Flavorful Orange Chicken and Green Beans
Orange chicken is a fan favorite at many Chinese restaurants, and this recipe brings that flavor with sugar and frying that leads to guilt. Marinate the skinless chicken breast in orange juice, pan sear and then bake it for a delicious and new taste. Serve it with orange-spiked green beans for a nutritious and filling meal.
Servings 8
Calories 302kcal
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 4 cups fresh orange juice
- 4 Tablespoons grated orange zest
- 8 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts
- Fresh ground pepper
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
For the Green Beans:
- 10 oz fresh, organic, green beans
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- dash of salt and pepper
For the Orange-Brandy Sauce
- 2 Tablespoon coconut oil
- 3 shallots, minced
- 2 Tablespoons brandy
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 navel orange, peeled and each segment cut into 3 pieces
- 1 Tablespoon parsley, chopped
- Dash of salt and pepper
Instructions
Cook the Chicken
- Place the orange juice and orange zest in a large Ziploc bag. Season each side of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Place the chicken breasts in the Ziploc bag, coating each side with juice. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Grease a 12-inch, oven-proof skillet with the olive oil. Place over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts in a single layer, cooking for 3 minutes. Turn the chicken, season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Place the skillet in the oven for 15 minutes, or until a thermometer registers 165 degrees F in the center of the thickest breast.
- Remove from oven and cover with foil as you make the sauce and cook the beans.
Cook the Green Beans
- Wash the beans, snap off and discard the stems. Place in a large Ziploc bag with the orange juice and orange zest. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Heat a medium sized skillet over medium heat. Grease with the olive oil.
- Remove beans from refrigerator, discarding the juice. Add to the skillet and cook, covered for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove cover, increase the heat and cook for an additional 3 minutes, until the beans are bright green.
Cook the Sauce
- In a medium skillet heat the coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add the minced shallot, cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the brandy.
- Return to the heat and cook, scraping the bottom, until the brandy has almost evaporated, about 30 seconds. Increase the heat to high, add the orange juice. Boil for 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth, boil for 3 minutes.
- Add in the orange segments and the parsley. Turn off heat. Season with salt and pepper.
To Serve
- Cut the chicken on the diagonal into thin slices and arrange over a pile of green beans. Drizzle with the orange-brandy sauce.
- Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 302 calories, 13g fat, 161mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, and 29g protein
Nutrition
Calories: 302kcal
