Description
Roasted Orange Chicken delivers a mouthwatering blend of tangy citrus and rich, savory flavors that will make your dinner table sing with excitement. Succulent chicken pieces get perfectly caramelized with fresh orange juice and aromatic herbs, creating a simple yet impressive meal your family will crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 chicken thighs
- 2 large navel oranges
- ½ cup orange juice
Marinade Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Seasoning Ingredients:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh thyme sprigs
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a roasting pan with cooking spray or oil.
- Pat 4 chicken thighs completely dry using paper towels. Season each side generously with 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon paprika.
- Whisk ½ cup fresh orange juice, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Layer 2 thinly sliced oranges across the bottom of your roasting pan. Arrange seasoned chicken directly on top of orange slices.
- Pour entire marinade evenly over chicken, ensuring each piece gets coated. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves across the surface.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Halfway through cooking, baste chicken with pan juices using a large spoon.
- Switch oven to broil. Broil chicken for 3-5 minutes until skin turns golden brown and caramelized.
- Remove pan from oven. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Transfer chicken to serving platter. Garnish with fresh orange slices and additional thyme sprigs.
- Spoon remaining pan juices over chicken just before serving to enhance flavor.
Notes
- Choose bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for maximum flavor and juiciness during roasting.
- Patting the chicken completely dry helps create a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture.
- For a gluten-free version, replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to maintain the savory depth.
- Adjust the honey amount based on your preference for sweetness, remembering the broiling stage will naturally caramelize the chicken’s surface.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Roasted
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 294 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg