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    Home » Recipes

    Keto Orange Chicken Recipe

    Mar 2, 2021 · 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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.

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

    Crispy keto-friendly fried chicken + low-carb orange sauce = the BEST Keto Orange Chicken! This super easy recipe is based off of our Keto Sweet and Sour Chicken and let us tell you, both are divine.

    Yes, there's a bit of natural sugar in the recipe from the fresh orange juice. However, it is minimal and the macros are still less than 10g per serving, 7g net carbs to be exact. Using orange juice instead of orange extract leads to a more classic dish with less artificial type tastes.

    HISTORY OF ORANGE CHICKEN

    One of our goals is to not culturally appropriate food, cultures, and cuisines. It's definitely a problem in the food blogging world and we're definitely guilty. By no means is this Keto Orange Chicken traditionally made but it is a low-carb version based on the classic.

    If you didn't know, oranges actually originated from Asia and made their way to the US in the 1400s. The original “Orange Chicken” had no breading. The sauce was made of orange or other citrus peels like lemon then cooked with soy sauce, chilis, and garlic. It was definitely more savory than sweet. Blame American's love of sugar and Panda Express for the sticky-sweet orange chicken we're all used to.

    Keto Orange Chicken close-up shot

    HOW TO BREAD THE CHICKEN

    All you need is 3 simple ingredients:

    1. whey protein isolate
    2. sea salt
    3. eggs

    That’s it, really!

    To coat the chicken you’re going to dip the chicken breast or thigh pieces into the beaten egg. Next, dredge through the whey mixture, then immediately place the chicken into the hot oil.

    PRO TIP: Don’t dredge all of the chicken at once. BY placing it on a plate in between frying the breading will stick to the plate.

    You’ll want to place the breaded chicken directly into the oil after dredging, does that make sense? Also, be sure to not overcrowd the skillet. You’ll need to cook the chicken in batches. Otherwise, the chicken may steam more than anything else.

    The oil should be about 350° F but don’t fret if you don’t have an oil thermometer. Just heat the oil over medium-high heat then reduce to medium heat while frying. The oil should shimmer before you start frying. Another useful tip is to add a pinch of the whey to the oil and if it sizzles immediately the oil should be ready.

    A note on oil: We choose to use avocado oil for this recipe as it's the best oil for frying due to its high smoke-point. Coconut oil will also work but we find that it leads to a greasy final dish and less crispy chicken. Don’t attempt to use olive oil as the smoke point is far too low for deep frying. You can also use schmaltz or lard.

    We find that the whey protein isolate works a million times better to fry fried chicken than coconut flour or almond flour. We also like pork rinds as we use in our Keto Schnitzel recipe. However, the whey protein isolate does a good job of mimicking tempura making it perfect for any Asian-inspired recipe.

    Keto Orange Chicken close-up shot with a skillet of the chicken in the background

    INGREDIENTS IN KETO ORANGE CHICKEN RECIPE

    • boneless skinless chicken thighs - you can also use chicken breasts
    • unsweetened almond milk
    • large eggs
    • whey protein isolate
    • sea salt
    • algae oil or avocado oil for frying

    For the sauce: 

    • fresh-squeezed orange juice - about 4 fresh oranges
    • orange zest
    • rice vinegar
    • tamari (or regular soy sauce if not gluten-free) (or coconut aminos if soy-free)
    • granulated erythritol
    • freshly grated ginger
    • garlic cloves - never pre-minced, always fresh
    • sugar-free ketchup
    • crushed red pepper flakes
    • water
    • xanthan gum (optional) to thicken the sauce

    HERE ARE THE STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Beat the eggs with the milk in a small bowl. In another medium bowl combine the Whey Protein Isolate and the salt.
    2. Heat about 2 inches of oil in a 10” cast-iron skillet over medium heat. The oil should be 350° F.
    3. Once the skillet is hot, dip the chicken pieces one by one into the egg mixture then into the Whey mixture. Immediately drop into the oil and fry 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown – fry in batches making sure to not overcrowd the skillet.
    4. Once the chicken is fried transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb the excess oil.

    HOW TO MAKE NO-SUGAR-ADDED ORANGE SAUCE

    1. After frying the chicken, remove all but a tablespoon of the oil from the skillet.
    2. Pour in the sauce and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently.
    3. The sauce should begin to thicken. Sprinkle in optional xanthan gum and whisk continuously to thicken.
    4. When the sauce is thick and glossy, add the chicken pieces back to the skillet to heat through, about 2 minutes.
    5. Serve with cauliflower rice and sliced green onions
    Skillet full of Keto Orange Chicken

    WHAT TO SERVE WITH KETO ORANGE CHICKEN

    Obviously, cauliflower rice is a go-to but broccoli rice works well as does shirataki rice. We also love stir-frying some zero-carb noodles in a bit of oil and a splash of tamari. This quick noodle situation to serve with the crispy orange chicken is SO GOOD!

    NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

    As always, you can find the full nutritional breakdown including the carb count at the bottom of the recipe card. You can find the serving size/yield at the top of the recipe card. You should always double-check your specific ingredients. Especially since different brand’s ingredients, might have different values.

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

    • Sweet and Sour Chicken
    • Fried Rice + Japanese Shrimp Sauce
    • Hibachi Chicken
    • Hibachi Mushrooms and Onions
    • Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
    • Asian Green Beans
    • Egg Roll in a Bowl
    • Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
    • Asian BBQ Meatball Noodle Bowl
    • Kung Pao Chicken
    • Mongolian Beef and Broccoli

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

    If you made this Keto Orange Chicken, do us a favor and rate the recipe using the stars in the recipe card. You can also leave a comment here on the post or share a snapshot to your favorite platform. Be sure to use the hashtag #castironketo so we can see and share your creations!

    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
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 558kcal

    Ingredients

    For the fried chicken:

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

    For the 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 freshly grated ginger
    • 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

    Instructions

    • Beat the eggs with the milk in a small bowl. In another bowl combine the Whey Protein Isolate and the salt.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients except for the xanthan gum. Set aside.
    • Heat the oil in a 10” or larger cast-iron skillet over medium heat. The oil should be 350° F.
    • Once the skillet is hot, dip the chicken pieces one by one into the egg mixture then into the Whey mixture. Immediately drop into the oil and fry 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown – fry in batches making sure to not overcrowd the skillet. Once the chicken is fried transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb the excess oil.
    • Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the oil from the pan and place back over medium heat.
    • Pour in the sauce and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. The sauce should begin to thicken. Sprinkle in optional xanthan gum and whisk continuously to thicken. When the sauce is thick, add the chicken pieces back to the skillet to heat through, about 2 minutes.
    • Serve with cauliflower rice and top with green onions.

    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.

    # Hashtag with us!Don't forget to mention @castiron_keto or tag #castironketo on Instagram with your creations! We love seeing what you're making.
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    Keto Smoked Sausage Cheesy “Potatoes” »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ellie says

      March 02, 2021 at 11:37 pm

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

      Reply
      • Cast Iron Keto says

        March 03, 2021 at 3:08 pm

        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

          April 25, 2021 at 4:17 pm

          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

            May 29, 2021 at 9:45 am

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

            Reply
    2. Venus Childress says

      March 12, 2021 at 11:07 pm

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

      Reply
    3. Renée says

      March 16, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      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. josie says

      April 25, 2021 at 4:19 pm

      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
    5. Alecia says

      January 26, 2022 at 2:05 am

      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

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