Mandarin orange ginger chicken is an easy dish to make, full of flavor, and loaded with nutrients. The combination of sweet and savory will certainly make your tastebuds very happy.

The moistness of the chicken lends itself well to this dish’s flavors, and it is covered in a thick sauce that is sure to please any palate. This recipe serves four people, but can easily be doubled for more servings if they are wanted. 

Please read this entire post before you begin preparing the recipe. But if all you want is the list of ingredients with full directions, please either click on the jump-to-recipe button above or scroll to the bottom of this post.

Ginger Orange Chicken Combination

This is one of my favorite flavor combinations because it offers depth in all of its deliciousness. You’ll know what I mean once you taste it.

The subtle sweetness of the oranges counters the tangy flavors of the spices without being too overpowering in this recipe. 

Ingredients

This dish is super easy to make. You can also add more of any of the ingredients if you want. However, I always recommend making it according to these instructions the first time.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Chicken breast cut into small pieces
• Can of mandarin oranges with syrup
• Zucchini, cut up
• Onion, cut up
• Chopped bell peppers, cut up
• Ginger paste, ground ginger, or grated fresh ginger
• Your favorite spice blend
• Chicken broth
• Cornstarch
• Olive oil
• Salt and black pepper

I’ve used both chicken breasts and thighs, and they both come out delicious. For a sweeter flavor, add a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar. For more savory flavor, add low sodium soy sauce.

Feel free to garnish with orange zest, parsley, chives, sesame seeds, or any other toppings you like.

For exact measurements of each ingredient and full directions, go to the recipe card at the bottom of the page. You can even print out the card by using the “print” button.

Prep the Ingredients

First, cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Sprinkle them with the Jax Gar-Lick spice blend.

Carefully put all of the chicken pieces in a plastic bag and refrigerate it for an hour or two. This gives the seasoning a chance to work its way into the chicken.

While you’re waiting, cut all of the vegetables into bite-size pieces.

How to Make Mandarin Orange Ginger Chicken

Now it’s time to cook. Pour half of the olive oil into the bottom of a large nonstick skillet. Turn the heat on medium.

After the skillet is hot, put the chicken in the skillet and brown it on all sides over medium heat. Remove the chicken and set it aside.

Pour the rest of the olive oil into the skillet. Now pour all of the vegetables (zucchini, onions, and peppers) into the skillet and sauté until the onions are translucent.

Remove the vegetables from the pan and set them aside. Pour the juice from the can of mandarin oranges into the pan to deglaze it. Turn the burner down to medium-low heat.

Make a slurry of cornstarch and half of the chicken broth. You can either whisk it together or put it in a shaker bottle and shake it until the cornstarch dissolves. 

Slowly pour the slurry into the mandarin orange juice, stirring as you go. Now stir in the remaining chicken broth.

Add the ginger to the mixture and stir it well. You can add salt and black pepper if you like, but I recommend tasting it first. The spice rub has quite a bit of salt, so you might not need more.

Return the chicken and vegetables to the pan and mix it into the ginger-orange-chicken broth gravy.

Cover the pan and simmer on low heat until the chicken is done. Remove the lid and add the mandarin orange slices. Cover and heat for a couple more minutes or until the oranges are hot enough.

I don’t recommend cooking the oranges very long because they’ll fade and get mushy.

Serve this delicious and healthy dish over rice. I prefer white rice, but it’s good over brown rice or noodles.

Delicious Sides to Serve with Mandarin Orange Ginger Chicken

Although you don’t have to offer any side dishes with this meal, it’s always fun to have something else. Here are some wonderful side dishes that go with this flavorful dinner:

Broccoli Slaw – Add even more nutrition and deliciousness to this meal for a huge win!

Watermelon Cucumber Salad -Refreshing and oh-so yummy, your family will love this wonderful salad!

Creamy Coleslaw – This creamy coleslaw goes with everything. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to make a big batch and keep it in the fridge to serve with meals like this.

Tomato Cucumber Corn Salad – For a colorful side salad to go with your bright and cheery main dish, put this salad on the table and watch everyone’s faces light up!

Cloud Bread – Light and fluffy as the name implies, no one has to know that this bread doesn’t have a speck of flour in it. Yes, it’s gluten free!

Southern Style Cornbread – My grandmother’s recipe still stands as the best cornbread I make. It’s super delicious and perfect with a pat of melted butter!

Yummy Desserts

This meal is so nutritious, you can have dessert afterward without feeling too much guilt. Here are some recipes we enjoy:

Creamy Cool Fruit Salad – Yes, I know this is called a salad. But seriously, it’s good enough to serve it for dessert!

3-Ingredient Lemon Bars – No one has to know how easy it is to make these lemon bars. They’re so delicious everyone will think you spent hours in the kitchen!

Pineapple Dump Cake – Serve this pineapple delight with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect ending to this yummy meal!

Creamy No-Bake Cherry Lime Pie – The is probably the most refreshing dessert ever! Don’t be surprised when your family requests it for the next special occasion!

Please feel free to share!