Air Fryer Orange Chicken is a great way to make a meal that the whole family will love. It's tangy orange sauce paired with the tender chicken bites will make you forget that takeout even exists.
EASY AIR FRYER ORANGE CHICKEN RECIPE
This orange chicken recipe makes amazing chicken flavored with orange zest and topped with sesame seeds. Forget about deep frying this great recipe, and let your air fryer take over and make this delicious meal instead.
Using simple ingredients full of flavor makes for an easy dinner that will have everyone coming back for more. The good news is that using fresh ingredients that are easy to find makes this one of the easiest air fryer chicken recipes to make!
If you are looking for more delicious air fryer chicken recipes, you will love making Air Fryer Trader Joe's Orange Chicken, straight from the freezer!
INGREDIENTS YOU NEED TO MAKE ORANGE CHICKEN IN AIR FRYER
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs- chicken breasts are leaner, while thighs are juicier and slightly fattier. Both are delicious as the base for orange chicken.
- Corn starch- often combined with a liquid to make a cornstarch slurry, used as a thickening agent for sauces, but can also help foods become crispier when coated before cooking.
- Granulated sugar- this sugar dissolves easily and adds just the right amount of sweetness to the orange sauce.
- All-purpose flour- also used to help thicken sauces.
- Fresh orange juice- this juice is going to give the sauce the orange flavor along with a little bit of sweetness.
- Soy sauce- gives a salty flavor that will balance the sweetness.
- Orange zest- enhances the orange smell and flavor in the sauce.
HOW TO MAKE ORANGE CHICKEN IN THE AIR FRYER
STEP 1. In a medium bowl, toss the pieces of chicken with the cornstarch until the chicken is well coated.
STEP 2. Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray, then pour the chicken into the prepared basket without stacking or overlapping the chicken.
STEP 3. Air fry at 380 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, until chicken is golden brown, with an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
STEP 4. While the chicken is in the air fryer, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, add the sugar, cornstarch, and flour. Stir together to combine.
STEP 5. Slowly stir the orange juice and the soy sauce into the mixture. Place the saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sauce begins to boil. Once boiling, continue stirring the sauce for 2-3 minutes until it thickens, then remove it from the stovetop. Stir in orange peel until evenly distributed in the sauce.
TIPS
- Cut Chicken Evenly: Cut pieces into the same size. This will help them cook evenly.
- Don't skip the Cornstarch: The starch is what will help give the chicken it's crispy coating.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: Leave enough room in between the pieces of the chicken. If they are overlapping, this can cause some pieces to not cook properly.
- Adjust Sweet and Salt: Use low sodium soy sauce to help reduce the salt intake. You can also change the sweetness by lowering the amount of sugar used, or use a little honey and ginger instead of sugar.
VARIATIONS
- Pair with Rice: You can add either any flavor of rice to this air fryer orange chicken recipe. If you want to stay away from rice, adding cauliflower rice is a great option as well!
- Make it spicy - Add a few red pepper flakes as a topping or mix in with the orange chicken sauce to add some heat.
FAQ'S
Can I add fresh orange juice to the cornstarch slurry?
If you want to add fresh orange juice to the sauce ingredients, you can - but you can also buy it from the store already made and ready to go! The best way to use fresh orange juice is to use a juicer and get as much of that goodness as possible. You will also want to strain it so it has no seeds or pulp.
Can I use premade packets of orange sauce?
You bet. If you want to save time or have picky eaters looking for a certain flavor, you can buy and use sauce packets or bottled sauce. Then, just follow the directions to add the sauce to the crispy air fryer orange chicken once it's ready.
How do I store leftovers of this orange chicken recipe?
After the chicken cooks and the entire dish cools, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container. Keep the leftovers in the fridge until the next time you plan on eating them. For the best results, eat any leftovers within 2-3 days.
How do I reheat orange chicken in the air fryer?
To reheat, you can add it back to the air fryer for a few minutes. Make sure to heat until the chicken is heated all the way through.
MORE AIR FRYER CHICKEN RECIPES
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless chicken breasts or thighs cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Orange Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups orange juice
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, toss the pieces of chicken with the cornstarch, until the chicken is well coated.
- Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray, then pour chicken into the prepared basket, without stacking or overlapping chicken.
- Air fry at 380 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, until chicken is golden brown, with an internal temperature at 165 degrees F.
- While the chicken is in the air fryer, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, add the sugar, cornstarch, flour, orange juice, and soy sauce. Stir together to combine.
- Slow stir in the orange juice. Place the saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sauce begins to boil. Once boiling, continue stirring the sauce for 2-3 minutes, until it thickens, then remove from the stove top. Stir in orange peel until evenly distributed in the sauce.
- Once chicken is done air frying, in a large bowl, toss chicken with HALF of the sauce until well coated.
- Top with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.
©AirFryingFoodie 2024
Agnes
If using a prepared sauce should it be preheated?
Can this be adapted as a lemon chicken recipe?
I haven't tested this recipe doing either of those, but I bet you could make both of those work. 🙂