Healthy Orange Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ For the Orange Chicken Sauce

01 - ½ cup fresh orange juice (about 2 medium oranges)
02 - 1 tablespoon orange zest (from 1-2 oranges)
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
05 - ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
06 - 1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 1 clove)
07 - ½ teaspoon ground ginger
08 - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
09 - 2 tablespoons water
10 - 1½ tablespoons cornstarch

→ For the Chicken Filling

11 - 1 tablespoon oil (vegetable, canola, or avocado oil)
12 - 1 pound ground chicken (or turkey or beef if preferred)
13 - 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
14 - 1 can (10.5 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained (or 1 cup fresh clementine segments)
15 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For Serving

16 - 1 head butter lettuce (or romaine), leaves separated and washed
17 - 3-4 green onions (scallions), thinly sliced
18 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

# Instructions:

01 - In a small bowl or mason jar, combine the orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes. In a separate small bowl, mix the water and cornstarch until smooth to create a slurry, then add this to the sauce mixture. If using a mason jar, secure the lid and shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined. If using a bowl, whisk everything together thoroughly.
02 - Pour the sauce mixture into a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Once the sauce begins to bubble, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently. The sauce is ready when it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon - if you run your finger through it, the line should remain clear. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the chicken.
03 - Heat the tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground chicken to the hot pan and use a wooden spoon or spatula to break it up into small crumbles as it cooks. When the chicken is about halfway cooked (some pink still visible), add the 2 teaspoons of minced garlic and continue cooking, stirring frequently.
04 - Once the chicken is fully cooked with no pink remaining (about 5-7 minutes total cooking time), pour the prepared orange sauce over the chicken in the skillet. Stir well to coat all the chicken pieces evenly with the sauce. Allow the mixture to simmer together for 1-2 minutes, which helps the flavors meld and ensures the sauce thickens to the perfect consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste - you may not need much salt due to the soy sauce in the orange sauce.
05 - While the chicken and sauce are finishing, drain the can of mandarin oranges thoroughly, or prepare your fresh clementine or mandarin segments. If using fresh fruit, remove any seeds and excess pith. Set aside for assembling the lettuce wraps.
06 - Remove the chicken mixture from the heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes. This brief rest helps the sauce thicken slightly more and prevents the hot filling from immediately wilting the lettuce leaves. While the chicken rests, prepare your serving platter with cleaned and thoroughly dried lettuce leaves, sliced green onions, and toasted sesame seeds.
07 - To serve, spoon a generous portion (about 3-4 tablespoons) of the orange chicken mixture onto the center of each lettuce leaf. Top each portion with a few mandarin orange segments, a sprinkle of sliced green onions, and a light dusting of toasted sesame seeds. The bright orange pieces add beautiful color contrast as well as bursts of sweet, juicy flavor that complement the savory chicken mixture perfectly.
08 - For the best experience, serve the lettuce wraps immediately while the filling is still warm and the lettuce is crisp. You can arrange everything on a large platter, allowing everyone to build their own wraps, or pre-assemble them for a more formal presentation. These wraps are meant to be eaten with your hands - simply fold the sides of the lettuce leaf around the filling and enjoy!

# Notes:

01 - These orange chicken lettuce wraps offer all the flavor of your favorite takeout dish with significantly fewer carbs and calories.
02 - The sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator for quicker meal preparation.
03 - For a make-ahead meal, store the chicken filling separately from the lettuce leaves and assemble just before serving.
04 - Leftover filling is delicious reheated and served over cauliflower rice for another low-carb meal option.

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