Healthy Orange Chicken With Broccoli
Healthy takeout at home. Orange chicken with broccoli is an easy and light version of the Asian-inspired classic — no frying required. You’ll also love my turkey fried rice, ground beef stir fry, and easy enchilada casserole.

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Everyone loves a delicious order of juicy orange chicken — me included.
But as a Registered Dietitian, I don’t love how this takeout classic is usually higher in fat and calories than most of us need. And it’s usually lacking in the vegetable department, too.
If you want a healthier (and much easier) version of orange chicken you can make right at home, you’ll love my recipe for healthy orange chicken with broccoli.
Made in less than 30-minutes, this is an easy weeknight meal with lots of nutrition and loads of flavor — no frying required.
Why you’ll love orange chicken with broccoli
- Ready in under 30-minutes
- Minimal chopping and prep required
- Super flavorful sauce that’s good for your body
- Easy to customize — add more veggies, swap the meat, or add extra spice

What makes this recipe healthy?
This dietitian-made recipe maximizes nutrition without sacrificing satisfaction.
Here’s how I made this particular recipe more nutrient-dense:
- More fiber and micronutrients because of added broccoli
- Fewer calories and not-so-healthy fats because we skip frying
- More balanced macronutrients to support fitness and other health goals
Ingredients in healthy orange chicken
Chicken and broccoli
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs — swap with cubed chicken breast for more protein and less fat, though I prefer the flavor and texture of chicken thighs
- Corn starch — this helps the chicken thighs brown and get crispy
- Salt and pepper
- Olive or avocado oil — any neutral oil works, or use cooking spray instead
- Chopped broccoli florets — make sure they’re chopped small so they cook quickly

Orange chicken sauce
- Pulp-free orange juice — you could also squeeze your own if you’re feeling fancy
- Corn starch — this helps the sauce thicken, so don’t skip it
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Honey — you could use table sugar, brown sugar, or maple syrup instead
- Red chili flakes
- Fresh garlic
- Fresh ginger — you can swap for dried ground ginger if needed
Make it easier
- Buy pre-chopped broccoli florets
- Use jarred, pre-minced garlic
- Use dried ginger
Dietary restrictions
Lower sodium: Use low sodium soy sauce.
Gluten-free: Use gluten-free tamari or soy sauce, and make sure all ingredients are free from gluten contamination.
Extra protein: Use extra chicken thighs, or swap thighs for chicken breast.
How to make orange chicken with broccoli
To a large bowl, add chicken, corn starch, salt, and pepper. Stir until chicken is evenly coated. Set aside.


To a new medium bowl or large measuring cup, add all your sauce ingredients and whisk. Set aside.

Add olive oil to your pan and heat to just shy of medium-high. Add chicken. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, uncovered, until all sides are golden brown. It’s okay if the chicken isn’t fully cooked through.

Turn the heat down to medium-low. Add broccoli and sauce, and stir. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. It’s done when your sauce is thickened, chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 F, and broccoli is fork tender.


Serve over rice with sesame seeds and sliced green onion. Enjoy!
How to serve healthy orange chicken
My favorite way to serve this orange chicken with broccoli is scooped over rice. I also recommend topping with sesame seeds and sliced green onion. You could add chili crisp for extra spice.
For more nutrition, try one of these hacks:
- Cook rice in high protein bone broth
- Swap white rice for chickpea orzo or RightRice
- Swap rice for quinoa
Storage and re-heating
To store: Store orange chicken and broccoli in a food container with a fitted lid. Store separately from any rice or grains for best results.
Fridge: Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Re-heat: Sprinkle with water and re-heat in the microwave for 60-90 seconds, or until heated through. You can also re-heat stovetop on medium-low heat. I recommend adding some extra liquid while re-heating to make it saucy again.
Important tips
- Use chicken thighs if you can. While you can swap the chicken thighs for chicken breast, I much prefer the flavor and texture of the thighs. Rest assured, both are a perfectly healthy choice! But the chicken thighs will be juicier and more tender than breast in this recipe.
- Make sure your pan is hot. This will help you get some nice browning on your chicken. Just don’t crank it too hot or things could burn.
More healthy dinner ideas
High protein minestrone soup
Healthy bell pepper nachos
Slow cooker chicken pot pie soup
Creamy red chicken chili
One-pot cheesesteak pasta
Ground turkey vegetable soup
Healthier hamburger helper

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Healthy Orange Chicken With Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 6 thighs), cut into ¾-inch chunks
- 2 Tbsp corn starch
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 Tbsp olive oil, or other neutral oil
- 4 cups chopped broccoli florets
Orange Chicken Sauce
- 1 cup pulp-free orange juice
- 2 Tbsp corn starch
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ tsp red chili flakes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp minced fresh ginger, or ⅛ tsp dried ground ginger
To Serve
- sliced green onions and sesame seeds
- cooked rice
Equipment
- 1 large pan or pot
Instructions
- To a large bowl, add chicken, corn starch, salt, and pepper. Stir until chicken is evenly coated. Set aside.
- To a new medium bowl or large measuring cup, add all your sauce ingredients and whisk. Set aside.
- Add olive oil to your pan and heat to just shy of medium-high. Add chicken. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, uncovered, until all sides are golden brown. It's okay if the chicken isn't fully cooked through.
- Turn the heat down to medium-low. Add broccoli and sauce, and stir. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. It's done when your sauce is thickened, chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 F, and broccoli is fork tender.
- Serve over rice with sesame seeds and sliced green onion. Enjoy!