It’s 5:30 PM. Your brain is fried. The family is hungry. You need a hero.
You need Orange-Glazed Chicken Breasts. This is not a fancy, fussy project. This is your ticket to a spectacular dinner with almost zero effort, much like our popular Herb Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts. We’re talking juicy chicken wrapped in a sticky, sweet, and tangy glaze. All in about 30 minutes.
I live for recipes like this. Maximum flavor payoff for minimum kitchen time. Let’s get your night back on track.
Recipe Overview
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Main Dish
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 4
Ultimate Guide to Orange-Glazed Chicken Breasts
Why is this the only guide you need? Three words: flavor, speed, ease.
This recipe nails that restaurant-quality sweet-and-sour vibe without any weird ingredients. You probably have everything you need right now. The method is simple. The result is pure magic.
It’s the perfect healthy chicken breast recipe that doesn’t taste “healthy.” It just tastes incredible. This is your new go-to for easy chicken main dishes, and if you love a lemony kick, you should also try our Zesty Chicken Francese.
The Simple Ingredients
Check your pantry and fridge. I bet you’re already halfway there. This list is short and sweet.
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 cup orange juice (fresh is great, but from the carton is totally fine!)
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (or 1/4 tsp ground ginger)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water (slurry)
- Optional garnish: sliced green onions, sesame seeds, orange zest
Let’s Get Cooking! (The Step-by-Step)
Ready? Follow these steps and dinner is done. I promise it’s foolproof.
- Preheat and Prep. Heat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. This helps them get a nice sear. Season both sides well with salt and pepper.
- Sear the Chicken. Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, just until golden brown. It won’t be cooked through yet. That’s perfect. Remove the chicken to a plate.
- Make the Magic Glaze. In the same skillet, add the orange juice, honey, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Whisk it together, scraping up any tasty browned bits from the chicken. Bring it to a simmer.
- Thicken the Sauce. Whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Keep whisking for about 1-2 minutes until the sauce bubbles and thickens nicely. It should coat the back of a spoon.
- Bake to Perfection. Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning some glaze over the top. Transfer the whole skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (165°F internal temp).
- Glaze and Serve. Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven. Spoon more of that gorgeous glaze over the chicken. Let it rest for 5 minutes. This keeps the juices in. Then, garnish and devour!
What to Serve With This Dish
You need fast sides to match this fast main. Here are my busy-night favorites.
Orange-Glazed Chicken Breasts Recipe
The Simple Ingredients
Let’s Get Cooking! (The Step-by-Step)
Notes
Enjoy your homemade Orange-Glazed Chicken Breasts Recipe!
Nutrition Information
Instant Pot or steamed white rice is a classic. It soaks up the extra glaze beautifully. For a veggie, try quick-steamed broccoli or snap peas.
Microwave-in-bag cauliflower rice is a fantastic low-carb option. A simple bagged salad mix rounds everything out in minutes. Dinner is served!
Make This Recipe Your Own (Quick Swaps)
No orange juice? No problem. Life happens. Use these easy swaps.
Use pineapple juice instead of orange for a tropical twist. Swap the honey for pure maple syrup. You’ll get a flavor close to Air Fryer Maple-Glazed Chicken Breasts, but baked.
For a deeper flavor, use chicken thighs instead of breasts. They’re super forgiving and stay juicy. Just add a few extra minutes to the bake time.
How to Store Leftovers (If You Have Any!)
This chicken makes amazing leftovers. Store it the right way.
Let the chicken cool completely. Place it in an airtight container with any extra glaze. It will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheat gently in the microwave, covered, with a splash of water. Or warm it in a covered skillet over low heat. The glaze might thicken in the fridge—just add a tiny bit of water or OJ when reheating.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
- Calories: ~320 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 36g
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Sodium: ~600mg
- Sugar: 24g
- (Note: Nutrition is an estimate. Values can vary based on specific ingredients used.)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make this in the air fryer?
Absolutely! Sear the chicken in a pan on the stove first for color. Then make the glaze in that pan. Place the seared chicken in the air fryer basket, brush with glaze, and cook at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, brushing with more glaze halfway. You get that same crispy-edged goodness you’d find in our Garlic Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breasts.
My sauce didn’t thicken. What do I do?
No sweat! Mix another half-tablespoon of cornstarch with cold water. Whisk it into the simmering sauce. It should thicken up in a minute. If it’s too thick later, just stir in a tablespoon of water or juice.
Can I use bottled orange juice?
Yes, you can! It works perfectly fine here. Fresh oranges are lovely, but the goal is a fast, delicious dinner. Use what you’ve got.
See? I told you it was easy. You just turned a hectic weeknight into a win. That sticky, glossy chicken is your reward for being smart in the kitchen.
You now have a killer new chicken breast recipe baked to perfection. It beats takeout every time. And it took you less time than waiting for delivery.
Go try this and win back your weeknight! Let me know how it goes by leaving a comment and rating below!
