Craving the tangy sweetness of restaurant orange chicken but trying to stick to your keto diet? This keto orange chicken recipe delivers all the flavor you love, without the sugar and carbs. Using an air fryer, this recipe is easy to make and results in perfectly crispy chicken every time.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe offers a healthier twist on the classic Panda Express Orange Chicken. It maintains the sweet, tangy, and savory flavors while eliminating unknown ingredients, sugar, and heavy oils. The air fryer ensures the chicken gets crispy without deep frying, and the orange sauce is thickened with xanthan gum instead of cornstarch, making it ideal for those on a low-carb diet.
Ingredients You'll Need
For the Chicken
- Chicken Breast: Boneless and skinless chicken breasts work best and cut into 1-inch cubes. Chicken thighs can also be used for a juicier option.
- Egg: Beaten
- Heavy Cream: Or coconut cream
- Pork Rind Crumbs: Plain pork rind crumbs provide a crispy, low-carb breading.
- Baking Powder
- Salt and Pepper: To taste
For the Keto Orange Sauce
- Fresh Orange Juice: About 1 medium orange, freshly squeezed.
- Orange Zest: Zest from 1 medium orange.
- Coconut Aminos: A gluten-free and soy-free alternative to soy sauce.
- Rice Wine Vinegar: Unseasoned and unsweetened.
- White Vinegar
- Sesame Oil
- Fresh Ginger: Minced or grated.
- Garlic Cloves: Minced.
- Zero Calorie Sweetener: Monkfruit sweetener works well and measures 1:1 like refined sugar.
- Xanthan Gum: For thickening the sauce.
- Water
Optional Garnishes
- Sesame Seeds
- Green Onions: Thinly sliced.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing the Chicken
- Cut the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts or thighs into 1-inch chunks, ensuring they are evenly sized for uniform cooking.
- Create the wet coating: In a bowl, whisk together an egg and heavy cream.
- Prepare the dry coating: In another bowl, combine pork rind crumbs, baking powder, salt, and pepper.
- Coat the chicken: Dip each chicken piece into the wet coating first, then roll it in the dry mixture until fully coated. Repeat for all pieces.
Air Frying the Chicken
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer for the best crispy results.
- Arrange chicken in the basket: Place the coated chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Lightly spray with olive oil to improve crispiness.
- Air fry: Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 10 minutes.
- Flip and cook: Flip the chicken pieces and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, until they are evenly browned and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Baking the Chicken (Alternative Method)
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Arrange chicken on a sheet pan: Place the coated chicken on a sheet pan.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Making the Keto Orange Sauce
- Combine sauce ingredients: While the chicken cooks, add all sauce ingredients (except xanthan gum) to a saucepan on medium heat. This includes fresh orange juice, orange zest, coconut aminos, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, minced ginger, minced garlic, zero-calorie sweetener, and white vinegar.
- Simmer: Simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly until the sweetener has melted and the zest begins to disintegrate.
- Thicken the sauce: In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the hot sauce with xanthan gum until it thickens. Add this mixture back into the saucepan and stir continuously until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
- Adjust to taste: Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness or tanginess as needed.
Combining and Serving
- Coat the chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, pour the hot homemade orange sauce over the crispy chicken and toss to coat every piece.
- Garnish: Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
- Serve: Serve immediately over cauliflower rice or your favorite low-carb side.
Tips for the Best Keto Orange Chicken
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Always preheat your air fryer for the best crispy results.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: Cook the chicken in batches to allow air to circulate correctly.
- Use Fresh Orange Zest: Fresh orange zest adds a burst of flavor that bottled zest can’t replicate.
- Keep Sauce and Chicken Separate Until Serving: To maintain the crispy coating on the chicken, don’t toss it in the sauce until just before serving.
- Adjust the Sweetness: If you like your orange chicken sauce a little less sweet, reduce the sweetener to suit your taste.
- Reheat for Crispy Texture: Use the air fryer or oven to reheat leftovers so the chicken stays crispy.
- Cut the chicken evenly: Cut the chicken evenly to ensure it all cooks at the same rate.
- Make sure the chicken is fully cooked: Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Easily thicken your sauce if it is too thin: Just simmer the sauce on low in order to thicken it.
- Use your favorite garnish: Garnish the chicken with sesame seeds after you toss it in the orange sauce.
- Use fresh squeezed orange juice: Freshly squeezed orange juice provides the best flavor.
- Use coconut aminos: Coconut aminos are gluten-free and perfect for those who have a soy sensitivity.
Serving Suggestions
This keto orange chicken pairs perfectly with:
- Cauliflower Rice: A low-carb alternative to traditional rice.
- Sautéed Kale: A nutritious and flavorful side dish.
- Steamed Artichoke: A light and healthy option.
- Steamed Broccoli
- Sautéed Chinese Green Beans
- Egg Roll in a Bowl: A deconstructed egg roll without the wrapper.
Storing and Reheating
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep the chicken and sauce separate to prevent sogginess.
- Reheating: Use an air fryer or oven to reheat leftovers so the chicken stays crispy while warming the sauce separately.
- Freezing: Allow the cooked chicken to cool completely before placing it in a freezer-safe container. It can be frozen for 3-4 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Variations and Substitutions
- Chicken Thighs: If you don’t have chicken breast, chicken thighs work just as well and tend to be juicier.
- Orange Extract: You can reduce the carbs by using something like orange extract.
- Other Sweeteners: If you’re not following a keto, low carb, or paleo diet, you can use another sweetener like honey or sugar instead.
- Thickening Agent: And instead of xanthan gum to thicken the sauce - a cornstarch/arrowroot starch slurry works great.
- Vegetables: Want to add some vegetables? Broccoli or green beans would be a delicious option.
- Other Proteins: If you’re not a fan of chicken, substitute with shrimp, beef, pork, or even tofu.
Nutritional Information
Nutritional information is approximate and can vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods. A serving of this keto orange chicken contains approximately:
- Calories: 178 kcal
- Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Net Carbs: 6g (approximately)
- Protein: 24g
Common Questions
- Is orange juice keto-friendly? Orange juice is not a keto-friendly drink due to its high carb content. This recipe uses a small amount of fresh orange juice and orange zest to provide flavor without significantly increasing the carb count.
- How many carbs are in orange chicken? Traditional orange chicken from places like Panda Express can have around 31 grams of carbs per serving. This keto version significantly reduces the carb content to approximately 6g net carbs per serving.
- Is orange chicken good or bad for you? This keto orange chicken recipe is a healthier alternative to traditional orange chicken. Chicken is a lean protein, and orange juice and zest provide vitamin C and fiber.
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