Easy Keto Low Carb Orange Chicken
This Easy Keto Low Carb Orange Chicken is the perfect meal for healthy take-out at home! This sugar-free version can be made with either juicy chicken thighs or breasts and is drizzled with a decadent sauce and tossed with sesame seeds.
Servings 2 servings
Calories 381kcal
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts Cut into 1 inch chunks.
- 1 egg Beaten
- 3 tablespoons baking powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar Unseasoned and unsweetened.
- 4 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or Liquid Aminos or Coconut Aminos
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ginger If using ground ginger start with ⅛ teaspoon and add more/adjust to taste if necessary.
- 2-3 garlic cloves Minced
- ⅓ cup zero calorie sweetener
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons orange zest This is typically one orange, but will vary based on size. The zest should be very fine.
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum See notes for substitution.
Optional Garnish
- sesame seeds
- chopped green onions
Instructions
Chicken Assembly
- Add the chunks of chicken to a large bowl. Add the beaten egg to the bowl and stir. Add the baking powder, salt and pepper and stir. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
- Place the coated chicken in the air fryer.
- Air fry on 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Open the air fryer basket and flip the chicken. Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Baking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the coated chicken on a sheet pan and in the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. (Flip the chicken halfway through.)
Sauce Assembly
- While the chicken cooks, add all of the ingredients (except for the xanthan gum) for the sauce to a saucepan or skillet on medium heat. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly until the sweetener has melted and the zest disintegrates.
- Add 2 tablespoons of the sauce to a small bowl with the xanthan gum and stir. When it thickens, add the mixture to the sauce and stir continuously. It will take several minutes to thicken.
- Coat the cooked chicken in the orange sauce. Serve with sesame seeds if desired.
Video
Notes
- Since orange juice isn't used, the dish may look more brown than orange. This is fine.
- Taste the sauce repeatedly and adjust to suit your taste. The first time you make it, I recommend starting with half of the sweetener noted in the recipe. Continue to taste and adjust as needed. The same goes for the other ingredients like the ginger and soy sauce. Add more or use less in order to fit your preference.
- Double the ingredients for 4 servings. I would start with 3 tablespoons of soy sauce and adjust to taste if necessary. Start with ⅓ cup of sweetener (as noted in the recipe) and adjust to taste if necessary.
- Monkfruit sweetener measures 1:1 like refined sugar. If you want to use table sugar you can use the same amount noted in the recipe.
- Another low carb substitute for xanthan gum is the Keto Wheat Flour from King Arthur Baking. Combine one tablespoon with 1 tablespoon of water and add the mix to the sauce. Stir to thicken.
- If you aren't concerned with the carbs you can substitute xanthan gum for either flour or cornstarch along with 1 tablespoon of water. Combine the two in a small bowl and add it to the mixture.
- I recommend using a citrus zester to zest the orange. You want the zest to be super fine so that it easily disintegrates within the sauce mixture. You can also use the fine side of the cheese grater. If your zest isn't fine enough and you run into trouble getting it to incorporate with the sauce, you may need to strain it. Ensuring it's fine in texture prevents this.
- You can reduce the carbs by using something like orange extract. I prefer to use the real thing, and have not tested it. You will have to experiment with how much is appropriate to use.
- Macros use chicken thighs. Feel free to use a calculator of your choice and adjust as necessary.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 18g