Sweet and Savory Roasted Orange Chicken Recipe
This Sweet and Savory Roasted Orange Chicken recipe combines tangy citrus flavors with a rich honey and soy glaze, resulting in tender, caramelized chicken with vibrant orange slices. Perfectly roasted chicken thighs are infused with garlic and thyme, creating a delightful balance of sweet and savory that is easy to prepare and sure to impress.
- Author: Elias
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting and Broiling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Chicken
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Marinade
- 2 large navel oranges, thinly sliced (plus extra for garnish)
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
Garnish
- Fresh thyme sprigs
- Extra orange slices
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a roasting pan with olive oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.
- Season Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels, then season them evenly with salt, pepper, and paprika for a flavorful base.
- Prepare Marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together fresh orange juice, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, and olive oil until well combined to create a tangy and sweet marinade.
- Arrange Oranges and Chicken: Place the thinly sliced orange rounds evenly on the bottom of the roasting pan. Lay the seasoned chicken thighs on top of the orange slices.
- Marinate Chicken: Pour the prepared marinade evenly over the chicken pieces, then sprinkle the fresh or dried thyme leaves over everything for aromatic flavor.
- Roast Chicken: Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Halfway through cooking, baste the chicken with the pan juices to keep it moist and flavorful.
- Broil for Caramelization: Switch the oven to broil, and broil the chicken for 3 to 5 minutes, watching closely until it becomes caramelized and glossy on top.
- Rest the Chicken: Remove the roasted chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring tender meat.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the chicken with fresh orange slices and thyme sprigs. Spoon the flavorful pan sauce over the chicken pieces before serving for added taste.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts, but adjust cooking time accordingly since breasts cook faster.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- If you prefer a more intense orange flavor, use additional fresh orange zest in the marinade.
- Be cautious when broiling; watch closely to avoid burning the honey glaze.
- Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce and oranges
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Keywords: Roasted Orange Chicken, Sweet and Savory Chicken, Orange Glazed Chicken, Chicken Thighs Recipe, Easy Dinner Recipe