Orange Chicken Meatballs (Paleo, Gluten-free, AIP)
These orange chicken meatballs are a fun and easy way to enjoy the flavors of orange chicken! They’re paleo, gluten-free, and can be made AIP-friendly.
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that orange chicken has been my hyperfixation for the better part of the last 12 months. I’m always looking for new ways to enjoy it, and these orange chicken meatballs are a fun and different way to enjoy the flavor of orange chicken! They’re made with ground chicken and a simple orange sauce, and they pair perfectly with easy veggie sides. It’s perfect for meal prep or an easy dinner night.
The Ingredients for Orange Chicken Meatballs
- Ground Chicken. You can also use ground turkey, or simply use a food processor to make your own ground chicken from boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
- Salt, Pepper, Ginger Powder, and Garlic Powder.
- Coconut Flour.
- Avocado Oil.
- Arrowroot Starch. For dredging the meatballs.
- Orange Juice, Chicken Broth, Coconut Aminos, Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Sugar, and Arrowroot Starch. These ingredients form the delicious sauce!
How to make Orange Chicken Meatballs
- Step 1. Combine the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
- Step 2. Using a medium bowl, combine the ground chicken, seasonings, coconut flour, and avocado oil. Form into meatballs with slightly wet hands. Add to a large shallow bowl. Dredge in arrowroot.
- Step 3. Brown the meatballs.
- Step 4. Pour in the sauce and reduce the heat to medium. Allow to simmer and thicken, stirring the meatballs in the sauce, until the sauce is thick and the meatballs are cooked through.
Can you skip tossing the meatballs in arrowroot starch?
You can skip that step if you’d prefer and forgo the arrowroot. If you do choose to skip the arrowroot, you’ll have to reduce the sauce much longer to make it thick. You can also use honey instead of coconut sugar to make it thicker.
Can you make these orange chicken meatballs ahead of time? How do you reheat them?
You can make these ahead of time and keep them in the fridge for 3-4 days. I suggest reheating them on the stove with some of the sauce as well.
What do you serve these orange chicken meatballs with?
These meatballs are perfect to serve with a side dish like…
- Rice or cauliflower rice
- Steamed or sauteed broccoli
- Roasted Bok choy
- Steamed or stir-fried carrots
- Etc!
Orange Chicken Meatballs (Paleo, Gluten-free, AIP)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 3 tbsp chicken broth
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp coconut sugar
- 2 tsp arrowroot starch
- Salt and pepper (omit pepper for AIP)
For the meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken (or turkey)
- Salt and pepper (omit pepper for AIP)
- 1 tsp ginger powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp coconut flour
- 2 tsp avocado oil (plus extra for frying)
- 1 tbsp arrowroot starch
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
- Using a medium bowl, combine the ground chicken, seasonings, coconut flour, and avocado oil. Form into meatballs with slightly wet hands. Add to a large shallow bowl.
- Sprinkle the arrowroot starch over the meatballs and gently rotate the meatballs to dredge in the arrowroot starch.
- Using a large, deep pan over medium-high heat, heat about 2 tbsp of avocado oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the meatballs. Allow to cook for about 2 minutes on each side. Rotate until the exterior of the meatballs are crispy.
- Pour in the sauce and reduce the heat to medium. Allow to simmer and thicken, stirring the meatballs in the sauce, until the sauce is thick and the meatballs are cooked through to 165 F.
- Serve the meatballs warm with a side of vegetables of your choice.
Notes
All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Estimations do not include optional ingredients.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 203
- Fat: 11.7g
- Carbohydrates: 9.6g
- Protein: 20.1g
AIP
Low Carb
Paleo
Whole30
Do you think these would freeze well? Im wanting to meal prep but unsure how these will store in the freezer.
They should freeze fine, yes!
Can these be baked in oven instead of on stove?
You can bake the meatballs, but I would still toss it in the sauce on the stove!
We love these meatballs, they’re so easy to make and so yummy! We’re thinking about freezing them as we’re trying to meal prep before our baby comes. Do you think we should freeze the meatballs alone and make the sauce the day of or would it be okay to make it as normal and freeze it as a whole?
★★★★★
So glad you like the recipe!! I would personally freeze it without the sauce to keep it fresh!
These were so good! The best part was that I had ingredients on hand! My husband loved them. Anytime I make an AIP recipe he is a skeptic. Thank you for this recipe! I can’t wait to make in a larger batch and freeze.
Thank you!!
Made this last night— it’s delicious!! I was nervous about the sauce at first. It smelled really sour (I’m assuming from the apple cider vinegar) and not at all like something I wanted to eat. Once it went into the pan and heated/thickened up, the smell went away. It tasted delicious and was the perfect sticky texture. I made two minor changes— I did half coconut aminos and half ocean’s halo no soy sauce. And then I skipped the arrowroot starch on the meatballs (only because I forgot). They still turned crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Served with rice and broccoli. We all wanted more sauce! Our 11 year old has 18+ food allergies, so finding this website has been incredible. I’m feeling so inspired to try all of these new recipes for him. The best part is that my husband (zero allergies) and myself (four allergies) have loved all of the recipes as well.
★★★★★
Absolutely delicious!
★★★★★
Thank you!!