Orange Chicken Lettuce Cups

5 stars

A healthy spin on the popular Chinese takeout dish, you're going to love this fresh and flavorful recipe. Ideal for a light dinner or appetizer!

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time17 minutes

Orange Chicken Lettuce Cups - a fast dinner recipe

A healthy spin on the popular Chinese takeout dish, you’re going to love this fresh and flavorful Orange Chicken Lettuce Cups recipe. Ideal for a light dinner or appetizer!

Orange Chicken Lettuce Cups - a fast dinner recipe
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The perfect marriage of two popular Chinese takeout dishes, you’re going to love these fresh and flavorful Orange Chicken Lettuce Cups! Made wish fresh orange juice, bright ginger and toasted sesame oil, each bite is the perfect balance of sweet and savory. 

While you could definitely serve the chicken over rice, we love eating it with lettuce cups. My boys call them tacos, we just call it delicious.

Preparing Orange Chicken Lettuce Cups

Traditionally made by deep frying chicken and dousing it in a sugary, sticky orange sauce, this version is lighter and fresh – perfect for summer.

Orange Chicken Lettuce Cups - a healthy dinner recipe

For a bit of heat, chili paste is added to the sauce to help balance out the tangy rice vinegar and naturally sweet orange juice. Garlic, ginger and sesame oil bring it all together.

Orange Chicken Lettuce Wraps - a fresh and flavorful appetizer recipe

The best part? The entire dish comes together in less than 15 minutes – faster than you can order takeout!

No forks required.

Orange Chicken Lettuce Cups - a fast dinner recipe

Orange Chicken Lettuce Cups

5 stars
A healthy spin on the popular Chinese takeout dish, you're going to love this fresh and flavorful recipe. Ideal for a light dinner or appetizer!
PREP: 5 minutes
COOK: 12 minutes
TOTAL: 17 minutes
Pin
Servings: 4

Ingredients
 

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 pound boneless (skinless chicken breasts – cubed)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic (grated)
  • 2 tablespoons minced ginger
  • 1 teaspoon chili paste
  • 1 juice and zest of orange
  • 2 tablespoons Nakano Natural Rice Vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • bibb lettuce cups (to serve)
  • scallions and black roasted sesame seeds (optional garnish)

Instructions
 

  • Heat oil in a wok or deep skillet over high heat.
  • Sprinkle chicken cubes with salt and pepper then add to the hot pan. Stir-fry until golden brown on all sides, about 6-7 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
  • To the hot pan, add ginger, garlic and chili paste. Stir-fry for 30 seconds or until aromatic.
  • Add orange juice and zest to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits.
  • Pour in rice vinegar, soy sauce and corn starch and whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer until sauce begins to thicken, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Add chicken back to the pan and stir to coat with orange sauce. Drizzle with sesame oil and stir once more.
  • Serve chicken in lettuce cups and garnish with scallions and black roasted sesame seeds.

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 6.9gProtein: 24.3gFat: 7.4gSaturated Fat: 0.6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6.8gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 1101mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 3g

12 thoughts on “Orange Chicken Lettuce Cups”

  1. Love this healthier version of orange chicken! Truthfully, I’ve never had orange chicken before but I MUST try it now. Lettuce cups are the perfect summer dish because yes, “no forks required!”

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