Orange Chicken & Broccoli Skillet

This Orange Chicken & Broccoli Skillet will be your go-to homemade version of a takeout classic. Featuring crispy chicken in a delightfully sweet orange sauce with crisp-tender broccoli, it’s a flavor-packed meal that also packs a punch of fiber from broccoli and brown rice. Using bone-in thighs ensures the chicken flavor is bold and that the chicken, thanks to the extra fat from the thighs, will be moist and tender after baking. Read on for our expert tips, including how to get a thick and luscious sauce. 

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• The cornstarch is used to thicken the sauce. As the chicken continues to bake and the skin crisps, the cornstarch dries out and helps keep the orange sauce on the chicken.
• Once you add the chicken to the skillet, avoid turning it. Let the chicken cook over medium heat for 8 minutes, until the skin easily releases from the pan.
• You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of bone-in thighs, and you can add chili crisp on top for heat.
• If you don’t have a large enough skillet, cook the chicken in batches and then bake the mixture in a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish.

Nutrition Notes

• Chicken thighs are an excellent choice for this recipe because they tend to stay juicy, even with high-heat cooking. Chicken thighs also have more iron than chicken breasts, which could be great for your energy levels. 
• Orange zest and juice are the stars of the sauce in this recipe. Using both the zest and juice is a great way to use the entire orange, intensifying the dish’s flavor. The zest also contributes small amounts of vitamins C and A, which boost your immune system. 
• Brown rice is an excellent grain choice if you’re looking to bump up your fiber intake. Adding more fiber to your diet can help keep your digestive system regular. 
• Broccoli does some heavy lifting as the main veggie in this recipe. Broccoli not only contributes more fiber to the dish, it also adds phosphorus and calcium for a bone-health benefit.