Hoisin and orange flavors wed to create a mouth-watering, quick and easy, healthy Orange Hoisin Chicken dish in just 20 minutes!
This hoisin chicken is popular any time of the year, but perfect for a special occasion, Valentine's day, or Sunday dinner!
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Quick Staple Dishes are the best! I have many staple dishes and this one is up there in my top 5. I have been making it for a very long time. If you love hoisin sauce and chicken, give my Hoisin Baked Chicken Quarters a try too!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
For this hoisin sauce chicken recipe, you'll need:
- Orange (zest and juice). I prefer to use fresh orange juice (you'll need about 1.5 oranges). I use the zest from one of those oranges.
- Hoisin sauce. Hoisin sauce is essentially 'Chinese BBQ sauce' and it's the star of the show in this recipe. Just be sure to measure accurately; less is more!
- Red pepper flakes. These add a nice little hint of spice!
*see recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Meat: I have made it with both pork chops, pork loin, and chicken, depending on what I have on hand. You could use skinless chicken thighs as well. However, you'll want to use chicken breast if you want to keep the WW points down
- Orange juice: I prefer to use freshly squeezed, but I have used store-bought, as well as 5 Alive juice from concentrate, as well
- Oil - you could use sesame oil, canola oil, vegetable oil or another type of oil instead of olive oil
- Garnish: you could use sesame seeds or green onions
🔪 How to Make Orange Hoisin Chicken
- Step 1: In a nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium - high heat and add chicken.
- Step 2: Cook chicken, turning once, for about 10 minutes (this will depend on the thickness of the chicken breast).
- Step 3: Once the chicken is done (it's golden on each side and no longer pink inside and its internal temperature is 165 degrees F/74 degree C) transfer it to a plate and keep warm
- Step 4: Orange Hoisin Sauce: Combine orange zest and juice, hoisin sauce, and hot pepper flakes.
- Step 5: Add garlic to skillet; cook for 1 minute.
- Step 6: Add the orange hoisin sauce mixture to skillet.
- Step 7: Bring to a boil, stirring for 3 minutes, until slightly thickened.
- Step 8: Return chicken to skillet, turning to coat ; heat through.
Recipe Tips
- Use a Digital Meat Thermometer. If you want juicy chicken, to ensure the chicken is perfectly cooked, use a digital meat thermometer. The chicken is ready when it reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Skillet. If you're doubling the recipe, cook the chicken in batches. Overcrowding the skillet can cause the chicken to steam instead of sear, resulting in less caramelization and flavor.
- Use Freshly Grated Orange Zest. Grate the orange zest directly over the mixing bowl for the sauce. This ensures that the oils from the zest go straight into the sauce, maximizing the citrus flavor.
- Marinate for Extra Flavor (Optional). For even more flavor, marinate the chicken in a mix of hoisin sauce, orange juice, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for 30 minutes before cooking.
Top tip
Serve this Hoisin chicken with orange sauce with noodles and steamed asparagus (and while the chicken cooks, why not minimize the clutter and clean up by steaming some asparagus on top of the boiling water for the noodles?) Or steam asparagus in the microwave (see VIDEO below). Drizzle some of the sauce over the noodles for extra flavor!
🥗 What to eat with Orange Hoisin Chicken
Quick thin noodles pair well with this hoisin orange chicken (I used Chinese Chow Mein noodles that cook in 3 minutes), as does brown rice or jasmine rice. For vegetables, I like to serve my Healthy Glazed Carrots (with Brown Sugar) or Green beans and Mushrooms (shown) with this hoisin chicken recipe.
👪 Serving Size
This hoisin sauce chicken recipe is 4 servings. However, it can always be reduced to 2 or you have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day and really you can't go wrong with that * ALL MY RECIPES HAVE ADJUSTABLE SERVINGS- just click on the servings amount and select the number of servings you'd like, then the ingredient amounts will adjust accordingly. I actually double it so I can have leftovers.
🔢WW Points
This easy recipe is Weight Watchers friendly @ 3 WW points per serving.
🌡️Storing TV
Store this chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It can also be frozen in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
By the way, it is kid-tested, approved, and highly recommended. A home-cooked meal is a great way to show your love on Valentine's Day and this Hoisin Orange Chicken dinner is the perfect recipe.
If you want to stay on track and are looking for a healthy dessert to go with your healthy meal, then try my Healthy & Light Strawberry Chocolate Icebox Cake for Two. It's also Weight Watchers friendly.
❔Recipe FAQ's
To prevent the sauce from burning, ensure you stir it constantly while bringing it to a boil and keep the heat at medium to medium-high for only 3 minutes. Using a nonstick skillet also helps.
Yes, but make sure to fully thaw the chicken breasts before cooking to ensure even cooking and proper absorption of the sauce
If the sauce isn’t thick enough to your liking, mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of cold water to create a slurry. Stir this into the sauce while it’s simmering until it reaches your desired consistency.
This Hoisin Orange Chicken is a healthy, delicious, and elegant dinner for a weeknight or special occasion. So if you're looking for a hoisin sauce for chicken breast this is a great recipe!
🐔More Healthy Chicken Breast Recipe
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📋Orange Hoisin Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest (the zest from 1 orange)
- ½ cup orange juice Note: I use whatever I have on hand. I prefer to freshly squeeze the orange juice, as you only need 1-2 oranges, but I will use Five Alive tropical juice boxes if that's all I happen to have in the house!
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Garnish:
- orange wedges or slices optional
- carrot cut outs/chips optional, chive sprigs and long Italian radicchio
Instructions
- In nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium - high heat: cook chicken, turning once, for a 8-10 minutes (this will depend on the thickness of the chicken breast) or until golden on each side and no longer pink inside. Transfer to plate keep warm.
- Add garlic to skillet; cook for 1 minute. Combine orange zest and juice, hoisin sauce and hot pepper flakes. Add to skillet and bring to a boil; stirring for 3 minutes or until thickened slightly.
- Return chicken to skillet, turning to coat ; heat through
Notes
-
- Use a Digital Meat Thermometer. To ensure the chicken is perfectly cooked, use a digital meat thermometer. The chicken is ready when it reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
-
- Don’t Overcrowd the Skillet. If you're doubling the recipe, cook the chicken in batches. Overcrowding the skillet can cause the chicken to steam instead of sear, resulting in less caramelization and flavor.
-
- Use Freshly Grated Orange Zest. Grate the orange zest directly over the mixing bowl for the sauce. This ensures that the oils from the zest go straight into the sauce, maximizing the citrus flavor.
-
- Marinate for Extra Flavor (Optional). For even more flavor, marinate the chicken in a mix of hoisin sauce, orange juice, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for 30 minutes before cooking.
Nutrition
Markus Mueller
Hoisin really is the Chinese BBQ Sauce! I use it in a lot of my home made sauce recipes, such as my sweet and sour meatballs! So delicious! I'll have to try this orange and hoisin glaze soon!
Food Meanderings
Thanks Markus. Yes, hoisin sauce is just so versatile- I have such 'a thing' for it too! I hope you enjoy it!
Markus Mueller
Hoisin really is the Chinese BBQ Sauce! I use it in a lot of my home made sauce recipes, such as my sweet and sour meatballs! So delicious! I'll have to try this orange and hoisin glaze soon!
Food Meanderings
Thanks Markus. Yes, hoisin sauce is just so versatile- I have such 'a thing' for it too! I hope you enjoy it!
tinysweettooth
I love hoisin sauce ! I use it for stir fry, marinade, dipping.... The orange gives a refreshing touch to the dish, delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Food Meanderings
Thanks-hope you enjoy it!
tinysweettooth
I love hoisin sauce ! I use it for stir fry, marinade, dipping.... The orange gives a refreshing touch to the dish, delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Food Meanderings
Thanks-hope you enjoy it!
Redawna
I love this! I tend to make complex long drawn out recipes and I need to start making meals that are quick and delicious. I will probably substitute mango juice for the orange or 5 Alive as that is when we drink most often. Looking forward to giving this a try.
Have a fantastic weekend!
Food Meanderings
Thanks Redawna! Yes, mango juice would work wonderfully too. I hope you enjoy it!
Redawna
I love this! I tend to make complex long drawn out recipes and I need to start making meals that are quick and delicious. I will probably substitute mango juice for the orange or 5 Alive as that is when we drink most often. Looking forward to giving this a try.
Have a fantastic weekend!
Food Meanderings
Thanks Redawna! Yes, mango juice would work wonderfully too. I hope you enjoy it!
foodinbooks
Yum! Chicken and orange are one my my favorite flavor combos. This is going on my "to try" list. Thank you!
Food Meanderings
Thanks - I hope you enjoy it!
foodinbooks
Yum! Chicken and orange are one my my favorite flavor combos. This is going on my "to try" list. Thank you!
Food Meanderings
Thanks - I hope you enjoy it!
The Baptist Bluegrass Belle
Looks divine!
Food Meanderings
Thanks! It's super easy and fast too!
The Baptist Bluegrass Belle
Looks divine!
Food Meanderings
Thanks! It's super easy and fast too!