This orange ginger chicken recipe is one of those easy dinners that delivers far more flavor than the effort required. Fresh orange juice, ginger, honey, and garlic create a sweet and tangy marinade that keeps the chicken juicy while giving it a beautiful caramelized exterior. If you enjoy bright, citrusy chicken dinners, my Cilantro Lime Chicken is another easy recipe you will love.
Chicken thighs are especially delicious here because they remain tender as the honey-orange ginger marinade cooks and thickens in the skillet. Serve them with simple jasmine rice and vegetables, or add my Bok Choy Stir Fry for a quick side dish with fresh ginger, garlic, soy, and sesame flavors.
Chicken thighs are especially delicious here because they remain tender as the honey-orange ginger marinade cooks and thickens in the skillet. Serve it with simple jasmine rice and vegetables for an easy dinner that comes together in about 45 minutes.
Recipe Overview: Orange Ginger
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 4 people
- Cook Method: skillet
- Flavor & Texture: Sweet, citrusy, warm with ginger, lightly tangy and beautifully caramelized, with juicy, tender chicken.
- Difficulty: Easy.
- Why this Recipe? A simple citrus-ginger marinade turns everyday chicken into a flavorful 45-minute dinner.
In this Article
A Note From Giangi
Key Ingredients
Chicken thighs – Juicy, flavorful, and ideal for this recipe because they stay tender while the honey-orange marinade caramelizes. Chicken breasts can also be used.
Fresh orange juice – Adds natural sweetness, acidity, and the bright citrus flavor that defines the sauce.
Fresh ginger – Brings a warm, slightly spicy note that balances the sweetness of the orange and honey.
Honey – Adds sweetness while helping the chicken develop a beautifully caramelized exterior.
Mayonnaise – Helps the marinade cling to the chicken while adding richness and keeping the meat moist.
Lemon-orange horseradish – Adds citrusy heat and a subtle sharpness that gives the marinade extra depth.
Garlic – Adds a savory note that rounds out the sweet, citrusy, and spicy flavors of the marinade.
How to Make Orange Ginger Chicken
Step 1: Prepare the marinade. In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon-orange horseradish, freshly squeezed orange juice, grated ginger, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until well blended.
Step 2: Marinate the chicken. Add the chicken to the bowl and turn each piece until completely coated with the orange ginger marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 3: Heat the skillet. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Once hot, but not smoking, remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off the excess.
Step 4: Cook the chicken. Place the chicken in the hot skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Because the marinade contains honey, watch the heat carefully so the chicken caramelizes without burning.
Step 5: Finish the sauce. If you want extra sauce, use the marinade that you reserved before adding the raw chicken, and let it simmer in the skillet until slightly thickened. Do not reuse raw-chicken marinade unless it has been thoroughly boiled.
Step 6: Serve. Cook until the chicken reaches 165°F internally, then let it rest for a few minutes. Spoon the orange ginger sauce over the chicken and serve with jasmine rice or your favorite vegetables.
Giangi’s Pro Tips
- Grate the ginger finely so its flavor distributes throughout the marinade.
- Do not overcrowd the skillet or the chicken will steam instead of brown.
- Honey caramelizes quickly, so lower the heat if the sauce begins to darken too fast.
- Chicken thighs are more forgiving than breasts and remain juicy during skillet cooking.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Reserve clean marinade before adding the raw chicken if you want extra sauce.
What to serve with Orange Ginger Chicken
This orange ginger chicken has plenty of flavor, so simple sides work beautifully. Serve it with jasmine rice or my cilantro lime rice with jasmine rice for something bright and fresh. For a heartier option, easy Nasi Goreng fried rice makes the meal more substantial.
For vegetables, my bok choy stir fry with ginger and garlic or asparagus stir-fry with ginger mushrooms keeps the same fresh ginger flavors running throughout the dinner.
Storage and Reheating
Store: Refrigerate cooled chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet with a tablespoon or two of water or chicken stock so the sauce loosens without drying out the chicken.
Freeze: If you have tested freezing it successfully, add your firsthand guidance. If not, I would not invent one.
More Asian Flair Recipes
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Orange Ginger Chicken – Sweet, Tangy & Easy
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons lemon orange horseradish
- 1 orange, squeezed
- 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 8 chicken tighs, trimmed or 4 chicken breasts
Instructions
- Marinate: in a large bowl mix the mayonnaise, Lemon-Orange Horseradish, juice from the orange, grated ginger, honey and salt and pepper. Blend well and add the chicken insuring that each piece of chicken is nicely cover with the marinate. Marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator
- In a large skillet over medium high heat add the oil. When hot, but not smoking, remove the chicken from the bowl and shake off any excess sauce.
- Add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook turning occasionally. Because of the honey the chicken will be a bit sticky, add some of the marinate to the skillet.
Nutrition
Giangi’s Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.
- Course: Dinners, Poultry
- Cuisine: International
- Type: Under 45 minutes
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Giangi Townsend
The perfect at-home orange chicken that we keep coming back to over and over. Easy and delicious.