About
It's a bright day outside and this chicken has the flavor to match! Sunny Day Chicken features tender pan-fried chicken coated in a delightfully vibrant orange sauce for sweetness and tanginess! The flavors of the meat with the sauce balance beautifully, and there couldn't be a better way to serve it than with a nice bowl of white rice! Sunny Day Chicken is the perfect way to make a summer day feel even longer!
Ingredients
- For the sauce:
- 1 orange, zested, plus 3/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- For the chicken:
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- scallions, optional, to taste, chopped, for serving
- white rice, optional, to taste, cooked and hot, for serving
Directions
Step 1 -In a medium bowl, add the orange zest, the orange juice, the soy sauce, the lemon juice, the brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of the cornstarch, the fresh ginger, the garlic, and the red pepper flakes and whisk to combine.
Step 2 -In a separate medium bowl, add the chicken pieces, the salt, the pepper, and the remaining cornstarch and toss until the chicken pieces are completely coated.
Step 3 -In a skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
Step 4 -Add 1/2 of the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook, while turning them once, until they are browned and reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 3-4 minutes per side.
Step 5 -Transfer the cooked chicken pieces to a plate.
Step 6 -Add the remaining olive oil to the pan.
Step 7 -Repeat the cooking process with the remaining chicken pieces and then transfer them to the same plate.
Step 8 -Turn the burner off and immediately pour the sauce mixture into the skillet to thicken, while scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen the browned bits, about 1 minute.
Step 9 -Add the chicken pieces to the sauce and toss to coat.
Step 10 -Sprinkle the chicken mixture with the scallions.
Step 11 -Serve over the white rice.
