Description
A bright and flavorful citrus marinade made with fresh orange juice, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and honey. Perfect for creating juicy, tender chicken with glossy caramelized edges and balanced sweet savory flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Prepare your grill, skillet, or oven depending on your preferred cooking method.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, black pepper, and cornstarch slurry until smooth.
- Lightly oil your grill grates, skillet, or baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Place chicken into a resealable bag or container and pour the marinade over it. Coat evenly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Cook the marinated chicken by grilling, baking, or pan cooking until fully cooked and caramelized around the edges.
- Brush reserved clean marinade over the cooked chicken for extra glossy flavor.
- Serve warm with rice, noodles, or roasted vegetables.
Notes
- Fresh orange juice gives the brightest flavor.
- Marinate overnight for deeper flavor and tenderness.
- Do not cook over very high heat because the honey can burn quickly.
- Add red pepper flakes for a spicy variation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: orange chicken marinade, citrus chicken marinade, homemade marinade, sweet savory chicken marinade, orange garlic marinade, easy chicken marinade