This grilled chicken includes a light citrusy marinade that’s perfect for summer.

Grilling is my absolute favorite way to cook. If the weather is nice I’ll be on the porch making dinner. Chicken, burgers, steaks… all of them make me happy.

But I can tell you that this yummy Grilled Orange Chicken is about to go on regular rotation over here. It is so good.

The key to this phenomenal dish is the marinade. It’s mild so you’re not getting an overwhelming citrus flavor. Instead it’s light, bright, and screams of warm weather days with sunshine.

So many store-bought marinades rely on sugar to bring out the sweetness but not here, friends. Orange juice is plenty sweet on it’s own and the Coconut Aminos add a depth of flavor you’re going to love.

If you’re not familiar with coconut aminos you’re about to be. I’m a big fan. You will likely find it at your local grocery store (I don’t even need to go to a natural food store for mine) because it’s gaining in popularity. It’s made from coconut tree sap. It looks and tastes remarkably similar to soy sauce. Remarkably. But it’s better for you because it has far less sodium. If it sounds a little strange just try it and I bet you’ll be using it all the time.

To really make your chicken wow let it marinade for as long as possible. I like to let it work it’s magic for half a day and sometimes overnight. It’s not required and if you only have an hour do an hour. It’s still going to be delicious.

For this recipe you’ll need (full list of ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card below):

  • Chicken breasts or thighs
  • Coconut aminos
  • Orange juice
  • Honey
  • Orange zest
  • Seasonings

Add your chicken and all marinade ingredients to a bag or container. Marinate for at least one hour and up to 12 hours. Then grill and eat!

What is coconut aminos?

Coconut aminos is a soy sauce substitute that has a lot less sodium and contains no soy. It truly tastes like a slightly sweet soy sauce! Learn more about what it is and why it’s so popular in healthy recipes here.

Chicken breasts or thighs?

Feel free to use boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs. I use breasts most often simply because that’s what my family prefers.

Can this chicken be made Whole30?

Yes! Just omit the honey and this marinade will be Whole30 compliant.

Will this marinade work well with other proteins?

Yes, the marinade is also delicious with steak, turkey, or pork.

How long should you marinate?

Since orange is a fairly mild flavor I recommend marinating for at least an hour and up to 12 hours. The longer you marinate the more pronounced the citrus flavor will be. I don’t recommend longer than 12 hours because your meat can start to breakdown and the texture changes if it sits in a marinade for too long. (That goes for any marinade.)

How can you prevent your chicken from sticking to the grill?

When I’m grilling meat without an olive oil marinade I like to add a little olive oil to the outside of my chicken just before placing on the grill. If you try to flip your chicken and you notice it’s sticking a bit just give it another minute before flipping and the chicken will usually release better then.

How to store leftovers

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

How to serve this

This chicken is delicious with grilled or roasted veggies and a simple salad. 

More grilling recipes:

Ultimate Marinated Grilled Chicken

Italian Marinated Chicken

Garlic Balsamic Chicken Kabobs

Tropical Salsa Grilled Chicken

Chipotle Lime Grilled Chicken

5 from 1 vote

Grilled Orange Chicken

Nothing says summer quite like grilling and this orange chicken is the perfect way to celebrate the warm weather.

Ingredients 

Chicken

  • 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs, boneless and skinless

Marinade

  • 1/4 cup coconut aminos
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 2 tbsp honey, omit if Whole30
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • orange zest from half an orange

Instructions

  • If using chicken breasts that are quite thick, slice horizontally to create thin cutlets. This helps us cook the chicken faster and gets us better browning on all sides.
  • Add chicken and all marinade ingredients to a gallon ziploc bag. Squeeze out excess air and zip closed. Lay flat, spreading the marinade inside the bag so that it's distributed evenly around the chicken breasts. Let marinade for a minimum of 1 hour. I prefer to let it marinade for several hours or overnight if possible.
  • Preheat grill to medium high heat.
  • Place your marinated chicken on the grill. Grill for 5-7 minutes, flip, and grill other side for 5-7 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Cooking time varies depending on the thickness of your chicken.

Notes

This marinade is light and fresh! The longer you let it marinade the more flavor you’ll have. I like to let this particular marinade work it’s magic for a few hours before grilling.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 315kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 48g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 145mg, Sodium: 894mg, Potassium: 883mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 99IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 14mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @thewholecook and hashtag it #thewholecook on Instagram.

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