Name: Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size chunks; 3/4 cup all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup cornstarch; 2 eggs; Cooking Spray; Sesame Seeds, to sprinkle on; 2 teaspoons orange zest; 1/2 cup orange juice; 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce; 1/2-1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce, adjust to taste; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 1 tablespoon seasoned rice wine vinegar; 1.5 tablespoons cornstarch, for slurry; 3 tablespoons cold water, for slurry

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Air Fryer Orange Chicken is the takeout inspired air fryer recipe you need to make! Crispy breaded pieces of chicken thighs are tossed in a super easy orange sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes and family friendly!

Why I love It:

Crispy - The cornstarch-based breading combined with the air fryer gives super crispy results.
Takeout Inspired - Takes just like your favorite Chinese takeout.
Orange Sauce - The easy orange sauce as both zest and orange juice for extra flavor

Ingredients You Need For Air Fryer Orange Chicken:

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs - you can swap in breasts as well.
All-Purpose Flour
Cornstarch - this helps make the breading super crispy
Eggs
Oranges - Zest and Juice
Low Sodium Soy Sauce
Chili Garlic Sauce
Brown Sugar
Minced Garlic
Seasoned Rice Wine Vinegar
Cooking Spray

How to Make Orange Chicken in the Air Fryer:

Bread Chicken - Bread the chicken pieces by dredging first in the flour mixture, then the egg, and one more time in the flour. Repeat with all chicken and set aside.
Add to Air Fryer - Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and add chicken pieces in an even layer. You may need to cook in two batches. Spray the chicken with cooking spray, give the basket a shake, and spray again. The idea is to coat all the sides in the oil spray. This prevents sticking and gets them extra crispy.
Air Fry - Cook at 400 degrees F for 8 minutes, until cooked through. I like to give the basket a shake after 5 or 6 minutes.
Make Orange Sauce - While the chicken is cooking, add the sauce ingredients to a small pot and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat and add the cornstarch slurry. Simmer until the sauce thickens - about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Toss Chicken in Sauce - Toss the cooked chicken in the sauce to evenly coat.
Serve and Enjoy!

beaten eggs and flour-cornstarch mixture for dredging

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put foil in the air fryer?

You can put foil in the air fryer. But doing so does impede some of the hot air circulation which is what makes the food crispy. So for this recipe, I do not recommend lining with foil when cooking the chicken. However, you can line with foil if you're reheating the leftovers.

Can you cook frozen store-bought orange chicken in the air fryer?

Yes, you can cook frozen store-bought orange chicken in the air fryer - like the orange chicken from Trader Joe's. For most varieties, it will take 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees F to cook. But cook until the frozen chicken is cooked through.

air fryer orange chicken with green onions

Recipe Tips:

Spritz Well with Cooking Spray - The cooking spray is essential to keeping the chicken breading from sticking to the air fryer basket. You want to coat the pieces in the cooking spray on all sides.
Shake Basket - Shaking the air fryer basket a little over halfway through cooking helps get the chicken crisp and golden on all sides and prevent it from clumping together.
Don't Overcrowd the Basket - You want the chicken pieces to be in an even layer and not piled together. You may need to cook in two batches.

Serving Ideas

Here are some of my favorites to serve alongside:

Cooked White or Brown Rice
Steamed Veggies - Like broccoli
Asian-Inspired Noodles - Like these Garlic Sesame Ramen Noodles

crispy orange chicken with rice in a bowl

Storage and Reheating

Storage - Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating - Leftovers can be reheated in the air fryer at 350 degrees F a few minutes until warmed. You can line the air fryer basket with foil to keep the sauce from dripping through the grates.

air fryer orange chicken with sesame seeds

Other Air Fryer Recipes:

Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Broccoli - Cooks in minutes. It is tender with crispy and roasted edges. The pairing of garlic and parmesan cheese is fantastic!
Air Fryer Salmon - Takes only minutes to cook, is flavorful, healthy, and perfect for a weeknight dinner. Mix up a simple salmon seasoning to rub on the salmon filets.
Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes - They cook super quickly for a quick breakfast or brunch. Perfect served with scrambled eggs and bacon!
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes - Super crispy skin, but tender and soft on the inside.

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