Roasted Chicken with Orange and Garlic Glaze

Seared and roasted chicken with an orange and garlic glaze! So good! This entree leaves nothing to the imagination and nothing to be desired. In your face goodness with every forkful is it’s gift to the world.

The Ingredients

• skin-on chicken thighs
• white onion
• garlic cloves
• apple cider vinegar
• orange juice
• sugar
• orange zest
• salt and pepper
• garlic powder

First the chicken

I like to use thighs when roasting or baking chicken because it is a less lean cut and the fat will add juiciness and flavor during the cooking process. Season the thighs well with kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

In a hot pan, sear the skin side of the chicken using about a tablespoon of olive oil. It’s really important that the pan and oil are sizzling hot before adding the chicken so you get a good crispy crust.

Then, transfer the chicken to a new pan and set aside the original pan for the glaze. Place the chicken in a pre-heated 350 degree oven and roast until the internal temperature is between 160-165 degrees.

Now the orange and garlic glaze

The glaze is a variation of a gastrique sauce. A gastrique is just carmelized sugar deglazed with vinegar and reduced with a flavorful liquid.

Drain off all but about a teaspoon of the oil from the original pan. Sweat the diced onion and garlic in the oil. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to get all those bits from the chicken. It’s called the fond and it enhances the flavor. Add the sugar and stir for a few seconds to carmelize it.

Next, add the apple cider vinegar and orange juice. Keep stirring and scraping the bottom to deglaze the pan.

Finally, you will add the orange zest, stir to incorporate, then reduce the heat to medium low and let the glaze reduce to about 1/3 cup. Be patient, it will take a little time.

Once the glaze is ready, the chicken should be about ready also. Spoon some of the glaze over the chicken and put back in the oven for 2-3 minutes.

Now you are ready to plate up! Place the glazed chicken on the plate and spoon a little more glaze on top. Garnish with green onion. Roast chicken with orange and garlic glaze!