Explore different flavors and spices with this unique orange chicken recipe. The secret? Cinnamon and orange fusion. A perfectly baked chicken with a rich sweet, tangy, and savory sauce awaits you. This cinnamon chicken recipe will sweeten up your day, giving your usual cinnamon chicken a completely different flavor.
Cinnamon has a spicy and sweet kick that enhances the taste of any fruits or vegetables, in this case, orange. Besides being used to season the meat before storing, cinnamon has a lot of health benefits too! It can lower blood sugar levels and is used to treat respiratory and heart diseases. This ingredient is also anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants. It’s widely used in making desserts like this Cinnamon French Toast Bake Recipe that you can enjoy after digging into your orange cinnamon chicken!
This recipe is perfect to spice up your weekend nights, casual lunches, and dinners. In addition, this flavorful dish is very easy to make! After a little prepping and cooking, you’ll just let the flavor and spices do the work! If you’re looking for ways to spice up the way you cook chicken, the citrus and spicy mix flavor of this orange cinnamon chicken is worth trying. You’d be surprised how easy it is to give your chicken an impressively intense and refreshing flavor!
How To Make Orange Cinnamon Chicken
The best cinnamon chicken recipe that highlights the fusion of orange and cinnamon, giving you a sweet and spicy flavor that just hits the right spot.
Ingredients
For Chicken:
- 1½ lb chicken thighs, boneless & skinless, cut into large chunks
- 1 pc egg white
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- 5 cups vegetable oil, (up to 8 cups)
- salt and ground black pepper, to season
For Orange Cinnamon Glaze:
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 tsp chili flakes
- 1 tbsp cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water
- 4 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- orange zest, (from 1 orange)
- orange juice, (from 1 orange)
- orange segments, (from 1 orange), preferably seedless
- salt and ground black pepper, to taste
To Serve:
- 1 oz orange segment, per serving
- 1 cup rice, per serving
For Garnish:
- ¼ tsp green onions, per serving
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, add the chicken thighs, egg white, flour, and cornstarch.
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Season with salt and pepper, then toss to coat evenly. Set aside.
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Prepare your oil ready for deep frying, and a basket lined with paper towels.
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Deep fry your chicken in batches, then drain them into your lined basket. Set aside in a warm area.
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In a saucepot, combine soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic, chili flakes, and orange juice. Bring to a boil.
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Reduce to a simmer and continue simmering until reduced by ¼ its original content, roughly 5 to 7 minutes.
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Add the cornstarch slurry, stir to combine, and simmer briefly until there is no starchy taste, roughly 5 to 7 minutes.
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Add honey, ground cinnamon, orange zest, and fried chicken. Stir to combine.
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Season to taste with salt and pepper. Adjust accordingly, then add half of your orange segments. Toss until all are coated evenly.
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Serve with steamed rice. Garnish with your remaining orange segments and cilantro or green onions.
Nutrition
- Sugar: 15g
- :
- Calcium: 44mg
- Calories: 595kcal
- Carbohydrates: 66g
- Cholesterol: 133mg
- Fat: 23g
- Fiber: 2g
- Iron: 3mg
- Monounsaturated Fat: 9g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g
- Potassium: 420mg
- Protein: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Sodium: 1406mg
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Vitamin A: 122IU
- Vitamin C: 4mg
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does cinnamon do to your meat?
The right amount of the strong aromatic flavor of cinnamon helps balance out the richness of your chicken meat. It pairs well with salty and acidic ingredients.
Can I use old cinnamon for cooking?
Spices rarely go bad, though they tend to lose potency and flavor over time. But you shouldn’t worry about using old cinnamon when cooking, especially in making this orange cinnamon chicken recipe! However, we suggest using fresher cinnamon and other spices if you’re after a really good flavor.
Conclusion
This cinnamon chicken recipe will definitely be one of your favorites. The strong and energizing flavor of the chicken leaves a lasting impression and will make you do the recipe again and again! You can serve orange cinnamon chicken with rice and greens for a fuller meal. Try it out and let us know what you think about the sweet and spicy flavor that this dish brings.Have your own special recipe to share? Submit Your Recipe Today!
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