Instant Pot Orange Chicken
Instant Pot Orange Chicken - a delicious and healthier Chinese takeout favorite made in the pressure cooker. Only 30 minutes to make for the perfect easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts , cut into 1" cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
SAUCE
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (1 medium orange)
- 1/2 tablespoon orange zest (1 medium orange)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoons freshly grated or minced ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper chili flakes , optional or to taste
- salt and black pepper to taste
- INSTANT POT
OPTIONAL: TO THICKEN THE SAUCE:
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum OR arrowroot starch for Whole30
- 1/2 tablespoon water
TOPPINGS:
- Sesame seeds
- Green onion thinly sliced
Instructions
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Season the chicken with salt and black pepper. Set aside.
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Make the sauce In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce, set aside.
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Turn Instant Pot to SAUTE. Add the oil and allow the Instant Pot to heat up. Sear the chicken in batches (placing the browned chicken on a paper-towel lined plate) about 3-4 minutes on each side, until lightly browned. Once all the chicken is browned, add everything back to the Instant Pot and pour sauce over top.
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Close and seal Instant Pot. Set on MANUAL for 3 minutes, let naturally release for 10 minutes.
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Open lid then press the OFF button and then press the SAUTE button.
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Combine the xanthan gum (or arrowroot starch for Whole30) with water and stir into the Instant Pot. Allow the sauce to bubble and thicken up.
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Sprinkle with sesame seeds, green onions and serve chicken over cauliflower rice, zoodles or Jasmine / brown rice for non Whole30 / Paleo / Keto.
Recipe Notes
The sauce doubles easily if you need to make a larger batch.
***If your slow cooker runs hot, be sure to check on chicken earlier as it may cook faster than the suggested cooking times.
***This dish can easily be made with cubed extra firm tofu (roasted or unroasted) and cauliflower florets. Just cook for an hour less than you would the chicken. Mine were done cooked on HIGH at an hour and 2 hours on low.