This gluten free orange chicken tastes EXACTLY like your favorite Chinese take-out! Plus it is just as easy because it is made in the slow cooker. So if you’re favorite part about take-out is not doing dishes, this recipes uses just one dish!
This easy meal is the perfect combination of a sweet and tangy orange sauce! This gluten-free dinner recipe is also a dairy-free recipe. Making this gluten free orange chicken at home is a lot easier than you think! Just throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker, set it and forget it.
If you love easy weeknight recipes with chicken, you’ll also love my slow cooker chicken satay, my chicken teriyaki and my black pepper chicken!
What Makes this Gluten free Recipe Special?
- This orange chicken sauce is so good, you’re going to want to double it and put it on EVERYTHING.
- The best part about this slow cooker orange chicken recipe is that it is a one pan meal…all you need is the slow cooker! Which means only one slow cooker to make it and only one slow cooker to clean up! My ideal situation since I hate doing dishes.
- This recipe is allergy friendly. You can use gluten free corn startch and gluten free soy sauce like I did for gluten free orange chicken. This is a naturally dairy free and nut free recipe without having to make any changes.
- It’s an easy freezer friendly meal, which means it is a great option for a meal prep lunches or dinners! I love to have it ready to go when I need to just pull a dinner out of the freezer and heat it up quick.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Chicken: I used boneless skinlesss chicken breasts here that I cut into 1″ pieces. You can also use chicken thighs if you prefer. Because this is a slow cooker orange chicken recipe, the cook time will be different if you use chicken thighs because they are bigger peices.
Cornstarch: Naturally gluten free! This is used to thicken the sauce. If you don’t have cornstartch you can use gluten free flour but the texture will be a little different. The Gluten Free Orange Chicken sauce will taste the same.
Apricot preserves: This is to sweeten the orange sauce. You can also use orange jelly or orange marmalade.
Oranges: Used to get that traditional orange flavoring in the sauce. If you don’t have fresh oranges you can use orange juice.
Gluten free soy sauce: You can use tamari or coconut aminos instead.
Rice vinegar: I used this to sweeten the sauce and acheive that traditional orange chicken flavors.
Sesame oil: Used to add that savory, nutty flavor to the traditional orange chicken sauce.
How do I make this recipe?
First, I combine all the ingredients in the crockpot or slowcooker. I add the apricot preserves, orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes (if using). I wisk the sauce together then add in the chicken.
Next, add the chicken pieces to the slow cooker. I always stir gently to ensure all the pieces are coated in the sauce. Then put the top on.
Next, set the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or on LOW for 6-8 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
Once the gluten free orange chicken is done, I like to serve the Orange Chicken over a bed of cooked white rice. I garnish the slow cooker orange chicken with chopped green onions and fresh orange wedges.
Can you freeze this recipe?
Yes! Freezing this Gluten Free Orange Chicken is easy and great when you need a quick meal to pull out from the freezer in a pinch. I always recommend cooking the chicken and sauce, and then freezing together without any rice.
To thaw, you can let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before heating on the stovetop.
What Is The Difference Between General Tso And Orange Chicken?
General Tso and orange chicken are SUPER similar. The major difference though is in the sauce. Orange chicken sauce is made with orange juice or fresh squeezed oranges and has a sweetness to it. General Tso's sauce is still sweet and savory but with a little bit of spice and it is NOT made with any orange flavoring.
Is this orange chicken dairy free?
It is! There are naturally no dairy containing ingredients in this gluten free orange chicken recipe.
What makes this orange chicken gluten free?
Often all you need to do to convert a chinese sauce is substitute the regular soy sauce for gluten free soy sauce, coconut aminos or tamari. But what can be a little harder is the recipes that are breaded.
I love ordering orange chicken from a chinese restaurant but it is the breading that is not gluten free, so for this recipe the chicken has no breading.
How do I serve this gluten free orange chicken?
This recipe is great served with green beans or even broccoli. You can throw them into the slow cooker or make on the side and add when serving. I also often serve over white rice. You can use white rice, brown rice or cauliflower rice. I like to use frozen rice to save time. Microwaveable rice also is a great hack to save time.
For a quick and easy garnish on top of my gluten free orange chicken, I add sliced green onions, or some sesame seeds.
For a little bit of a kick I like to add red pepper or chili flakes on top.
How do I Store and Meal Prep this recipe?
To store, I let the Gluten Free Orange Chicken cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to four days.
For longer storage, I love to portion into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 2 months.
To meal prep into individual portions, divide the Gluten Free Orange Chicken into separate containers. These individual portions are my favorite for great grab-and-go lunches or quick dinners during the week.
How do I reheat the slow cooker orange chicken leftovers?
If Gluten Free Orange Chicken leftover are stored in the fridge, I add to a skillet and warm on medium low heat so it does not burn. Make sure to only heat it until it is warm and not overcook.
If leftovers are stored in the freezer, let thaw overnight. Then, add to a skillet and warm on medium low heat so it does not burn. Make sure to only heat it until it is warm and not overcook.
Looking for more gluten free recipes?
If you make this recipe and enjoyed it, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and Pinterest. Purchase my cookbook Easy Allergy Free Cooking. Join my exclusive weeknight meal plan group for 5 weekly 30-minute dinner recipes. The weeknight meal plan also has an accompanying podcast as well! I would love for you to follow along!
Gluten Free Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup apricot preserves
- 3 oranges squeezed/juiced (about 1 cup juice)
- 2 tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for a touch of heat
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup Cooked rice for serving
- 1/4 cup Chopped green onions for garnish
- 2 Orange wedges for garnish
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In the crockpot, whisk together the apricot preserves, orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Cook the Chicken: Add the chicken to the crockpot, stirring gently to ensure all the pieces are coated in the sauce.
- Cook: Cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or on LOW for 6-8 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Serve: Serve the Orange Chicken over a bed of cooked rice. Garnish with chopped green onions and fresh orange wedges.
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Wow, this looks amazing! I’ve been missing orange chicken since going gluten free—can’t believe it’s so simple in the slow cooker. Definitely adding this to my meal plan for next week!
This recipe sounds like the ultimate weeknight win! I love that it delivers that classic takeout flavor but is made so simply in the slow cooker — and with just one dish to clean. The combination of fresh orange juice and apricot preserves must give the sauce the perfect sweet and tangy balance. Plus, the fact that it’s naturally dairy-free and gluten-free makes it even better.
The freezer and meal prep tips are super helpful too — having portions ready to grab during a busy week is such a lifesaver. It’s almost like planning ahead for something exciting, the way people bookmark big upcoming events on sites so they don’t miss out. This orange chicken definitely looks like a recipe worth keeping on repeat!
This sounds absolutely delicious! I love that it delivers that classic takeout-style orange chicken flavor but keeps everything gluten-free and dairy-free. The slow cooker method makes it even better — just toss everything in and let it do the work with only one dish to clean. That sweet and tangy combination from the fresh orange juice and apricot preserves must be incredible!
The freezer and meal prep tips are super helpful too. Having ready-to-go portions during a busy week is such a lifesaver. Definitely adding this to my weekly dinner rotation!
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This gluten-free orange chicken recipe looks absolutely delicious! I really like how simple the ingredients are and that it can be made in a slow cooker. The combination of orange juice and apricot preserves sounds like it would create a perfect sweet and tangy flavor.
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Thanks for sharing such a creative and easy gluten-free recipe. I’ll definitely try this with rice and some steamed broccoli!
Thank You so much for the guide