Air Fryer Trader Joe's Orange Chicken is so crispy and full of orange flavor! The air-fried chicken is a delicious meal ready in less than 15 minutes! It's a game changer for busy weeknight dinners, or when you just need an easy family meal.
These extra crispy orange chicken pieces make a perfect quick dinner idea that beats takeout orange chicken from a Chinese restaurant, without the need for deep frying.
QUICK AND EASY AIR FRYER TRADER JOE'S ORANGE CHICKEN
Making air fryer frozen food is one of the best ways to use the air fryer. When you have comfort food cravings, you don't have to settle for just frozen chicken nuggets! The hot air cooks even raw chicken from frozen to dinner ready, much faster than any other cooking methods.
You can find a package in the freezer aisle at a Trader Joe's grocery chain. If you can't find Trader Joe's brand, you should be able to find other brands of frozen orange chicken from your favorite grocery chain store near you, in the frozen aisles.
You can also make your own sweet Mandarin chicken from scratch with skinless chicken breasts, orange juice, and corn starch, with this easy Air Fryer Orange Chicken recipe. This is a favorite Chinese food recipe! You can choose dark meat chicken or white meat, and it's done in minutes.
If you are looking for simple air fryer chicken recipes, you will love this Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe. A few of our other favorites, are Air Fryer Pesto Chicken, Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs, Naked Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, or Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken.
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE TRADER JOE'S ORANGE CHICKEN IN THE AIR FRYER
1-22-oz package Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken-(One bag makes 5 servings)
HOW TO MAKE ORANGE CHICKEN FROM TRADER JOE'S IN THE AIR FRYER
Step 1: Remove the unopened orange sauce packet and place in a small bowl of hot water. Set aside.
Step 2: Place the amount of frozen pieces of chicken you want to prepare, in the air fryer basket or on a baking sheet in a single layer. Do not stack or overlap the frozen chicken.
Step 3: Air fry at 380 degrees F for 13-15 minutes. Use tongs to flip the pieces over halfway through the cooking time. Confirm doneness when the internal temperature reaches165 degrees F.
Step 4: Once the chicken in done, transfer to a large mixing bowl. Pour the thawed orange chicken sauce over the chicken, and toss together until each piece is well coated.
I make this orange chicken air fryer recipe in my Cosori air fryer, and 13 minutes was the perfect cook time. Keep in mind not every air fryer oven has the same wattage, and air frying time may need to be adjusted. The best way to confirm doneness of chicken is to check it's internal temp.
If you are looking for more easy dinner recipes, try these air fryer stuffed peppers, air fryer cheese stuffed meatballs, air fryer turkey legs, or air fryer shrimp egg rolls.
VARIATIONS FOR TRADER'S JOES ORANGE CHICKEN
Change the sauce ingredients for a variety of flavor combinations. Skip the frozen sauce packets, and toss the crispy chicken pieces with a honey glaze, honey mustard, dark soy sauce, or even a teriyaki sauce.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST TRADER JOE'S ORANGE CHICKEN
Don't overfill the air fryer: If you are making a large batch that doesn't fit in your basket without stacking or overlapping, air fry chicken in batches. If the chicken is stacked, it won't air fry evenly during the cooking process.
Check the internal temperature: Use an instant read meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature. Once it reaches 165 degrees F, remove from the air fryer.
Make the coating crispy: Once you toss the chicken with sauce, return to the air fryer for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Make it a meal: Serve over a bowl of rice or cauliflower rice with vegetables, then divide into separate containers for an easy meal prep lunch for the week. It's a great source of protein, and by dividing it, you can keep track of calories.
Top it off: Garnish with few sprinkles of sesame seeds, chopped scallions, or mandarin orange peel, for an extra bit of flavor.
FAQ'S ABOUT MAKING TRADER JOE'S ORANGE CHICKEN IN THE AIR FRYER
How do I store orange chicken leftovers?
Storage for leftover orange chicken is simple. Let it cool down first, then transfer it to an airtight container. Keep it covered and refrigerate. Discard after 3-4 days.
How do I reheat this orange chicken?
To reheat the chicken, return to the air fryer and air fry at 380 degrees F for 3-5 minutes, until the chicken is warm. You can also reheat in the microwave. Just place it in a microwave safe bowl for 2-3 minutes.
Do I need to thaw this orange chicken first?
You don't need to thaw before air frying. One of the best things about using an air fryer is that you can cook frozen foods straight from the freezer. The air fryer will make them crispy.
Why didn't my orange chicken get crispy?
If you try to air fry the whole bag with a smaller basket, the air may not circulate properly. This can cause the coating to not be crispy. If you have pieces stacked or overlapping, the part that is covered will not cook properly.
How many people can one bag of Trader Joe's orange chicken feed?
One 22 ounce bag of frozen chicken has five servings in it. So depending on how hungry someone might be, you can feed 4-5 people with one bag. Air fryer broccoli, (or steamed broccoli) cauliflower, brown rice, white rice or fried rice, all are delicious chicken side dishes. And they make it a complete meal.
Looking for more? Check out this article where we share our favorite top 50 air fryer chicken recipes.
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Trader Joe's Orange Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 Package Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken
Instructions
- Remove the unopened orange sauce packet and place in a small bowl of hot water. Set aside.
- Place the amount of frozen pieces of chicken you want to prepare, in the air fryer basket or on a baking sheet in a single layer. Do no stack or overlap the frozen chicken.
- Air fry at 380 degrees F for 13-15 minutes. Use tongs to flip the pieces over halfway through the cooking time. Chicken is done when crispy with an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Once the chicken in done, transfer to a large mixing bowl. Pour the thawed orange chicken sauce over the chicken, and toss together until well coated.
Notes
- If you are making a large batch that doesn't fit in your basket without stacking or overlapping, air fry chicken in batches. If the chicken is stacked, it won't air fry evenly during the cooking process and can be undercooked, or burn.
- Placing the packet of sauce in hot water gives it time to thaw and it will stay warm when ready to toss with the chicken.
- Use an instant read meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature. Once it reaches 165 degrees F, remove from the air fryer.
- For a crispier coating, once you toss the chicken with sauce, return to the air fryer for an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Serve over a bowl of rice with vegetables, then divide into separate containers for an easy meal prep lunch for the week. It's a great source of protein, and by dividing it, you can keep track of calories.
- Garnish with few sprinkles of sesame seeds, chopped green onion, or mandarin orange peel, for an extra bit of flavor.
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
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