Easy Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Name: Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs (diced into 1-2 inch cubes); 2 eggs; 2 cups all-purpose flour ((130 grams)); avocado spray ( or olive oil spray); 1/3 cup orange juice ((70 ml)); 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce ((45 ml)); 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water ((59 ml + 15 ml) ); 1/4 cup brown sugar ((27 grams)); 2 tablespoons rice vinegar ((30 ml)); 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 tablespoon grated ginger; 2 garlic cloves ((minced, about 2 teaspoons)); 1 teaspoon fish sauce (optional); 1 tablespoon orange zest (optional)

This easy Air Fryer Orange Chicken recipe makes crispy chicken and coats it with a sweet and sticky fresh citrus sauce. It is bursting with fresh flavors and can be on your table in just 20 minutes.

Overhead plate of orange chicken and rice, with serving bowls of rice and chicken.

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Ingredients
Instructions
Expert Tips
Serving Suggestions
Recipe FAQs
Recommended Recipes
Recipe
Reviews

This air fryer orange chicken has all the flavor of your favorite takeout, but it’s made with simple, fresh ingredients right at home.

If your crew loves the Trader Joe’s version, this recipe is a great swap that comes together just as fast. The crispy coating locks in all the juicy flavor, and the homemade orange sauce has that perfect balance of sweet and tangy.

I use the same method here as I do for my most popular boneless buffalo wings, and it’s a reliable way to get that crisp-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside texture.

Ingredients

Chicken: I prefer to use chicken breast for this recipe, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
Flour: I have tested this chicken just using flour and also adding in cornstarch, There is just a very slight increase in crispiness with the addition of cornstarch so I don't think it's worth using. But you can add ¼ cup of cornstarch if you wish.
Orange Juice: Fresh squeezed orange juice is the best option for this recipe. If you do not have oranges then you can use bottled orange juice.
Soy Sauce: This adds lots of flavor to the sauce. I used low sodium soy sauce in this recipe, but coconut aminos or tamari can be substituted in equal amounts.
Rice Vinegar: Vinegar gives a bite and acidity to the orange sauce while also tenderizing the meat.
Ginger: No Asian recipe is complete without the light heat of fresh ginger. ½ teaspoon of ground ginger can be used instead of fresh, but it will have a different flavor.
Garlic: Garlic is another "must-have" for many Asian dishes. If you do not have fresh garlic then you can substitute ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
Fish Sauce: Fish sauce is a common ingredient in traditional orange chicken recipes. It adds umami flavor that really rounds out the dish. If you do not have fish sauce on hand then you can either replace it with a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce or leave it out completely.

Instructions

Step One: Beat Eggs:

Whisk the eggs in a shallow bowl or pie plate.

Step Two: Coat Chicken:

Coat the pieces completely in the egg.
Remove the chicken and allow the excess egg to drip off.

Step Three: Toss in Flour

Place the flour in a shallow bowl or in a large Ziploc bag.
Add the meat and toss or shake to coat completely.

Step Four: Cook in Air Fryer

Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer leaving a little bit of space between each piece.
Cook at 380°F (190°C) for 5 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 2-5 minutes.

Collage showing steps ot bread the chicken: Egg in shallow bowl, chicken pieces coated in egg, chicken in flour, and pieces in air fryer.

Homemade Orange Sauce

This sauce is tangy, sweet, and oh so delicious! And if you love it then you will also want to check out my Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken, which is made the same way with just a few different ingredients.

While the meat is cooking in the air fryer place all of the sauce ingredients, except for the cornstarch and orange zest, in a medium saucepan.
Mix the cornstarch with water and set it aside.
Bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat, then stir in the cornstarch slurry and orange zest.
Cook an additional minute or so, until the sauce thickens.

Saucepan with the sauce ingredients in it.

Sauce the Chicken

Once the chicken has finished cooking, transfer it to a large bowl.
Immediately pour the orange sauce over the top.
Toss in the sauce until each piece is completely coated.

Left half is bowl or chicken with sauced poured on it, right half has sauced coating chicken.

Expert Tips

Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel so that the egg sticks well and holds the dry dredging nicely.
If you like to add a little heat to the sauce then you can add ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce, or sprinkle it onto the meat when serving.
Use a cooking spray that is made of a high heat oil, such as olive oil spray or avocado oil spray, so that it doesn't scorch during cooking.
Make sure to place the meat in one layer on the air fryer tray, and leave some space between the pieces. This helps them cook thoroughly and also allows for a nice golden brown crispy exterior.
Make a cornstarch slurry with some water, as directed in the recipe instructions. Adding cornstarch to the sauce without it being in liquid form will create lumps instead of a smooth thickened sauce.
Orange zest seems like a small ingredient that isn't important, but it adds a more robust citrus flavor and aroma to the sauce.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve the chicken just as it is, or sprinkle some green onions, sesame seeds, or red pepper flakes over the top for additional flavor and texture.
Add steamed white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, or Asian noodles.
Round out the meal with steamed broccoli or your favorite steamed vegetables.
You can turn this recipe into bowls and wraps, or even add it as a salad topping to change up your options.
Leftovers make a delicious burrito. Just add rice and shredded cabbage or lettuce.

Bowl of orange chicken with piece on fork, green onions and orange half on top.

Recipe FAQs

How do I store leftover Orange Chicken?

Place the Orange Chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. It will also keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can I make Orange Chicken in the oven?

You can use a standard oven to make Orange Chicken. Just bake it at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature has reached 165°F (74°C). Follow the recipe directions for the sauce.

Is Air Fryer Orange Chicken spicy?

Orange Chicken is sweet and tangy. If you want it spicy then you can add hot sauce (like sriracha) or chili flakes once you're done cooking the sauce.

Does Air Fryer Orange Chicken taste different than deep-fried?

The difference between air-frying and deep-frying is that it won't be heavy with oil. It has a similar flavor but is lighter overall.

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Ingredients