Description
Zesty orange chicken brings tangy Asian-inspired flavors right to your dinner table. Effortless slow cooker magic turns simple ingredients into a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Sauce Ingredients:
- 0.75 cup orange marmalade
- 0.33 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 0.33 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Thickening and Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 green onion, chopped
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Arrange chicken evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker, creating a single layer for uniform cooking.
- Create a vibrant sauce by vigorously blending orange marmalade, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and optional red pepper flakes in a separate bowl.
- Generously drench the chicken with the prepared sauce, ensuring complete and thorough coating of each piece.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and set to low temperature for 4-5 hours or high temperature for 2-3 hours, allowing chicken to become supremely tender and fully cooked.
- Fifteen minutes before serving, create a smooth cornstarch slurry by whisking cornstarch with water until no lumps remain.
- Introduce the cornstarch mixture into the slow cooker, stirring gently to transform the sauce into a luxurious, glossy consistency.
- Transfer the succulent orange-infused chicken onto a bed of steamed rice or delicate noodles.
- Elevate the presentation by sprinkling freshly chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds as a final flourish.
Notes
- Swap orange marmalade with apricot jam or honey for a different sweet-tangy flavor profile that works perfectly for those who dislike intense orange notes.
- Create a gluten-free version by using tamari instead of traditional soy sauce and ensuring cornstarch is certified gluten-free.
- Reduce sauce’s sweetness by cutting brown sugar amount in half or using a sugar substitute like stevia for a healthier low-carb option.
- For extra heat lovers, increase red pepper flakes or add sriracha sauce during the last hour of cooking to boost spice levels without compromising chicken’s tenderness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours (low) or 2-3 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg