Gluten Free Spicy Orange Chicken

Serving  size  4

Prep   10  mins
Cook   30  mins

Total Time:   40 mins

 Gluten Free       Egg Free

 Lactose Free  

Have you given up on ever having restaurant style orange chicken again?  You must try this gluten free version.  This spicy orange chicken is perfect for any weeknight you need a hearty, filling meal for your family. Another mom friend shared this recipe with me as one of her go-to-school night specials, the one her mom had made growing up.  We simply made a few tweaks to make it gluten free and a little spicier to fit our family’s taste buds.  Voila! A new family favorite.”

 

• 4 chicken breasts
• 2 – 3 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1-2 tsp red pepper flakes, add according to your heat tolerance
• 1 sweet or yellow onion, sliced
• 3/4 cup gluten free all-purpose flour mix
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1-2 tablespoons grapeseed oil or olive oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Slice whole yellow or sweet onion in rings.  Set aside.
2. Cut chicken breasts into bite size (or slightly larger) cubes.  Set aside.
3. Mix gluten free flour with sea salt, garlic powder, and pepper in a bowl.
4. Gently toss raw chicken in flour mixture, lightly coating all pieces.
5. Heat oil in large frying pan on med-high heat.
6. When oil is hot, add coated chicken pieces.  Keep on heat for 2-3 minutes, or until nicely browned.
7. Pour orange juice into frying pan.  (Beware it let out a lot of steam initially.)  Orange juice should almost cover chicken pieces.
8. Lay all onion rings over chicken.
9. Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to simmer and cover.
10. Cook down until orange juice has been completely reduced to a thick sauce.  It usually takes 20-30 minutes.  Stir occasionally.
11. Add red pepper flakes to your suit family’s heat threshold.  Serve with organic quinoa or organic jasmine rice.

Chef Notes:

Half of our family has an infinity for spicy food and the other half is less tolerant.  To accommodate everyone’s taste buds I usually split the chicken in two separate servings at the very end before adding the spice.  I then add a little extra red pepper flakes to one and go light on the other.

If you want some great leftovers for lunch add an extra chicken breast or two to the above ingredients.

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 Gluten Free       Egg Free      Lactose Free    Vegetarian          *Dairy Free