Keto Orange Chicken

Name: Keto Orange Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs skinless chicken breasts (chopped into bite sized pieces); 3 large eggs; 1/4 cup heavy cream; 1 cup coconut flour; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 3 tablespoons oil (to fry); 1 cup orange juice (no added sugar); 1/2 cup brown sugar substitute (or granulated sweetener of choice); 2 tablespoons white vinegar; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (optional * See notes)

by Arman Liew

updated on Mar 22, 2023

2 comments

5 from 38 votes

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This keto orange chicken is a quick and delicious dinner that takes less than 15 minutes to make! BETTER than Panda Express, the sticky keto orange sauce takes it to another level! 5 grams net carbs per serving.

Orange Chicken

Whenever I crave Chinese takeout while on a keto diet, I have a few go to recipes on hand. I sometimes make Hunan chicken and sometimes I make Hunan beef. However, when I’m feeling nostalgic, nothing beats some keto orange chicken.

What is orange chicken?

Orange chicken is an Americanized Chinese takeout dish, with origins from Hunan province. It’s made with battered chicken covered in a sweet and sticky orange sauce. Now, traditional orange chicken isn’t keto friendly, but you can easily make some switches to make it low carb!

Why this keto orange chicken recipe will be part of your weekly dinner plan-

Uses real orange juice. Juices, unless it’s a keto juice, is not suitable for a low carb diet. However, we use a small amount to give the sauce an authentic flavor WITHOUT affecting the overall carbs!
Sweet, salty, savory in one. This dish is truly a flavor lovers’ dream. It hits all the senses and leaves you completely satisfied.
Ready in 20 minutes. Like air fryer orange chicken, from prep to plate, all you need is just 20 minutes, and that includes clean up time.
Easily adaptable. While I like to keep the overall dish keto friendly by serving it over cauliflower rice, you can serve it with some steamed rice for the authentic take out fake out experience.

What I love about this dish is just how authentic it tastes. Coming from a half Asian background, I grew up eating Orange chicken, and it’s so comforting to know that, even with some low carb tweaks, it doesn’t compromise flavor or texture.

What you’ll need for this recipe

For the chicken.

Chicken breast– Skinless chicken breast fillets chopped into bite sized pieces.
Eggs– Mixed with the heavy cream to create a ‘batter’ to cover the chicken in, minus the carbs!
Heavy cream– Also known as double cream or thickened cream. When mixed with the eggs, you want the cream to be room temperature.
Coconut flour– To create a ‘batter’ before frying the chicken.
Salt and pepper– To taste.
Oil– To fry everything together. Use an oil with a high smoke point, like peanut oil or vegetable oil.

For the keto orange sauce.

Orange juice- While orange juice on its own is not keto friendly, it is suitable when used in a recipe like this one. The amount of orange juice per serving comes to just 3 grams of net carbs, so you won’t be kicked out of ketosis!
Sugar substitute– Either a brown sugar substitute or powdered sugar substitute.
White vinegar– Brings out the tang of the orange juice and balances out the sweet and salty flavors.
Soy sauce– Gluten free or tamari can also be used.
Garlic– Freshly minced garlic.
Xanthan gum– A fantastic cornstarch substitute without the excess carbs. This thickens the sauce and helps it stick to all the chicken.

How do you make keto orange chicken?

Start by preparing the keto orange sauce. In small saucepan, add all the sauce ingredients, except for the xanthan gum. Bring it to a boil, before reducing the heat to low. Add in the xanthan gum and whisk vigorously to ensure there are no clumps. Let the sauce simmer until it has thickened and becomes sticky.

Next, prepare the chicken. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and heavy cream, then add the chopped chicken to it. On a large plate, add the coconut flour, salt, and pepper. Moving quickly, dip the chicken in the coconut flour mixture, ensuring all sides are coated.

Now, add oil to a large pan or skillet. Once hot, add the chicken in batches and fry for 2-3 minutes, flipping halfway through. Repeat the process until all the chicken is fully cooked.

Finally, toss the chicken through the orange sauce until completely coated and serve immediately.

Tips to make the best recipe

If you prefer a thinner sauce, omit the xanthan gum completely.
The batter and ‘breading’ for the chicken is completely optional. If you’d like a healthier orange chicken, omit it completely.
For a spicy kick, add some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes into the sauce.

Storing, freezing, and reheating instructions

To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days.
To freeze: Place the cooled orange chicken in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Reheating: Either microwave the chicken and sauce in 30-second spurts or reheat it in a non-stick pan.

More keto chicken recipes to try

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Panda Express orange chicken keto friendly?

No dish at Panda Express is keto friendly. While some of their dishes are lower in carbs than others, they contain far too much sugar, and will kick you out of ketosis.

Is orange okay for keto?

Oranges aren’t one of the lower carb fruits, but are perfectly fine to enjoy on a keto diet. Per one large orange, there is 12 grams of carbs. While they shouldn’t be enjoyed in abundance, a small amount is fine on a daily basis.

Is orange chicken high in carbs?

Traditional orange chicken typically contains over 40 grams of carbs per serving. However, this keto version has just 5 grams of net carbs per serving.

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.