This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Orange Chicken Broccoli Rice Bowls are a healthy way to enjoy your favorite Chinese take-out at home. A kicked up marinade made with real orange adds tons of flavor. And when you make it at home, you can easily make it gluten free, and add an extra dose of veggies with broccoli rice. This healthy and gluten free orange chicken recipe will be a family favorite and as a bonus, it’s one of the best easy paleo recipes.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Nourishing Superfood Bowls. I was under no obligation to write this post. As always, all opinions are my own.
You guys, I don’t know what 2018 did to me. I think I had a twelve month long case of writer’s block. I’d make a recipe, photograph a recipe, and then just sit and stare at a blank screen on my computer.
It was last summer that I received a copy of Nourishing Superfood Bowls from my friend Lindsay Cotter of the blog Cotter Crunch. I could call it a healthy gluten free recipe blog, but that does not do her or her recipes any justice. She creates and shares gorgeous, delicious recipes that are totally approachable and doable and enjoyable for anyone. Annnnd they just happen to be gluten free and packed with wholesome, nourishing ingredients.
Nourishing Superfood Bowls carries on that theme, except every recipe is a power bowl chockfull of energizing ingredients to fuel your day.
And clearly, given the brain fog I apparently was in, I need more superfoods! Because it’s only now, after all these months, that I am finally sharing this cookbook and recipe with you. SORRY LINDSAY!!
 |
 |
Gluten Free Orange Chicken Broccoli Rice Bowls from Nourishing Superfood Bowls
For years Lindsay used her nutrition background to create recipes to fuel her husband’s triathlon training, as well as herself, as she traveled with him throughout all of his races and training camps. Eventually she began sharing these recipes on her blog, with her power bowls becoming not only some of her favorite but all the most popular recipes. Hence, the concept for Nourishing Superfood Bowls was born.
Lindsay starts out by giving your some tips and tricks for some of common techniques and ingredients used frequently in the book. This includes how to rice or spiralize veggies, thicken a smoothie bowl, add meat or vegan protein, or amp up the flavor with oils, vinegars, herbs, and spices. Then she dives into the recipes, each of which is accompanied by a beautiful, brightly colored photo that highlights every wholesome ingredient. You can see a sneak peek on her blog.
What can you find in Nourishing Superfood Bowls?
There are 75 gluten free recipes to fuel your body from morning to night:
- Breakfasts include smoothie bowls, sweet and savory oatmeal bowls, and even a brunch bowl filled with pancakes and eggs. These Mango Tango Glow Bowls will certainly jumpstart your day.
- Lunch Bowls means salads, rice bowls, or noodle and veggie noodle bowls that can all be prepped ahead or made super fast.
- Dinner options include plant-based bowls like Moroccan Roasted Veggie Power Bowls, as well as large bowls to feed the whole family.
- And guys, there are even desserts, like a Greek Goddess Cocoa Bowl. I mean, if dessert can turn me into a goddess, I’m all in.
And of course this recipe, which is one of those lunch bowls, but we actually enjoyed for dinner…
Is Orange Chicken healthy? Is Orange Chicken gluten free?
Orange chicken is typically made my breading and frying pieces of chicken, then tossing them in a sauce that typically includes orange juice or zest and soy sauce. As you can imagine, that breading and frying typically makes this a pretty heavy dish, and definitely not gluten free. Most soy sauce used in restaurants is also not gluten free. These sauces when made at home or bought commercially made can often contain an excess amount of unrefined sugars. Thus, this dish is typically not healthy or gluten free.
How do you make healthy gluten free Orange Chicken?
These Orange Chicken Broccoli Rice Bowls transform the traditional dish into a healthy and gluten free meal.
- A simple marinade is made by blending fresh oranges, hot chili sauce (like Sriracha), lime juice, orange marmalade, garlic, onion, rice wine vinegar, oil, and a gluten free soy sauce such as tamari or even coconut aminos.
- After marinating the chicken, bake or grill until it is cooked through but still juicy. While it cooks, chop broccoli in your food processor until it resembles the consistency of rice. Then microwave it with a bit of sesame oil until it is crisp tender.
- Fill your bowls with the broccoli rice, sliced chicken, and any garnishes you like, such as orange or lime slices, sesame seeds, cilantro, or more Sriracha or tamari.
- Served as-is, this dish is gluten free and grain free. To ensure it is paleo, be sure to buy an orange marmalade that does not contain any refined sugar or make your own Paleo Orange Marmalade.
- If you’d like to add some whole grains and fiber, you can always serve these chicken broccoli rice bowls with brown rice or gluten free ramen noodles made with brown rice and millet.
Where can I buy Nourishing Superfood Bowls?
Nourishing Superfood Bowls is available on Amazon.
Looking for more gluten free recipes that are super easy? I’d also recommend The Big Book of Paleo Slow Cooking if you’d like to use your crockpot more, but want to use real, wholesome ingredients and not a bunch of packaged and processed food.
Looking for gluten free and low carb? The Everyday Ketogenic Kitchen is the place to start. Heck, these recipes are simple and delicious whether you are full-on keto or just want to cut the carbs a bit Or maybe you just want delicious gluten free recipes to pair with your gluten free grains and sides.
How can I make more gluten free takeout copycat recipes?
- Paleo Slow-Cooker Orange Sesame Chicken
- Gluten Free Beef Stir Fry
- Asian Beef and Broccoli Lettuce Wraps
- Lightened Up Indian Butter Chicken Crockpot Recipe
- General Tso’s Chicken Meatballs
Orange Chicken Broccoli Rice Bowls Recipe
This gluten free orange chicken recipe is better than takeout. Made with a fresh and spicy marinade, and baked or grilled instead of breaded and fried, you still get a huge kick or flavor in a healthier dish. Serve it with the simple broccoli rice cooked with a hint of sesame oil for an extra serving of veggies and to enjoy it as a grain free paleo meal. You can also serve it with brown rice or brown rice and quinoa ramen noodles if you’d like to add some whole grains.
I hope you’ll leave a comment and give it a FIVE STAR rating or share a photo on this pin on Pinterest!
Healthy Orange Chicken Broccoli Rice Bowls
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1/3 cup peeled mandarin orange slices, plus more slices for topping
- 2 Tablespoons chili sauce or Sriracha
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- 2 to 3 Tablespoons orange marmalade
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion or shallot, plus more for topping
- 2 to 3 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar or dry white wine
- 1/4 cup olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 to 3 Tablespoons gluten free tamari
- 12 to 16 oz. boneless skinless chicken breasts
Broccoli Rice
- 1 lb broccoli florets, blended in food processor
- 2 to 3 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 Tablesoon sesame seeds
Toppings
- Lime slices
- Crushed red chili pepper flakes
- Cilantro
- Tamari
Instructions
- To make the marinade, blend the orange slices, chili sauce, lime juice, orange marmalade, salt, pepper, garlic, red onion, and rice wine vinegar in a food processor or blender until thoroughly mixed. Add the olive oil and tamari and blend again until creamy.
- Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in a casserole dish and pour the marinade over the chicken. Place the dish in the fridge and marinate for 20 minutes or longer.
- Preheat the oven or grill to 425°F. Bake the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes. Set the oven to broil for the last minute of cooking.
- For grilling, use a foil pack to cook the chicken Grilling will take less time so check for doneness at 15 minutes.
- To make the broccoli rice, stem the blended broccoli in a microwave-safe bowl with sesame oil for 45 seconds. Add the sesame seeds to the rice, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Equally divide the broccoli rice among the bowls, then add the chicken. Garnish with the orange slices, lime slices, red chili pepper flakes, and cilantro. Drizzle on extra tamari or use for dipping.
Notes
Did you make this?
Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips
Categories:
Enjoy!
For more yumminess from me and my foodie friends, keep up with me on…
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Or sign up to have Cupcakes & Kale Chips delivered straight to your Inbox!
