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    Home » Recipes » Dairy Free

    Instant Pot Orange Chicken

    Published: Oct 27, 2019 Modified: Feb 20, 2023 by Karen Kelly This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Sweet and tender Instant Pot Orange Chicken is ready for a weeknight dinner is less than 30 minutes.  The whole family will love the flavorful sauce and you'll love how easy it is to make.  {gluten free}

    healthy Instant Pot Orange Chicken with green beans in a white bowl

    Are you feeling pressure to hop on the Instant Pot train?  I think it's safe to say you should.  If you are anything like me, with a house full of chaos most nights, you need a little help getting dinner on the table.  Why do you think all those meal delivery kits are so popular right now?

    We are busy, stressed-out folks who still have to eat!

    The number one advantage to the Instant Pot is that it cooks QUICK.  For example, this Instant Pot Orange Chicken only had to cook for 5 minutes.  The result is a tender chicken and a thick juicy sauce.

    The only downside to the Instant Pot is that the saute function really doesn't brown the chicken well - it's nothing like cooking on the stovetop.  So the chicken can sometimes lack some of that browning flavor.  But I'm okay with that for weeknights when I want dinner on the table fast.

    If you are in the market here is the Instant Pot I love.  It never lets me down and I've never gotten a burn message like many people complain about.

    I think you are going to love this Easy Instant Pot Orange Chicken because it's...

    • ready in under 30 minutes
    • made with pantry staples
    • full of flavorful sauce that can be spooned over rice too
    • gluten-free if you use tamari instead of soy sauce
    • kid and husband friendly
    • low carb if served with cauliflower rice

    Health Benefits of Chicken

    Chicken is full of health benefits. It is an excellent source of protein. It is low in calories, cholesterol, sodium, and fat. And it contains a variety of beneficial nutrients including Iron, Phosphorus, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, and more. The American Heart Association even recommends that people give preference to lean meats like chicken and fish rather than red meats like beef and pork.

    Instant Pot Orange Chicken with green beans

    My daughter loves orange chicken and prefers the frozen kind from Trader Joe's.  I've heard that is the top-selling product from TJ's - it's that good!  But it's loaded with weird ingredients so it's always healthier to make it homemade.

    This is a nice compromise.  The chicken is not deep fried and it's made with simple pantry staples.  Using fresh squeezed orange juice really amps up the flavor. You just can't get that flavor from the refrigerated orange juice.  I tried to cut down on the sugar but wanted my kids to eat it so I added only 2 tablespoons.

    Ingredients to Make This Recipe

    • Chicken breasts - Chicken breasts work better than thighs in this recipe.
    • Sesame oil - Sesame oil adds a nice flavor to Asian-inspired dishes.
    • Salt and pepper - Brings out the flavor in the dish.
    • Orange juice - Fresh squeezed orange juice adds flavor you can't get from store-bought juice.
    • Soy sauce - Instantly adds bold flavor.
    • Garlic - Garlic helps to liven up the dish.
    • Sugar - Adds a little extra sweetness.
    • Ginger - Ginger helps to brighten up the dish.
    • Corn starch - Corn starch (mixed with water) thickens up the orange sauce.

    How to Make Instant Pot Orange Chicken

    1. In a small bowl whisk the fresh orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

    2. Turn Instant Pot to saute and add sesame oil. Add chicken and brown for 3-4 minutes.

    3. Turn pot off. Whisk sauce again and add to the pot.

    4. Close lid and push manual. Set timer for five minutes.  Set vent to closed.

    5. When the timer goes off let it naturally release for ten minutes. Then carefully open the pot.

    6. Set pot to saute again.  Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and add to pot.  Stir well and let saute for about 5 minutes or until sauce thickens to your liking.

    orange chicken instant pot close up

    I like to serve mine with cauliflower rice that I keep in the freezer (also from TJ's). The kiddos eat theirs with rice that I cook hands-off in my cheap rice cooker.  It's so easy!

    More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes to Try

    • Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki Recipe
    • Instant Pot Chicken Stir Fry
    • Instant Pot Chicken Curry
    • Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
    • Instant Pot Chicken Soup
    • Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
    • 35 Gluten Free Chicken Dinners for Easy Meal Planning

    If you make this recipe, let me know what you think! I’d love it if you could add a star rating ★ and a comment below. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too!

    Instant Pot Orange Chicken with green beans in a white bowl

    Instant Pot Orange Chicken

     Sweet and tender Instant Pot Orange Chicken is ready for a weeknight dinner is less than 30 minutes.  The whole family will love the flavorful sauce and you'll love how easy it is to make.  {gluten free}
    4.81 from 26 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Keyword: chicken, instant pot, orange
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 370kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces
    • 1 ½ tablespoon sesame oil
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ¾ cup fresh orange juice
    • ¼ cup soy sauce (or tamari if gluten free)
    • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
    • 2 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 teaspoon ginger
    • 1 tablespoon corn starch
    • 1 tablespoon water

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl whisk the fresh orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, salt and pepper. Set aside.  Add siracha if you like spice.
    • Turn Instant Pot to saute and add sesame oil.  Add chicken and brown for 3-4 minutes.  It won't brown that well but it does add some flavor.
    • Turn pot off.  Whisk sauce again and add to the pot. Scrape up any chicken bits from bottom of pot.  
    • Close lid and push manual. Set timer for five minutes.  Set vent to closed.
    • When timer goes off let it naturally release for ten minutes.  Then carefully open the pot.  
    • Set pot to saute again.  Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and add to pot.  Stir well and let saute for about 5 minutes or until sauce thickens to your liking. 
    • Serve over rice or cauliflower rice.  

    Notes

    Be sure to use tamari instead of soy sauce if you are gluten free.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1365mg | Potassium: 974mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 26.9mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1.3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @seasonal_cravings or tag #seasonal_cravings and I will repost on my stories.

    Adapted from Allrecipes.

    About Karen Kelly

    Hi, I'm Karen Kelly a certified health coach, freelance food writer, and blogger. At Seasonal Cravings, you will find wholesome gluten-free recipes and healthy lifestyle tips.

    Reader Interactions

    If you make this recipe, be sure to tag #seasonal_cravings on Instagram.  Please leave a comment below and rate the recipe. Thanks so much!

    Follow us on Pinterest, Facebook , and Instagram for all of the latest recipes and content.

     

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lindsey Dietz

      April 30, 2018 at 9:44 am

      5 stars
      House full of orange chicken lovers here! Haven't tried it in my IP yet, but definitely will!

      Reply
    2. Joni Gomes

      April 30, 2018 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      Love this recipe and the use of orange juice!

      Reply
    3. Yvonne

      April 30, 2018 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      Love Instantpot recipes! Can't wait to try out a low carb version of this.

      Reply
    4. Tessa Simpson

      April 30, 2018 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      orange chicken is a kid fav! What would yo recommend for those of us that do not do sugar?

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        May 01, 2018 at 12:52 pm

        Hi Tessa. I have made it without the sugar and it works just fine. The orange juice is naturally sweet so that helps!

        Reply
      • Saema

        January 01, 2019 at 10:38 pm

        I made this using Splenda! It tasted great and with no aftertaste! 2tbsp sugar was approximately 4 Splenda pkts

        Reply
    5. Emily @ Recipes to Nourish

      April 30, 2018 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      I'm a huge fan of all things IP! This orange chicken looks amazing! This is one of my favorite flavor combos with chicken, I can't wait to try it.

      Reply
    6. Raia Todd

      April 30, 2018 at 5:54 pm

      This sounds so delicious! I love real-food-ified Chinese AND I love the Instant Pot. So this is definitely a must try for me!

      Reply
    7. Jean

      April 30, 2018 at 6:30 pm

      5 stars
      This orange chicken looks soooo flavorful. Can't believe it's only 5 minutes cook time in the IP!

      Reply
    8. linda spiker

      April 30, 2018 at 7:50 pm

      5 stars
      IP comes through again! This looks delish!

      Reply
    9. Carrie

      May 01, 2018 at 9:58 am

      5 stars
      I love how easy this is and it sounds to die for, on the list for weeknight dinners!

      Reply
    10. Vanessa Price

      May 01, 2018 at 10:41 am

      5 stars
      I will definitely be trying this recipe out! I love the all natural ingredients and that it comes together so quickly.

      Reply
    11. Katie Mae @ Nourishing Simplicity

      May 01, 2018 at 8:17 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, I love how easy this is! Orange chicken is a big deal for my family, so I beat that they would love it!

      Reply
    12. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen

      May 01, 2018 at 8:33 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome idea to serve this with cauliflower rice Karen. It looks delicious!

      Reply
    13. LoveCompassionateLee

      May 01, 2018 at 10:35 pm

      5 stars
      I love finding new recipes for chicken because I can get bored with it easily. This recipe is flavorful and easy to prepare.

      Happy Tuesday
      http://www.lovecompassionatelee.com/thinkoutloud/success-that-lasts

      Reply
    14. Yang

      May 03, 2018 at 1:42 pm

      5 stars
      This dish is so easy to make in the Instant pot! So perfect for busy moms. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    15. Megan Stevens

      May 03, 2018 at 5:48 pm

      5 stars
      This looks completely delicious!! Love that sauce with oj and ginger, yum!!

      Reply
    16. ChihYu

      May 03, 2018 at 10:02 pm

      5 stars
      I adore anything made from Instant Pot because it's always so easy and this Asian take on orange chicken speaks right to my belly ! YUM !!

      Reply
    17. Carol Little R.H. @studiobotanica

      May 04, 2018 at 10:26 pm

      5 stars
      I'm always on the lookout for IP recipes full of flavour like this one! Appreciate all the options for changing up -- and my cauliflower rice will be perfect with this too! Thanks for adding the WW points! Helpful!

      Reply
    18. Karly

      May 06, 2018 at 7:14 pm

      I love my instant pot! Great recipe! I'll need to add this to my meal plan!

      Reply
    19. Christina

      May 06, 2018 at 9:31 pm

      5 stars
      Why haven't I made orange chicken in the IP before?? YUM! This looks perfect!

      Reply
    20. Tatiana

      May 08, 2018 at 2:12 am

      5 stars
      I like easy instant pot recipes a lot. In less then 30 minutes? yes please!

      Reply
    21. Kimberly

      May 08, 2018 at 10:52 am

      5 stars
      Made this dish and it was full of flavour. The family loved it.

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        May 08, 2018 at 5:50 pm

        Yay, so happy to hear that! Thanks for letting me know.

        Reply
    22. Marianne Lamb

      December 04, 2018 at 1:12 pm

      Making this tonight but it looks like you dont cook rice in pot, correct? Have you ever tried to do that too with this dish?

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        December 05, 2018 at 5:20 am

        I have not tried to do them both in the Instant Pot at the same time. Hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    23. Jamie Priest

      March 20, 2019 at 8:19 am

      Just wondering a substitute for the soy sauce, very hi in sodium and need an alternative. Thanks

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        March 20, 2019 at 2:41 pm

        I use tamari or you can use coconut aminos. Good luck!

        Reply
    24. Rita Davis

      July 05, 2019 at 5:03 pm

      Hi, when do you add the salt and pepper?

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        July 08, 2019 at 8:12 am

        I fixed that for you! Thanks. I add it when I mix the sauce.

        Reply
    25. Be ky

      September 04, 2019 at 1:08 pm

      When do you add the ginger? Also, is it fresh ginger or ground ginger? Thanks.

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 13, 2019 at 5:25 pm

        Hi there, it's ground ginger. You add it in the beginning with the other spices. Sorry about that!

        Reply

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    Hello!

    I'm Karen Kelly a food and travel writer, health coach and recipe creator. At Seasonal Cravings you will find quick, healthy recipes and the best travel tips!

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