Make Ahead Freezer Meal: Orange Chicken

 I just made this recipe and it's chilling in my freezer for a few weeks from now when Cookie Boothing begins.

Orange Chicken https://happymoneysaver.com/easy-make-ahead-orange-chicken-freezer-meal/

I printed out the 2nd page and taped it to the back of my gallon ziploc bag that contained the chicken.  I put the sauce into a quart-size bag and added that bag to the gallon bag as well.  I will serve it with steamed broccoli (steamed in the bag in the microwave) and freezer rice from Trader Joes. 

3.95 from 17 votes

Orange Chicken Freezer Meal Recipe

This Make-Ahead Orange Chicken Freezer Meal is a delicious and tangy chicken dish with the right amount of ginger and orange, and with the convenience of having it ready in the freezer to whip up last minute!

Prep Time15minutes mins

Cook Time15minutes mins

Total Time30minutes mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: orange chicken

 

Servings: 6 servings

 

Calories: 370kcal

 

Author: Karrie

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• fresh green onion, sliced optional

Orange Sauce

• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1/4 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp garlic minced
• 1 tsp ginger pureed or minced
• 1 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

• Dice chicken into bite-sized pieces.
• In a medium sized bowl, combine cornstarch and egg whites. Stir and add chicken to bowl. Turn to coat chicken until all are well combined.
• Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat, and when hot, add coated chicken in small batches. Cook, stirring often until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain on a paper towel as you cook remaining batches.
• In another small bowl make the orange sauce by whisking together orange juice, water, soy sauce, honey, vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch. 

Make It Now

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add orange sauce mix. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously, then reduce heat to low and simmer 1 to 2 minutes or until sauce thickens up. Pour sauce over chicken and serve with chopped green onions if using. 

Freeze It For Later

• Place uncooked sauce into labeled gallon sized bag. Seal, removing air. Place cooked and cooled chicken into another labeled gallon size freezer bag. You can add the sauce bag into this bag to prevent them getting separated. Place in freezer and freeze. 

Reheating

• Place frozen orange sauce mix into a bowl of hot water to thaw quickly. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place frozen chicken on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes until chicken is fully heated through. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously, then reduce heat to low and simmer 1 to 2 minutes or until sauce thickens up. Pour sauce over chicken and serve with chopped green onions if using. 

Notes

For a complete meal, serve the orange chicken over a bed of steamed white or brown rice, which will absorb the flavorful sauce perfectly. You can also pair it with a side of stir-fried vegetables such as broccoli, bell peppers, and snap peas for added crunch and nutrition.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 360mg | Potassium: 623mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 12.3mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.7mg