Easy Crock Pot Slow Cooker Orange Chicken Recipe | Wicked Spatula (2024)

This easy Crock Pot slow cooker orange chicken recipe (with orange marmalade!) is sweet without refined sugar. Just 5 minutes prep for paleo orange chicken that makes a healthy meal.

by Maya Last Updated on March 31, 2020 23 Comments

My easy slow cooker orange chicken recipe (made with orange marmalade!) is sweet without tons of added sugars. Typically, orange chicken is super sugary and sickly sweet – NO THANKS! This paleo orange chicken is exactly the opposite! Fresh, light, and full of bright and bold orange flavor. It’s just how I like my dinners. There’s so much to love about this Crock Pot orange chicken!

Easy orange chicken is healthy, it’s delicious, and it’s super easy to make. Because we’re going to let the slow cooker do all of the work.

Now you may be wondering about the orange marmalade… typically it’s full of sugar, right? Well, I’ve found a version without any added sugars, it’s called St Dalfour Orange Marmalade 100% Fruit Conserve. No honey, no agave, no coconut sugar, just pure fruit. It gives this orange marmalade chicken SO much flavor, without the cloying sweetness that comes from the take-out versions.

What Is Orange Chicken?

Orange chicken is an American Chinese dish of deep fried chicken pieces, coated in an orange and soy-based sauce.

Typically, it’s made with a lot of added sugars, but my healthy orange chicken isn’t that takeout version. The good news is that this paleo orange chicken is easy to make at home and then you know what’s going into it. Making crock pot orange chicken at home is a healthy way to get your takeout fix!

How To Make Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

When you serve this easy orange chicken recipe to friends and family, they aren’t going to believe it isn’t takeout! Seriously. Crock Pot orange chicken is that good. The steps to make it are super simple, too.

Step 1: Add chicken thighs to the slow cooker.

Step 2: Mix up the sauce by whisking together marmalade, orange juice, sesame oil, coconut aminos, minced garlic, ginger, and the red pepper flakes. Pour this over the chicken and cook over low heat.

Step 3: Make the cauliflower rice. While the chicken is cooking, prep your rice and bake it about 20 minutes before you want to eat.

Step 4: Thicken the sauce with tapioca flour or arrowroot powder.

PRO TIP: Whisk the sauce ingredients frequently. Otherwise, it will burn pretty quickly.

Step 5: Serve chicken over cauliflower rice and add the sauce. Top with some sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

Is Orange Chicken Gluten-Free?

This slow cooker orange chicken is gluten-free; however, most of the time it isn’t gluten free.

Whether you buy in the frozen section at your grocery store or hit up a restaurant, odds are it’s been breaded and fried. If you are gluten free, I would stick to making orange marmalade chicken yourself to be safe.

Is Orange Chicken Spicy?

Paleo orange chicken isn’t spicy at all. It has a sweet and citrus flavor.

If you are looking to have some heat in this easy orange chicken recipe, you can add in some red pepper flakes and a sprinkle cayenne pepper. The spice with sweetness is a delicious combination.

How Do You Store Orange Marmalade Chicken?

Store leftover orange marmalade chicken in the refrigerator. It’s best to keep the homemade orange chicken in a glass storage container with a lid that’s airtight.

On average, the orange glazed chicken will last around 3 to 4 days in the fridge.

Can You Freeze This Easy Orange Chicken Recipe?

Yes, you can freeze this easy orange chicken recipe, and it’s just as delicious as when you first made it. This is ideal for meal planning because you can store the skinny orange chicken in freezer safe meal prep containers. It will last around 2-3 months in the freezer.

The best way to thaw it is to place it in the fridge overnight, but you can also defrost easy orange chicken in the microwave.

The best way to reheat slow cooker orange chicken is in a skillet on medium-high heat. It doesn’t take long to warm up, and it won’t dry out.

More Asian Paleo Recipes

If you like this slow cooker orange chicken recipe, here are some others you might like:

• Easy Paleo Honey Sesame Chicken
• Easy Paleo Healthy Shrimp Chow Mein
• Paleo Teriyaki Chicken Bake With Pineapple