly version. Not only is the crispy fried chicken usually breaded, but the orange sauce is loaded with sugar - in addition to the fresh orange juice in it. Thankfully, there is a way to turn a takeout favorite into a low-carb dinner you can eat over and over again!

This recipe for keto orange chicken is a healthier version of the popular Chinese takeout dish. The chicken is tender and flavorful, coated in a sticky and sweet orange glaze that packs a punch of citrus flavor. You can enjoy this dish over cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. This recipe is easy to make and comes together in just 50 minutes.

Key Ingredients

Here are the ingredients needed for each part of the keto orange chicken recipe: the homemade low-carb nuggets and the sugar-free orange sauce!

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

• Chicken: All you need to make low-carb chicken nuggets are some chicken breast pieces or skinless chicken thighs.
• Egg Wash: You also need some eggs, heavy whipping cream (or coconut cream), salt, and pepper.
• Breadcrumbs: Use plain pork rind crumbs for the crispy coating. It is the perfect breadcrumb replacement! Combine almond flour with pork rinds in one bowl, scramble 2 eggs in another bowl.
• Orange Sauce: Yes, there really is orange juice and orange zest in the sauce! Some like to use actual orange peels to really enhance that citrus flavor. Use fresh squeezed orange juice. Use coconut aminos. It's gluten-free and perfect for those who have a soy sensitivity.

Cooking Instructions

All you have to do is fry the chicken and then simmer the keto orange sauce and mix them all together.

1. Make the nuggets: Coat the chicken pieces in the egg wash and then dredge them in the pork rind crumbs. Once covered, fry them in a skillet over medium-high heat. Continue to saute them until they are browned and cooked completely through. Cover the bottom of a large skillet with oil, and heat over medium high heat. Dip the chicken pieces into the egg mixture and then dredge in the pork rind crumbs. Place the chicken into the heated oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cut the chicken evenly. Make sure the chicken is fully cooked.
2. Prepare the sauce: This is even easier than making the nuggets! Just mix all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and stir until it is all combined. The orange sauce won't be very thick at first. That's why it is so important to simmer it at low heat. Let it cook down until it thickens up to your liking. Easily thicken your sauce if it is too thin. Just simmer the sauce on low in order to thicken it.
3. Combine: Finally, add the chicken nuggets back to the skillet and toss the pieces in the orange sauce.

Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Then, enjoy your delicious keto orange chicken recipe! This keto orange chicken will become one of your favorite Chinese dishes to make at home. Serve it with any of your favorite Asian side dishes like oven-roasted broccoli and sauteed Chinese green beans! If you enjoy egg rolls, then make an egg roll in a bowl. It basically tastes like the stuffing inside of an egg roll without the fried wrapper. Or, serve this chicken on top of some cauliflower rice. Use your favorite garnish.

Common Questions

Here are the questions I hear the most about my keto orange chicken recipe.

• Is orange juice keto friendly? Orange juice is not a keto-friendly drink. One 8-ounce serving has 25 grams of carbs. That's why I only used about two tablespoons in the entire recipe. It is possible to cook with a small bit of orange juice without throwing off your macros.
• How many carbs are in orange chicken? This depends on whether you order it from Panda Express or make it at home. Panda Express orange chicken has about 31 grams of carbs in each serving. My recipe only has 1g net carbs per serving. Talk about a huge difference!
• Is orange chicken good or bad for you? The orange chicken recipe I made is really good for you. Chicken is a lean protein that is vital for your muscle development. Orange juice and zest have lots of vitamin C and fiber in them. When you serve this with cauliflower rice, you have a complete meal that is a fantastic source of fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
• How long will keto orange chicken last in the refrigerator? Since the chicken is breaded, it will only stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. After three days, the texture will begin to deteriorate. I recommend eating it as soon as possible for the best possible taste.

Keto Sweet and Sour Chicken: Crispy and Guilt-Free

This low carb sweet and sour chicken is the perfect crispy chicken alternative to the Chinese takeout you know and love. Most homemade sweet and sour chicken recipes are just plain chicken tossed in sauce, but that doesn’t really help curb the craving for delivery food. That’s why we’ve made a keto friendly crispy chicken that is covered in sugar free sweet and sour sauce.

You crisp the chicken first by covering it with an almond flour and coconut flour mix and then frying in avocado oil. You can make keto crispy chicken without having to deep fry the chicken. In fact, all this low carb sweet and sour chicken needs is to be browned first in a skillet. No need for buying a deep fryer or a dutch oven. Since this sugar free sweet and sour chicken is not deep fried, it’s healthier for you than the takeout option. If you’ve ever felt bloated after eating takeout sweet and sour chicken, but you love the taste of the dish, this recipe is for you.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

Using a keto mix of almond and coconut flour, you can make a low carb breading for crispy chicken that is totally keto friendly. As for the sauce, we use our sugar free maple syrup to sweeten the sweet and sour sauce along with keto friendly ketchup.

Tips for Crispy Chicken

If you don’t have a deep fryer or a dutch oven to deep fry chicken, don’t worry. You don’t need to deep fry chicken to make it crispy. In this recipe, the chicken is dredged in a keto friendly mixture of almond flour and coconut flour before being fried in a large skillet to brown. You won’t be cooking the chicken completely in the skillet.

We suggest adding the keto sweet and sour sauce while the chicken bakes in the oven, but you can also toss the chicken in the sauce later if you prefer. You can serve sugar free sweet and sour chicken with chopped bell peppers and cauliflower rice. Bell peppers are keto friendly because they are low in carbs.

Storage Instructions

Store your keto sweet and sour chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Coconut flour: Coconut flour is high in fiber and low in carbs.
• Oils: Some oils are not ideal for frying as they can burn and scorch.
• Almond flour: Can I substitute almond flour for coconut flour? I find that the coconut flour works much better in this recipe and would not recommend using almond flour.
• Xanthan gum: Can I omit the xanthan gum? The xanthan gum is a thickener, so if you leave it out, then the sauce will not have a glaze texture and will be runnier and more like a broth.
• Olive oil: Can I use olive oil in place of avocado or coconut oil? No, I would not use olive oil to replace avocado oil as it has a low smoke point and can quickly burn and scorch when used with high heat and frying. If you are going to use a different oil, check to see if it has a high smoke point for frying.

Recipe

1. Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and set them aside.
2. Add the coconut flour to a mixing bowl and in small batches add the chicken pieces into the flour and toss to fully coat in the flour.
3. Add avocado oil to a frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot add the chicken pieces in small batches and fry until all are fully cooked through. Set aside.
4. Add lemon zest to a saucepan on medium-high heat and stir for a couple of seconds.
5. Add chicken broth and sweetener of choice to the saucepan, and whisk until the sweetener is dissolved.
6. Add the lemon juice and stir.
7. While continuously whisking, slowly add the xanthan gum or arrowroot slurry, turn up the heat and bring sauce to a boil.
8. Reduce heat to a simmer and allow the sauce to reduce until the sauce has thickened to a glaze. Remove from heat.
9. Add the fried chicken pieces into the sauce and toss to coat in the lemon sauce.
10. Serve as is or over warm cauliflower rice. Garnish with optional sesame seeds.

Keto General Tso's Chicken: A Spicy and Savory Delight

General Tso’s Chicken. The sweet, spicy, savory mixture of sticky sauce slathering that chicken is something I never wanted to forget. I’ve been experimenting with the sauce since I made the sweet and sour chicken, and I’ve hit the nail on the head! I wasn’t able to get red chili’s from my grocer, but I highly suggest you use them. For me, this recipe wasn’t spicy enough. The great thing about General Tso’s is that the red chili’s is that every now and again you get a burst of spice that adds a great depth of flavor. Flavor wise, this chicken is fantastic.

If you’re in a bind for time and can’t cook them in the oven, there’s an easy solution. Instead of only par-frying them, fry them so they’re cooked all the way through, drizzle the sauce on top, and serve. If you do this, it may be best to cook the sauce in a saucepan on the stove for a while to allow the flavors to develop a little bit. Also, Id suggest using 1/2 tsp.

Instructions

1. Put pork rinds in the food processor and pulse them until crushed.
2. Combine almond flour with pork rinds in one bowl, scramble 2 eggs in another bowl.
3. Preheat oven to 325F.
4. Remove the pork rind dust from the food processor and put it in a bowl.
5. In a pan, heat up 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil and 1 Tbsp. Coconut Oil.
6. Continue frying them, flipping them over when needed to create a crust.
7. Once they are finished frying, transfer them to a baking tray. I do about 2-3 batches of frying before I’m finished. Overcrowding the pan will allow too much of the oil to be soaked up and create a soggy texture.
8. Let’s get started on the sauce.
9. Mix it well until thoroughly combined.
10. Put the chicken in the oven for 60 minutes.
11. After 30 minutes you can see that the sauce has started to thicken.
12. After 45 minutes you see that it’s almost done.
13. After the one hour is up, the sauce has become thick and rich.

Keto Chicken Stir Fry: A Versatile and Customizable Dish

This keto chicken stir fry is made with lots of vegetables and prepared all in one pan. It's perfect for meal prep or as a quick and easy weeknight meal.

There are many reasons why this chicken stir fry has become a staple in our kitchen.

Cooking Instructions

1. Prepare chicken: In a large bowl, mix together the chicken thighs with 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the rest of the ingredients and give everything a nice stir so it is evenly coated.
2. Cook chicken: Heat a very large sauté pan over medium high heat for 2 minutes. Add the other tablespoon of oil and heat for another minute. Add chicken in a single layer into the pan and be sure not to overcrowd. Cook for approximately 3 minutes each side until golden brown and crisping up well. Remove from the heat with a slotted spoon and set aside.
3. Continue cooking: Add onions to the pan with a big pinch of kosher salt and cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, and sugar snap peas, white parts of the green onions, and cook for another 5-7 minutes until fork tender. I like to throw a lid over the top to make everything come together quicker, stirring every so often. About halfway through this cooking time, stir in the water chestnuts.
4. Prepare sauce: Meanwhile, mix together all of the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Whisk well. Add to the stir fry and reduce the heat to medium low. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
5. Finish cooking: Add the chicken back into the pan along with the sesame oil and red chili pepper flakes. Let the flavors all meld together for another 2 minutes or so and give everything a stir.
6. Serve: Taste for additional seasoning and serve alongside cauliflower or white rice.

Tips and Variations

• Feel free to swap out certain veggies for others you like more.
• You can absolutely use a different type of meat. Just be sure to cook it until it's done…
• You can use soy sauce instead of coconut aminos. However, it is a bit more salty, so I'd keep that in mind when seasoning the dish.
• Taste, taste, taste.
• In almost all of my Asian-inspired recipes, I recommend using both fresh garlic and ginger.

The Importance of Sesame Oil

Before we got started, we knew we had to get a key ingredient - toasted sesame seed oil. Toasted sesame oil is used in many Chinese food recipes and it really adds an incredible amount of flavor with only just a tiny drop of oil. We finally got a small bottle of it and tested it out on our yummy Cashew Beef Thai Stir Fry recipe. It gave the dish the distinct flavor we were looking for so we decided to take it out for another spin in this low carb sesame chicken recipe. We used toasted sesame seed oil to flavor both the sauce and fry the chicken. This maximized the toasted sesame flavor without adding additional carbs. That means the low carb sesame chicken would not be low in flavor!

tags: #keto #chinese #chicken #recipes