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Keto Orange Chicken

Annie Lampella, Pharm.D. Recipe developer and pharmacist

Published Updated

16 ratings

Craving Chinese takeout? This keto orange chicken is crispy, sticky, sweet, and tangy, with 6g net carbs and 52.8g protein. A simple low carb coating and 3-ingredient sauce give Panda Express a run for its money.
  • 6gnet carbs
  • 52.8gprotein
  • 30minutes
  • 6servings
Keto orange chicken coated in a glossy orange sauce and topped with sesame seeds, green onions, and fresh orange slices.
Keto orange chicken served over cauliflower rice with sesame seeds, green onions, and orange wedges.
A bowl of crispy keto orange chicken glazed in a sweet orange sauce and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.
Close-up of keto orange chicken coated in a sticky orange sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
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I’ve made a lot of low carb versions of takeout favorites over the years, and this keto orange chicken is one of my favorites because I finally figured out how to get that light, crispy coating I want without using a traditional flour-based breading. The chicken stays juicy inside with a crisp, almost beer-batter-style coating on the outside, and once it’s tossed in the sticky orange sauce, you get that sweet, tangy takeout flavor in every bite.

A piece of crispy keto orange chicken being lifted with chopsticks from a bowl garnished with sesame seeds, green onions, and orange slices.

Why this keto orange chicken beats other recipes

  • I use whey protein powder instead of pork panko. A lot of keto orange chicken recipes rely on crushed pork rinds or pork panko for the breading. They work, but they give the chicken more of a crumb-coated texture and can add a noticeable pork flavor. Whey protein powder creates a much lighter coating that reminds me more of a chicken nugget or beer-battered crust, which is closer to what I want in orange chicken.
  • The breading is really only 2 main ingredients. No complicated blend of keto flours or specialty ingredients here. I wanted a coating that was easy, crispy and actually stayed on the chicken, especially once the sauce was added.
  • The orange sauce has just 3 ingredients. Instead of squeezing oranges and adding a long list of ingredients, I use sugar-free orange marmalade as my shortcut. It gives me that concentrated orange flavor along with the thick, sticky consistency we want from orange chicken sauce.
  • BBQ sauce is my unexpected sauce shortcut. It may sound strange in orange chicken, but low carb BBQ sauce adds depth, tanginess and a little extra sweetness while helping create that glossy sauce that clings to the crispy chicken.
  • It satisfies that takeout craving without all the sugar. Traditional orange chicken gets a lot of its sweetness from a sugar-heavy sauce. By using sugar-free marmalade and low carb BBQ sauce, I can get that same sweet, sticky orange flavor while keeping the carbs much lower.

What I especially love about this recipe is that it looks and tastes like something that should be much more complicated to make. The simple breading and 3-ingredient sauce make it doable for a weeknight dinner, but you still get crispy, saucy keto orange chicken that feels like you ordered your favorite Chinese takeout.

Overhead close-up of crispy keto orange chicken tossed in orange sauce and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.

Storage information

Store leftover keto orange chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep in mind that once the crispy coating is tossed with the orange sauce, it will soften as it sits.

For the best leftovers, I recommend storing the cooked chicken and orange sauce separately if you know you’ll have extras.

Reheat the chicken in the air fryer or oven until hot and crispy, warm the sauce separately, then toss everything together right before serving.

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The recipe

Keto Orange Chicken

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Prep 15 min Cook 15 min Total 30 min Serves 6

Ingredients

Servings 6

Keto Orange Chicken Ingredients

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Heat the cooking oil

    Pour enough avocado oil into a large skillet to cover the bottom of the skillet by 1 cm. Heat the oil over medium heat until it’s around 325-350 degrees F.

    Oil heating in a large skillet before frying the keto orange chicken pieces.

  2. Make batter

    Grab two shallow bowls. In the first bowl, whisk together the eggs and water. In the second bowl, mix together the protein powder, baking powder, garlic powder, and salt. 

    For this step

    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • 1 ⅔ cup unflavored protein powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    Egg wash and whey protein breading prepared in separate bowls for coating the chicken.

  3. Batter the chicken in batches

    Once the oil is hot enough, begin coating the chicken. Working in 3-4 batches, drop the cubed chicken into the egg wash. Using your hands, mix the chicken around to get evenly coated with the wash from all sides. Then transfer the pieces to the protein powder mixture. Using your other clean hand move the pieces around to get completely coated on all sides. Only coat the number of chicken pieces you intend to fry right away because the breading tends to absorb moisture from the chicken as it sits, which means you won’t get that perfect crunchy crust on the outside when fried. 

    Bite-sized chicken pieces dipped in egg wash and coated with whey protein breading.

  4. Fry the chicken pieces

    Carefully lower each piece into the hot oil and fry for around 2 ½ minutes on each side or until golden brown on the outside and cooked through. Remove chicken and place on a paper towel lined plate. Continue with remaining batches. Drain the oil from the skillet once completed.

    Breaded chicken pieces frying in hot oil until golden brown and crispy.

  5. Make the orange sauce

    Once all the chicken is coated and fried, make the sauce. In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, mix the orange marmalade, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce.

    For this step

    • 1 cup sugar-free orange marmalade
    • 1 cup low-carb BBQ sauce
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
    Sugar-free orange sauce ingredients whisked together in a bowl until smooth.

  6. Coat chicken with sauce

    Pour the sauce into the skillet, stir in the chicken, and heat over medium heat until the sauce is thick and bubbling (about 4-5 minutes). Serve immediately.

    Crispy fried chicken pieces simmering in the skillet with the sticky orange sauce until evenly coated.

Nutrition

Per serving: 1/6 of recipe

Calories
293
Fat
3g
Protein
52.8g
Total carbs
18.6g
Net carbs
6g

Nutrition is an estimate calculated from the ingredients listed. Brands vary, so check labels if you track closely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use pork panko instead of whey protein powder?

You can, but the texture will be different. Pork panko creates more of a crumb-style breading, while whey protein gives the chicken a lighter, almost chicken nugget or beer-batter-style crust. I prefer whey protein for this particular recipe.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast?

Absolutely. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well and tend to stay extra juicy. Just cut them into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly.

What can I substitute for soy sauce?

Tamari is an easy gluten-free substitute for soy sauce. Coconut aminos can also work, although it tends to be slightly sweeter and less salty, so the finished sauce may taste a little different.

Does keto orange chicken actually contain oranges?

My version doesn't use fresh oranges or orange juice. Instead, I use sugar-free orange marmalade, which gives the sauce concentrated orange flavor and helps create that thick, sticky consistency without adding all the sugar from a traditional orange chicken sauce.

How do I keep the chicken crispy after adding the sauce?

Don't toss the chicken with the orange sauce until you're ready to serve it. The coating will naturally soften the longer it sits in the sauce, so for the crispiest orange chicken, fry the chicken first and toss it with the warmed sauce right before eating.

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Reviews

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4.8 from 16 ratings, 4 written

Made this recipe?

Your rating

Paula Raulinaitis

Excellent recipe! My very picky husband loved it too! Based on a couple of comments, I did dial back just a little on the BBQ sauce initially. I taste as I cook, so I soon realized it needed that missing BBQ sauce! You have definitely helped to get me out of the ‘keto menu’ rut that I was in! I would love to make a hot and spicy version, any ideas?

Reply

Ivan G.

Sticky, crispy, and it actually held up on the plate! Frying in batches like you said kept the oil hot, so the coating stayed crisp under the sauce instead of going soft. SO good! 😂

Reply

Tia

Can this be air fried?

Reply

Annie Lampella Recipe author

Frying in oil is better for texture, but if you spray them generously with cooking oil before air frying, it might work. I haven’t tried it yet.

Reply

Patti

I air fried a batch and they were okay, just not as crispy as when I did them in oil. Sprayed them pretty heavy first like she said.

Reply

Sasha Clark

Best thing I’ve cooked on keto in a while. The marmalade sauce actually gets sticky instead of sliding off the chicken. I thought that texture was gone for me.

Reply

D . W.

I made it and the chicken was great. The sauce did not have enough orange flavor. It tasted more like barbecue chicken to me. Next time I will do half the barbecue and one and a half orange marmalade.

Reply

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