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My Keto Orange Chicken Has All the Sticky-Sweet Flavor Without the Sugar
When I’m craving takeout, this keto orange chicken always hits the spot. It’s just like the kind you’d get from your favorite Chinese restaurant: crispy, juicy chicken in a sweet and tangy citrus sauce, only without the carbs or all the mystery ingredients. It’s one of the most popular recipes in my Easy Keto Cookbook, and I’m so excited to share it with you here, too. Here’s why it’s a must-make:
- Crispy chicken + sticky sauce – The texture is everything: crunchy outside, juicy inside, and tossed in a sweet, glossy orange sauce that clings to every bite.
- So much better than takeout – Most orange chicken recipes are breaded, deep-fried, and loaded with sugar. No thank you! I use simple ingredients and pan-fry the chicken in minutes. No need to bust out the deep fryer!
- Quick and easy – It only takes about 10 minutes to prep and dinner is on the table in under 30. I’ve had it ready faster than it takes to decide what to order 😂
Whether you’re skipping takeout or just want a dinner that delivers on flavor and crunch, this low carb orange chicken is the one. Make it with me!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my keto orange chicken recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Chicken:
- Chicken Breasts – I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut them into bite-sized pieces. You could use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer
- Eggs – A quick dip in whisked eggs helps the coating stick. Nothing fancy here!
- Pork Rinds – I used these for that crunchy breading, and they work so well. You can also mix them with whey protein powder like I do for my keto chicken tenders, or use plain almond flour like in my keto chicken nuggets. It’s still good that way, just not quite as crispy.
- Avocado Oil – I use this for searing, but olive oil or any neutral oil will do the trick if that’s what you have on hand.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
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Keto Orange Chicken Sauce:
- Orange Zest – This adds all the bright, citrusy flavor without the sugar.
- Garlic – I like freshly minced garlic for the best flavor, but 1 teaspoon of the jarred kind works too!
- Coconut Aminos – This is my favorite soy sauce substitute because it’s gluten-free, lower in sodium, and has a slightly sweet flavor that works perfectly in this sauce. You can totally use low sodium soy sauce if that’s what you have.
- White Wine Vinegar – Adds a little tang to balance out the sweetness in the sauce. If you don’t have it, rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar would work in a pinch.
- Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – I used powdered erythritol in my cookbook, and it worked okay… but now I use Besti. It dissolves like sugar, has no cooling aftertaste, and won’t crystallize in leftovers. You can also use powdered allulose or erythritol. Just make sure it’s powdered, or the sauce will turn out gritty.
- Ground Ginger – This gives the sauce a little warmth and zing.
- Avocado Oil
How To Make Keto Orange Chicken
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Prep. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Whisk the eggs in one bowl, and pour the crushed pork rinds into another.
- Coat & cook chicken. Dip the chicken in the egg, then coat in the pork rinds. I usually toss them all in the egg at once and bread them one by one.
- Cook. Add the oil to a large skillet and cook the chicken until golden and cooked through. Cover to keep warm and set aside.
- Start the sauce. While the chicken rests, heat a little oil in the same skillet and sauté the garlic until it smells amazing.
- Add flavor. Stir in the coconut aminos, vinegar, orange zest, sweetener, and ginger. Let it bubble and reduce until the sauce looks thick and glossy.
- Toss & finish. Add the chicken back into the mixture and toss to coat. I like to finish it off with a splash of sesame oil, a sprinkle of sesame seeds, and some sliced green onions for that classic takeout-style vibe.
My Recipe Tips
- Crush the pork rinds really fine. I like to use a food processor to get that breadcrumb texture. It makes the coating stick better and gives a crispier crust.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan. I use a large skillet like this that fits all the chicken in a single layer, but if yours is smaller, cook in batches so it stays crispy instead of steaming.
- I always stir and scrape up all those yummy bits from the bottom of the pan. They add tons of flavor to the sauce.
- Let the sauce thicken a bit before tossing in the chicken. It gets nice and glossy, and coats every piece perfectly once it cools slightly.
Serving Ideas
This keto orange chicken pairs perfectly with all kinds of Asian-inspired dishes, but here are a few of my go-to combos to round out the meal:
- Rice – I usually serve this over a bed of cauliflower rice, but when I want something a little extra, my cauliflower fried rice is perfect with it too.
- Veggies – While the sauce is thickening, I’ll often throw together a quick veggie stir fry. Sauteed broccoli or roasted broccoli also makes an easy, no-fuss side.
- Salad – For that classic takeout feel, try it with a crisp Asian salad or smashed cucumber salad. Kani salad is another fun one if you want to mix it up.
Keto Orange Chicken
By
Crispy, saucy, and sweet with a zing — my keto orange chicken tastes just like takeout, but with clean ingredients and no sugar in sight!
Ingredients
[ See substitutions ]Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
Chicken:
Orange sauce:
Instructions
[ See step photos See my tips ]Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
Chicken:
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Season the chicken with sea salt and black pepper.
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In a small bowl, whisk the eggs. In a medium bowl, place the crushed pork rinds.
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In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
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Dip the chicken pieces in the egg, shake off the excess, then coat with the pork rind crumbs on all sides. (Alternatively, you can place all the chicken pieces in the egg at once, and take them out one by one to dip in the crumbs.) Working in batches, place a single layer of chicken into the pan. Cook for a few minutes on each side, until golden and cooked through.
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Remove the chicken from the pan and cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining chicken pieces. Keep the skillet for the sauce.
Orange sauce:
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While the chicken rests, in the same skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
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Add the coconut aminos, wine vinegar, orange zest, powdered monk fruit allulose blend, and ground ginger. Use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom and deglaze the pan.
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Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until the volume is reduced, and the sauce thickens and looks glossy.
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Return the chicken to the pan and toss to coat. The sauce will thicken as it cools from hot to warm.
Did you make it? Leave a review or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup, about 6 chicken pieces (6 ounces)
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- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the crispiest chicken, the most flavorful sauce, and that perfect glossy coating in every bite.
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- Serving ideas: Don’t miss my serving ideas for easy low carb sides to pair with your keto orange chicken.
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- Store: Keep leftovers in and airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
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- Reheat: Warm in a hot skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is heated through
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- Freeze: Freeze the chicken and sauce separately for up to 3 months. If they’re already mixed together, I don’t recommend freezing because the coating gets soggy.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Easy Keto Cookbook here!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Keto Orange Chicken
60 Comments
Linda Reichenbach
0What does the coconut aminos do for the recipe and is there a substitute for it, or can it be left out ?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Linda, Coconut Aminos is a gluten-free, soy-free substitute for soy sauce. If you are not strictly clean keto, then soy sauce or tamari (wheat-free soy sauce) will work.
becky siller
0Love this recipe. Didn’t have any monk fruit alluose but sauce was great without it. So nice to have crunch!
Tammy
0can I substitute the white wine with something else?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Tammy, Yes you can use chicken broth if you prefer, but the flavor of the sauce will be different.
Robert R
0This recipe tasted great!! My wife’s favorite dish so I was very happy to make it for her. We got it out of your cookbook and it is a definite winner. Delicious!!
Beverly K
0This was yummy, and so appreciated – I had cooked up a batch of the Trader Joe’s mandarin orange chicken for my husband and daughter, and made this for my son and myself. My son is allergic to eggs, so instead of the eggs I used cashew yogurt as the “wash” on the chicken and the pork panko stuck perfectly. Fried in a combination of avocado oil and duck fat. Delish! My daughter ended up eating some of ours too (which is great because I’d love for her to go keto as well).
Mimi
0If these are all truly keto friendly, why do you include “course, cuisine, and calories” but no mention at all of how many carbs are in the serving? Help!! I need to have an idea of how many carbs, not calories!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Mimi, The carb counts are located in the nutrition facts just under the recipe instructions. The net carb count is 7.4 grams per 6 pieces (approx 6 ounces) of chicken. I hope this helps!
Shannon Spencer
0Delicious recipe! I saved some time and a little extra clean up by cooking the chicken in the air fryer. I highly recommend this dish to hit the Chinese food cravings.
Kim
0This was the closest rendition to authentic Chinese Orange Chicken that I have found.
A few pointers:
1. Use a food processor to finely chop the pork rinds. I tried a rolling pin but had large chunks, even though it “looked” finely ground in the ziploc bag.
2. Taste the sauce prior to putting it in with the chicken. It will reduce and caramelize, but when I initially tasted it, it was very salty for my taste, and I used a combination of coconut aminos and tamari (what I had on hand). I ended up adding a bit more sweetener, more ginger, and orange zest. Of course, this alters the macros — but for our palate, it worked.
3. I had double the chicken, so the batches took awhile to fry. I would do this with 1 lb of chicken in the future (was using up extra chicken breast from this week’s menu).
Overall, it was really great. My prep time was longer simply because I had doubled the recipe. But any time that my family gobbles it up, takes seconds (or thirds) is a WIN for me. A keeper.
Mackenzie
0I made this and it did taste great! But I couldn’t get the sauce to thicken. Any tips?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Mackenzie, Did you let the sauce simmer before adding the chicken? As it simmers, it will lose water and thicken down to a syrup-like consistency. If you don’t want to wait for the sauce to reduce on its own, you can add a pinch of xanthan gum to the pan and it will thicken a little quicker. Enjoy!
Mason
0Would coconut flour help to thicken the sauce? I used soy sauce instead of amino to reduce the carbs and it didn’t thicken too well. Also, any replacement for the orange zest? I used lemon juice and it worked out all right, I probably could’ve used more. I feel like keto household’s probably don’t have oranges lying around
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Mason, Your sauce was thin because you used lemon juice instead of orange zest. I use zest in my recipe to avoid thinning out the sauce — it will be thin using juice. You could use lemon zest next time instead of orange, but it wouldn’t really be orange chicken then. 😉 When I made this recipe and ate strictly low carb, I zested the orange for the recipe and gave the orange to my kids. To answer your question though, I don’t recommend thickening sauces with coconut flour, because it makes them gritty. You could try one of my cornstarch substitutes here, or replace the sweetener with my sugar-free orange honey, which naturally thickens as you heat it and then you won’t need the zest. Hope this helps!
Joan
0I haven’t tried your recipe – yet – but, I was wondering: what do you do with the rest of the orange? Toss it? That’s rather pricey just to get the zest. Could orange extract or orange oil be used instead? It’s too bad that the dried peels contain the pith.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Joan, If there isn’t anyone else in your house who would eat the orange, then you may want to find an alternative. Dried orange peel can be purchased and used in place of fresh orange zest and it will have a much longer shelf life than a fresh orange (it’s more concentrated though, so you’d use less than fresh). I have not tried using orange extract, but I think it would depend a lot on the quality of the extract.
Diane Sheats
0I haven’t tried this yet but reading this comment, it occurred to me that orange essential oil might work very nicely in this recipe. I think I’ll try that. The other day we made soup that called for lemongrass and didn’t have any, but a few drops of lemongrass oil gave it more flavor than lemongrass usually gives it! Of course, be sure to use food-grade essential oils.
Natalie
0This looks amazing! But I don’t eat pork, what can I replace the pork rinds with??
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Natalie, Almond flour is the best substitution for pork rinds. Enjoy!
Elena
0Anxious to try this recipe! Looks really good!
Sam
0This orange chicken was easy to make and so delicious!
Katie
0Looks so delicious! Can’t wait to try this one with my family.