Healthy Orange Chicken | Slow Cooker or InstantPot

This Healthy Orange Chicken is an easy, delicious meal. It's gluten-free, simple to put together, and can be made in an InstantPot or in your slow cooker. Oranges, honey, soy sauce (or coconut aminos) and spices come together for a flavorful sweet and savory sauce.

I'm lucky enough to live in the Golden State, where we have fresh oranges years round. California actually produces 80% of all the fresh citrus marketed in the United States, including lemons, grapefruit and Mandarins. I have a blood orange tree at home and a small citrus grove at our home ranch, so I mix up the citrus in this recipe often. It calls for one medium-large orange, but sometimes I use two Mandarians or two small blood oranges. You need enough thin slice to cover the bottom of the pot or crock well. You could also swap lime zest for lemon zest too.

One note: this isn't an authentic restaurant-style orange chicken recipe - not even close. If that's what you're looking for, check out this one from Damn Delicious. If you're looking for meal-prep\healthy + easy chicken made with oranges, proceed.

Can I use frozen chicken? Chicken breasts?

In a word: yes. I've included frozen chicken directions for the InstantPot method. I recommend at least partially thawing for the slow cooker. If you put fully frozen raw chicken in the slow cooker, it's better to use a "high" setting, as you want to make certain the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.

You can use chicken breasts in the recipe. I would increase the cooking time for the InstantPot method by 20%.

Meal prep:

This chicken is fabulous the next day, and reheats really well. If you're a meal prepper, definitely give this one a try. Check out my Roasted Shrimp with Lemon & Garlic and Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Bacon for easy weekday dinners or meal prep as well. 

If you're looking for another fabulous chicken dish that can be made in the slow cooker or InstantPot, this Easy Moroccan Chicken is delicious and simple.  

I serve this Healthy Orange Chicken over sushi rice or rice noodles, and with watercress if I have it. I add parsley for me and cilantro for everyone else, and maybe a squeeze of lime. You can also serve it over cauliflower rice or on a salad too.

Healthy Orange Chicken in the Slow Cooker or InstantPot

K.C. Cornwell

Helathy Orange Chicken is an easy, delicious meal. It's gluten-free, simple to put together, and can be made in an InstantPot or in your slow cooker.

5 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 207 kcal

Equipment

• slow cooker or InstantPot (pressure cooker)

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 orange halved and thinly sliced
• 1 ½ pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs (5 to 6 thighs)
• 1 tablespoon tapioca starch
• ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• ⅓ cup sweet chili sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon tamari soy sauce (gluten-free soy sauce) or use coconut aminos
• 1 1-inch piece ginger peeled and minced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 6 ounces thin GF rice noodles optional, for serving
• 1 bunch watercress tough stems removed, coarsely chopped - optional, for serving
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro optional, for serving

Instructions

 

Slow Cooker Method:

• Lay the orange slices in a 6-quart slow cooker. Toss the chicken with the tapioca starch, lemon zest, ¼ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl; add to the slow cooker in a single layer. Combine the chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, ginger and garlic in a bowl; pour over the chicken.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on low, 7 hours. Uncover and gently stir, breaking up the chicken into large pieces; let stand 10 minutes.
  
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook as the label directs. Drain; toss with the watercress.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Serve over the noodles and top with the cilantro.

Instant Pot Method:

• Lay the orange slices in an InstantPot. Toss the chicken with the tapioca starch, lemon zest, ¼ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl; add to the pressure cooker in a single layer. Combine the chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, ginger and garlic in a bowl; pour over the chicken.
• Place the lid on in the locked position and turn the vent to the sealed position. Set pressure cooker to "pressure cook" for 14 minutes. Use the "quick-release" pressure setting by turning the vent to the venting position to keep the chicken from overcooking.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Serve over the noodles and top with the cilantro.
• *For frozen chicken thighs, increase cook time to 18 minutes. Cook frozen chicken breasts 20 minutes.

Video

Notes

inspired by Soy Citrus Chicken from Food Network Magazine

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 23gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 413mgPotassium: 353mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 209IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg

Keyword chicken recipes, slow cooker recipes

Photos by James Collier

Healthy Orange Chicken that looks this good and tastes even better? Yes, please.

Frequently Asked Questions about this Healthy Orange Chicken Recipe: