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Cilantro Orange Chicken with Rice and Beans

Cilantro Orange Chicken with Rice and Beans

Cilantro Orange Chicken with Rice and Beans is a vibrant dish featuring marinated chicken in a tangy sauce, served with fresh salsa.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 377

Ingredients
  

Marinade
  • 0.5 cup finely chopped cilantro
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated
  • 3 juices oranges, juiced about ⅓ cup juice
  • 2 Tablespoons orange zest
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 juice lime, juiced about 1-2 teaspoons
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • 1.5 teaspoons salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into about 2-inch bite sized pieces
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 3 teaspoons water stirred together with cornstarch
Optional for Serving
  • 2-3 cups cooked rice or quinoa
  • 2-3 cups cooked Cuban black beans or refried beans
  • 1 cup chopped pineapple
  • 0.25 cup chopped red onion
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro
  • 1 juice lime, juiced about 1-2 teaspoons
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt
  • 1 optional avocado, chopped

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Small Bowl
  • Medium bowl

Method
 

Prepare the Chicken
  1. Whisk the marinade/sauce ingredients together in a small bowl: cilantro, garlic, orange zest, orange juice, brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, honey, lime zest, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken to a medium bowl and pour ⅓ cup of the sauce on top. Stir to ensure the chicken is completely coated. Reserve the remaining sauce for later.
  2. Heat the remaining 1 Tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, about 30 seconds. Place the chicken in the skillet and brown each side for about 7-8 minutes. Discard the used marinade.
Make the Salsa
  1. While the chicken cooks, make the salsa: Add the pineapple, jalapeño, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and avocado (if using) to a small bowl and stir to combine. Set aside.
Finish the Dish
  1. Add the cornstarch mixture to the reserved marinade/sauce and whisk together. Pour the sauce over the chicken, stir to combine, and bring the sauce to a simmer. Once simmering, cook for 2 minutes until the sauce has thickened and the chicken reaches a temperature of 165°F.
  2. Serve chicken over rice topped with pineapple salsa and beans.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 377kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 33gFat: 18gSodium: 1238mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17g

Notes

Customize the dish with your choice of proteins or add extra veggies as desired.

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