Lighter Instant Pot Orange Chicken
Lighter Instant Pot Orange Chicken balances bright citrus with a gentle sweetness and a hint of warm spice from five-spice, garlic, and ginger. Tender bites of chicken are coated in a glossy orange sauce that’s tangy and satisfying without feeling heavy. It’s great for a quick weeknight dinner and pairs nicely with steamed rice or veggies.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves2
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lighter Instant Pot Orange Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactPoor
- 39 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 9 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 89 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 36
- Heart Health
- 45
- Metabolic
- 18
- Digestive
- 31
- Inflammatory
- 56
- Performance
- 42
- General Wellness
- 1
Turn on a multi-function pressure cooker (such as an Instant Pot) and choose the Saute setting. Add the oil.
- 2
In a bowl, mix the cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and Chinese five-spice powder. Add the chicken, toss to coat, and shake off any excess.
- 3
Saute the coated chicken in the hot oil in the pressure cooker pot until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove the chicken and let it drain on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Clean the pressure cooker pot.
- 4
Turn the pressure cooker back on and select the Saute setting. Add the orange juice, water, vinegar, coconut aminos, cornstarch, sugar, garlic, and ginger to the pot and cook, whisking often, until thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the cooked chicken and toss to coat.
- Calories 850.26 kcal High 43%
- Protein 105.95 g Good Source 212%
- Carbohydrate 31.17 g 11%
- Total Fat 33.32 g High 43%
- Saturated Fat 3.89 g Moderate 19%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 281.23 mg High 94%
- Sodium 383.7 mg Moderate 17%
- Dietary Fiber 1.2 g Low Source 4%
- Total Sugars 12.86 g --
- Added Sugars 1.26 g Low Source 3%
- Calcium 10.05 mg Low Source 1%
- Iron 3.05 mg Moderate 17%
- Potassium 84.29 mg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin A 1.32 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 21.24 mg Good Source 24%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Corn 🌽
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Lighter Instant Pot Orange Chicken is made with 13 ingredients and serves 2. It takes about 25 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Chicken Breast, Coconut Aminos, Cornstarch, and Five Spice. Each serving provides about 850.26 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Lighter Instant Pot Orange Chicken made of?
- The main ingredients are Chicken Breast, Coconut Aminos, Cornstarch, Five-Spice, Fresh Ginger. The full list of 13 is above.
- How long does it take to make Lighter Instant Pot Orange Chicken?
- About 25 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 850.26 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Lighter Instant Pot Orange Chicken easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 13 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Lighter Instant Pot Orange Chicken healthy?
- Lighter Instant Pot Orange Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 46/100. Per serving, it provides 850.26 calories and 105.95 g of protein, or 212% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 383.7 mg (17% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 3.89 g (19% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Corn and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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