Published Date: September 30, 2022
Category: Air Fryer Dinners
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Skip the takeout tonight and dig into this Air Fryer Orange Chicken recipe! A perfect mix of sweet, tangy, and spicy, this flavorful orange sauce smothers tender, juicy chicken to create a 30-minute meal that’s sure to be a hit!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This air fryer orange chicken is perfect for busy weeknights!
It takes under 30 minutes to make and requires minimal prep, making it an ideal quick-fix dinner. Plus, the air fryer means no greasy mess or splattered oil—just juicy chicken with a crispy coating!
And of course, that delicious orange sauce makes it a tasty treat too.
Making this Air Fryer Orange Chicken is easy and the result is mouthwateringly delicious! Serve with white or brown rice and steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
Table of Contents
🛒 Air Fryer Orange Chicken Ingredients
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Egg
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Pepper
- Orange Juice
- Granulated Sugar
- White Vinegar
- Soy Sauce
- Honey
- Garlic Powder
- Ginger
- Water
- Oil Spray
- Red Chili Flakes (optional)
*see recipe card for detailed amounts
How to Make Orange Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg. Stir in the chicken chunks until well coated. Place the chicken pieces on a plate lined with a paper towel to remove the excess egg.
- Place ½ cup cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a large Ziploc bag.
- Add the cubed chicken pieces to the bag and shake until they are evenly coated. Set aside.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray.
- Place the chicken into the air fryer in one even layer then spray the chicken with oil spray.
- Cook the chicken at 400°F for 6 minutes. Shake the basket to loosen and turn the chicken, then continue to cook for another 6 minutes.
- While the chicken is cooking, start the sauce.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add orange juice, granulated sugar, white vinegar, soy sauce, honey, garlic powder, ginger, and a pinch of red chili flakes (optional). Stir often and bring to a simmer.
- In a small bowl, mix the remaining cornstarch and water. Add this mixture to the sauce and simmer for another 5-10 minutes, or until it reaches the desired thickness.
- Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and stir to coat.
Helpful Notes:
- When moving the egg-covered chicken to the bag, I find it best to move it a few pieces at a time with tongs to allow the excess egg to drip off.
- Make this a meal with rice, noodles, and your favorite cooked veggies! I especially like bell peppers, carrots, and snow peas.
- If you like it spicy, taste the sauce throughout the cooking process and add more chili flakes as needed. But be careful, the sauce will be hot!
Substitutes and Variations
- While this family favorite Chinese takeout dish is often served quite sweet at restaurants like Panda Express, or like you’ll find with the Trader Joe’s orange chicken, the perks of making this at home is that you can create this dish exactly as you’d like. Have fun adjusting the flavors and find what fits your own personal taste.
- To have a deeper orange flavor, use fresh oranges and/or add some orange zest to your orange chicken sauce.
- While this easy orange chicken recipe is already a healthier option than deep frying, you can make some simple variations to make this an even more healthy orange chicken dish (that the whole family will still love).
- If you prefer to have your orange chicken with rice, serve it with cauliflower rice or brown rice rather than white rice.
- Switch your cooking spray for avocado oil spray for a healthier alternative. (Olive oil is not a good option because of the high cooking temperature.)
- Choose to use low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos rather than regular soy sauce
- Choose fresh ingredients where possible.
- You can also use rice vinegar or rice wine vinegar if that’s what you have available.
- You can substitute the cornstarch in the cornstarch mixture with potato starch if that is what you have available.
How To Store Leftovers
This air fryer orange chicken keeps well for a few days and is just as delicious the next day!
IN THE FRIDGE: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
IN THE FREEZER: Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months in the freezer.
How To Reheat Air Fryer Orange Chicken
To reheat, just pop the chicken into the microwave for 2 minutes, or until heated through. You can also reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
FAQS
Can I use chicken thigh instead of chicken breasts?
Of course! You can use any boneless, skinless cut of chicken you prefer.
How can I tell if the chicken pieces are cooked?
The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165°F when it is done. To check, insert an instant-read meat thermometer into the center of the thickest piece of chicken.
Can I substitute brown sugar for white sugar and honey?
You certainly can! The flavor will be slightly different but just as delicious.
I need a larger batch. How do I double the recipe?
Doubling the recipe is easy. Simply double the measured amounts of the ingredients listed. I recommend that you only put 2 cut-up chicken breasts in the egg and cornstarch at a time. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches as you only want a single layer in the basket.
Try Some of My Other Favorite Chicken Air Fryer Recipes
Add some spice to your chicken dinner with this air fryer orange chicken recipe! Tender chicken covered in a sweet and spicy orange sauce will be an instant family favorite. Serve alongside rice, noodles, and cooked vegetables for a dish that will rival your favorite takeout
EQUIPMENT
- Air Fryer
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Whisk
- Ziploc bag
- Saucepan
- Mixing Bowl
INGREDIENTS
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1 tbsp water
- oil spray
- 1 pinch red chili flakes, optional
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg. Stir in the chicken chunks until well coated. Place the chicken pieces on a plate lined with a paper towel to remove the excess egg.
- Place ½ cup cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a large Ziploc bag.
- Add the chicken pieces to the bag and shake until they are evenly coated. Set aside.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray.
- Place the chicken into the air fryer in one even layer then spray the chicken with oil spray.
- Cook the chicken at 400°F for 6 minutes. Shake the basket to loosen and turn the chicken, then continue to cook for another 6 minutes.
- While the chicken is cooking, start the sauce.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add orange juice, granulated sugar, white vinegar, soy sauce, honey, garlic powder, ginger, and a pinch of red chili flakes (optional). Stir often and bring to a simmer.
- In a small bowl, mix the remaining cornstarch and water. Add this mixture to the sauce and simmer for another 5-10 minutes, or until it reaches the desired thickness.
- Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and stir to coat.
NOTES
- When moving the egg-covered chicken to the bag, I find it best to move it a few pieces at a time with tongs to allow the excess egg to drip off.
- Make this a meal with rice, noodles, and your favorite cooked veggies! I especially like bell peppers, carrots, and snow peas.
- If you like it spicy, taste the sauce throughout the cooking process and add more chili flakes as needed. But be careful, the sauce will be hot!
NUTRITION
Calories: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 14gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 501mgPotassium: 371mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 39gVitamin A: 208IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
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I really have to try this one.