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Keto Orange Chicken Recipe 🍊🥘

Cast Iron Keto
by
Updated:
8 Comments
4.74 from 15 votes

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Presenting our Asian-inspired Keto Orange Chicken Recipe. It's a low-carb and gluten-free twist on traditional orange chicken. Picture this: crispy, golden chicken coated in a tangy orange sauce that's keto-friendly and delicious. The best part? It's super easy to make! So, are you ready to make a batch of this easy orange chicken recipe? Chicken lovers, let's dive in!

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Keto Orange Chicken in a cast-iron skillet on a dark balck board with a bowl of cauliflower rice in the corner

Preparation and cooking overview

This easy low-carb orange chicken recipe takes only 35 minutes to prepare! Simply whisk an egg and milk mixture, dunk the bite-sized chicken pieces, and fry until golden brown. And Voila! Delicious low-carb Chinese food is ready to give you a restaurant-style experience!

Chef's note

This recipe is a real winner, guaranteed to impress everyone who tries it! They won't even realize it's a keto-friendly dish! So, if you're heading to a get-together or packing for a picnic, this dish is perfect. But if you're keeping it all to yourself, don't hesitate to spice things up and adjust the sauce to your liking. Want it tangier or sweeter? You decide.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 Minutes
  • Difficulty Level: Easy
  • Recipe Makes 6 Servings

For more inspiration check out our Chicken recipe.

🍊🥘 Ingredients for this keto orange chicken recipe

Here are the ingredients to make this delicious Chinese dish:

For the fried chicken

  • 1.5 pounds skinless chicken breasts or thighs cut into 2" cubes
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 ounces of whey protein isolate
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups avocado oil for frying

For the sugar-free orange chicken sauce

  • 8 ounces fresh-squeezed orange juice, about 4 oranges
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons tamari
  • ½ cup granulated erythritol
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (grated)
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tablespoons sugar-free ketchup
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum optional to thicken the sauce, added slowly

Ingredient substitutions

  • Unsweetened almond milk: You can use unsweetened coconut milk as an alternative.
  • Avocado oil: For best results, use avocado oil for frying due to its high smoke point, or you can use schmaltz or lard. Coconut oil may lead to a greasier texture and less crispy chicken. In contrast, olive oil is unsuitable for deep frying due to its low smoke point.
  • Tamari: This is a gluten-free soy sauce, but you can also use coconut aminos.
  • Granulated erythritol: Try xylitol or monk fruit sweetener as substitutes.
  • Fresh garlic and ginger: You can use garlic powder and ground ginger powder.
  • Rice wine vinegar: Use white vinegar for a milder and sweet flavor.

Additional ingredients

You can use these optional ingredients to enhance the presentation and flavor of your dish:

  • Sesame seeds: Sprinkle some sesame seeds as a topping to give a beautiful presentation to your dish.
  • Lime wedges: Cut some lime wedges and serve alongside your dish for more tanginess.
  • Green onions: Cut some green onions and use them as a garnish at the end.
Keto Orange Chicken close-up shot

Cooking tools required

To make this Keto Orange Chicken recipe, you will need the following kitchen tools:

  • Two small bowls
  • Whisk
  • Chopping board
  • Spatula
  • 10" or larger cast-iron skillet
  • Tongs
  • A plate lined with paper towels
  • Zester
  • Grater
  • Oil thermometer (optional)

Tools substitute options

  • 10" or larger cast-iron skillet: You can use a non-stick skillet or stainless steel skillet as an alternative.
  • Zester and grater: You can use a vegetable peeler as an alternative.

How to make Keto Orange Chicken: step-by-step guide

Cooking methods

  • Pan-frying

Preparation steps

  1. Prepare your ingredients. Make sure to measure them as well.
  2. Prepare your cooking area to avoid creating a mess.
  3. Peel the oranges and extract orange juice.

Cooking instructions

For the chicken

  1. Beat the eggs with the milk in a small bowl. In another bowl, combine the Whey Protein Isolate and the salt.
  2. Whisk the sauce ingredients except for the xanthan gum in a small bowl. Set aside.
  3. Heat the oil in a 10" or larger cast-iron skillet over medium heat. The oil should be 350° F.
  4. In the hot skillet, dip the chicken pieces into the egg mixture and then into the Whey mixture.
  5. Immediately drop into the oil. Now cook them in the skillet until browned or cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
  6. Once they are fried, transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb the excess oil.
  7. After frying the chicken, remove all oil except one tablespoon from the skillet and place back over medium heat.

For Sauce

  1. In the same skillet with the leftover one tablespoon oil, combine freshly squeezed orange juice, orange zest, rice wine vinegar, tamari, granulated erythritol, grated fresh ginger, minced garlic cloves, sugar-free ketchup, and crushed red pepper flakes.
  2. Stir in water and place the saucepan over medium heat.
  3. Bring it to a simmer, stirring frequently.
  4. When the sauce begins to thicken, sprinkle in optional xanthan gum and whisk continuously to thicken.
  5. When the sauce is thick and glossy, add the chicken pieces back to the skillet to heat through about 2 minutes.
  6. Your gluten-free orange chicken is now ready. Garnish with sliced green onions and serve.
Keto Orange Chicken close-up shot with a skillet of the chicken in the background

Chef's pro tip

Avoid overcrowding the skillet during frying to ensure your keto chicken is perfectly crispy. While convenient to cook all the chicken pieces together, this decreases oil temperature, resulting in soggy and greasy chicken. To achieve the best results, fry your chicken in batches, allowing each piece to attain the ideal crispiness and flavor.

What to serve with Keto Orange Chicken?

This crispy orange chicken recipe is a true delight. You can enjoy it as a standalone dish or pair it with other side dishes to make it a complete meal. Either way, it is only going to give you a mouthwatering experience!

  • Cauliflower rice: Fluffy cauliflower rice is perfect for this dish as it soaks up the delectable orange sauce.
  • Stir-fried keto veggies: Add colorful stir-fried vegetables for extra crunch and nutrition.
  • Keto bread: Enjoy this low-carb keto orange chicken with our Keto Dinner Rolls. It gives an amazing experience to scoop all the sauce from the skillet.
  • Avocado salad: A creamy and satisfying avocado salad goes well with our recipe. Make it with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and a tangy dressing.
Skillet full of Keto Orange Chicken

How to make it healthier?

Follow these tips for a healthy orange chicken recipe:

  • Use organic ingredients.
  • Keep the sodium content of the dish as low as you can.
  • Make almond milk or plant-based milk at home.

Time-saving tips

  • Buy orange juice with zero sugar rather than pressing it at home.
  • Use a garlic press.

What can I prepare ahead of time?

  • Whip up your keto orange sauce by whisking all the sauce ingredients except the Xanthan gum. Set this sauce mixture aside for later use.
  • Thaw the chicken piece if you have them in the frozen section.
  • In one small bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk. In another, combine the Whey Protein Isolate and the salt.

Storage and reheating instructions

Storage tips

  • Refrigerator: Allow the dish to cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container and store it for about 3-4 days.
  • Freezer: The best thing about this recipe is that it is a freezer-friendly dish. Freeze the leftovers in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags for up to 3 months.

Reheating best practices

  • Microwave: Put the leftovers in the microwave-safe dish, and heat at 30 seconds intervals to avoid overheating.
  • Stove: Put the skillet on medium heat, and add a splash of water or chicken broth to prevent drying out.

Recipe wrap-up and conclusion

We created our Keto Orange Chicken recipe by slightly twisting the typical Chinese restaurant dish and saying bye to non-keto ingredients. It is perfect with its vibrant golden color and bold flavors! It truly is a feast for all your senses. All in all, it is a perfect dinner meal for a family with kids. And the best part? In just 35 minutes, you can whisk, dunk, sizzle, and enjoy this easy orange chicken recipe.

If you enjoyed this recipe as much as we did, we'd love to hear from you! Share your keto orange chicken masterpiece on social media, and tag us. You can also share this recipe with your foodie friends on the keto diet.

LOOKING FOR OTHER KETO ASIAN-INSPIRED RECIPES? CHECK THESE OUT ↓

Frequently asked questions

Our low-carb orange chicken recipe is indeed keto-friendly, as it has ingredients suitable for a person on the keto diet.

Several factors can affect the crispiness of the chicken. Mostly this can be because of: low oil temperature and crowded chicken pieces in the skillet. To prevent this, heat the oil to the recommended temperature and fry the pieces in batches.

Absolutely! While bite-sized pieces from a filet are easy to enjoy, you can swap boneless chicken thighs for chicken breast. You'll also need to adjust the cooking time.

Yes, you can use an air fryer to achieve a crispy exterior without deep-frying in oil. Preheat the air fryer, lightly coat the chicken with oil or cooking spray, and cook it in the air fryer according to the manufacturer's instructions.

In this keto-fied version of the classic Asian dish, marinating is not necessary, but if you want to marinate the chicken, choose a low-carb marinade. Marinate for at least 30 minutes before coating and frying.

📖 Recipe

Keto Orange Chicken close-up shot

Keto Orange Chicken

This easy Keto Orange Chicken is crispy and coated in a delicious low-carb orange sauce. Serve it up with riced cauliflower for a fun take-out-inspired meal.
4.74 from 15 votes
Print Rate Pin Recipe
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: asian, Keto Orange Chicken Recipe, low carb
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 558kcal

Ingredients

For the fried chicken

  • 1.5 pounds skinless chicken breasts or thighs cut into 2" cubes
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 ounces of whey protein isolate
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups avocado oil for frying

For the sugar-free orange chicken sauce

  • 8 ounces fresh-squeezed orange juice about 4 oranges
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons tamari
  • ½ cup granulated erythritol
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tablespoons sugar-free ketchup
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum optional to thicken the sauce added slowly
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For the chicken

  • Beat the eggs with the milk in a small bowl. In another bowl, combine the Whey Protein Isolate and the salt.
  • Whisk the sauce ingredients except for the xanthan gum in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a 10" or larger cast-iron skillet over medium heat. The oil should be 350° F.
  • In the hot skillet, dip the chicken pieces into the egg mixture and then into the Whey mixture.
  • Immediately drop into the oil. Now cook them in the skillet until browned or cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
  • Once they are fried, transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb the excess oil.
  • After frying the chicken, remove all oil except one tablespoon from the skillet and place back over medium heat.

For Sauce

  • In the same skillet with the leftover one tablespoon oil, combine freshly squeezed orange juice, orange zest, rice wine vinegar, tamari, granulated erythritol, grated fresh ginger, minced garlic cloves, sugar-free ketchup, and crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Stir in water and place the saucepan over medium heat.
  • Bring it to a simmer, stirring frequently.
  • When the sauce begins to thicken, sprinkle in optional xanthan gum and whisk continuously to thicken.
  • When the sauce is thick and glossy, add the chicken pieces back to the skillet to heat through about 2 minutes.
  • Your gluten-free orange chicken is now ready. Garnish with sliced green onions and serve.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Keto Orange Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 558 Calories from Fat 396
% Daily Value*
Fat 44g68%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 178mg59%
Sodium 796mg35%
Potassium 494mg14%
Carbohydrates 8g3%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 33g66%
Vitamin A 349IU7%
Vitamin C 24mg29%
Calcium 69mg7%
Iron 2mg11%
*

Nutritional values are estimates only and do not include carbs from sugar alcohols.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alecia says

    3 stars
    I followed the steps even added seasonings to my whey protein isolate the chicken had no flavor. I added broccoli I tasted the orange flavor on the broccoli but not the chicken. And it didn’t have that sweet tangy taste that I’m used to. Idk what I did wrong.

    Reply

  2. josie says

    5 stars
    I made it for lunch and it was delicious! 3 yr old approved. it did have a wee bit taste of the protein powder which I would describe as a little chalky, however, it was NOT gross or off putting for us. 10 of of 10 would make it again. I used 5 oz whey powder as I needed more than 2. that could be why it was a bit chalky. again, I cant complain. lower carb chicken. delicious. Instead of orange zest, I used a peeler and peeled the orange skin for richer flavor. did the same with ginger. I grated the garlic. so good!! topped with green onions. if u have access to fresh red chilis, I'd say add those. I cant with my 3 yr old though, itd be too spicey. also used a whole star anise and allowed it to simmer a while to let the flavors set.

    Reply

  3. Renée says

    5 stars
    That took a while to make, but absolutely worth the effort. Absolutely delicious. Best meal I’ve had in a while. Thanks for the recipe.
    👍💕

    Reply

  4. Venus Childress says

    4 stars
    Wow, another amazing recipe! Thanks so much.

    Reply

  5. Ellie says

    Where do you get algae oil? The brand I used is no longer being made.

    Reply

    • Cast Iron Keto says

      Oh no! We had a backstock of Thrive's algae oil and we just took a look to see that it has been discontinued so I'm guessing that's the brand you used as well. We're on our last bottle, no fun! The next best thing is using avocado oil as I don't see another algae oil on the market.

      Reply

      • josie says

        5 stars
        I made it for lunch and it was delicious! 3 yr old approved. it did have a wee bit taste of the protein powder which I would describe as a little chalky, however, it was NOT gross or off putting for us. 10 of of 10 would make it again. I used 5 oz whey powder as I needed more than 2. that could be why it was a bit chalky. again, I cant complain. lower carb chicken. delicious. Instead of orange zest, I used a peeler and peeled the orange skin for richer flavor. did the same with ginger. I grated the garlic. so good!! topped with green onions. if u have access to fresh red chilis, I'd say add those. I cant with my 3 yr old though, itd be too spicey.

        Reply

        • Dianna says

          I'm allergic to Whey. Is there a substitute to the whey protein powder?

          Reply
4.74 from 15 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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