Thank you to Foster Farms Simply Raised, locally grown in the Pacific Northwest, for partnering with me to bring you this recipe.
Thursdays mean soccer practice after school and that it is my night to cook. Usually I just grill something in the backyard, but Seattle’s summer came to an abrupt end with a torrent of rain. Instead of letting it get me down, I decided to cook one of my favorite dishes inside: orange mango chicken.
This is one of those recipes I found online years ago that has stood the test of time. My family loves it and it only takes about 40 minutes to prepare (including prep and cooking time). It is a great option for a quick and easy meal when it is your turn to cook and you are exhausted from a long day at work.
To get started, heat about three tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and then add four chicken breasts. I used Foster Farms Simply Raised chicken breast fillets because they are boneless and skinless, antibiotic fee, and American Humane Certified. Foster Farms works with 32 family farmers in Washington and Oregon who raise locally grown chicken.
Just season the chicken filets with the thyme, salt, and pepper. It took about 5-10 min to cook them thoroughly (turning them over halfway). Set the chicken aside and then you will use the same pan to prepare the orange mango sauce.
While the chicken was cooking, I prepped the ingredients for the sauce. I used one lemon worth of juice (roll the lemon on the counter before cutting to make it easier to get the juice out). I also peeled and chopped one mango into small pieces. For the orange juice, you can squeeze your own or grab some from a carton if easier. My house was smelling pretty great at this point thanks to the fresh squeezed lemon and oranges.
The lemon juice was the first ingredient into the skillet, and I swirled it around to soak up whatever bits of flavor were left in the pan. Next, I mixed in the orange juice, mango, ginger and cinnamon. When the cinnamon started cooking, it had an amazing smell that inspired my dog to wander into the kitchen in search of a treat. About 4-5 minutes later, the sauce thickened and was ready to serve.
As my dog followed me around the kitchen, glued to my side, I remembered the story of Max and Verda Foster, who founded Foster Farms in 1939, and how they raised turkeys right off their bedroom. As the story goes, Verda positioned the pen right outside the window so she could keep a close eye on the eggs and chicks. I guess that isn’t much different from letting your dog sleep at the foot of the bed, but I’d imagine they didn’t get much sleep because of the noise.
With the sauce thickened, you can just spoon it over the chicken to complete the dish. The sauce had a rich orange color and the combination of citrus and cinnamon in the air smells fantastic.
The best part of making this dish was when my son asked for seconds. He usually seems to pick at his food, so I took the empty plate as a big vote of approval. In hindsight, I wish that I had made a double portion so that I could take some to work for lunch the next day.
Our family is trying to eat healthier this year and simple, healthy meal options like this are perfect for our needs. And we know that we are using a quality product because Foster Farms delivers fresh from local ranches in 48 hours of less.
Thank you to Foster Farms for sponsoring this post.
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 Foster Farms Simply Raised chicken breast fillets
- 1/8 teaspoon ground thyme
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 mango – peeled, seeded and sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
- Place chicken breast fillets in the skillet, and cook 5 to 10 minutes on each side.
- Season both sides with thyme, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat, and set aside.
- Heat the lemon juice in the skillet over medium heat, and scrape up browned bits.
- Mix in orange juice, mango, ginger, and cinnamon.
- Over high heat, cook and continuously stir 4 to 5 minutes, until thickened.
- Spoon over the cooked chicken breast halves to serve.