Air Fryer Orange Chicken
This crispy air fryer orange chicken is simple to make and results in a tender and crispy chicken that gets coated in a sticky orange sauce. It's better than your favorite takeout version!
Servings: 6 (4-ounce servings)
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Air Fryer Chicken
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken breast cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons (Soy Sauce work stoo) (Soy Sauce works too)
- 1 egg white whisked
- 1/4 cup corn starch or tapioca starch for grain free
Orange Sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 3/4 cup fresh orange juice about 3 oranges
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1/4 cup Coconut Aminos or Tamari (Soy Sauce works too)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, pure maple syrup, or honey
- Top: sesame seeds, green onions and orange zest, chili flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken pieces in a medium bowl with the salt, coconut aminos, egg white, and orange zest and toss quickly.
- Place the cornstarch in a large bowl, add the chicken, and toss to coat fully. Alternately, place the corn starch in a freezer bag with the kitchen and close tight then shake to coat the kitchen.
- Generously spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray. We used an avocado oil spray because it cooks at high heat well. Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer and generously spray the top of the chicken. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. If it doesn’t fit in your size air fryer work in batches. The chicken will become soggy instead of crispy if it’s too crowded.
- Air fry at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. I like to remove my chicken 5-10 degrees before to allow for carryover cooking. The chicken will also cook a little more in the sauce.
- While they’re frying, make the orange sauce. Add the sesame oil to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once it’s hot, add the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Turn the heat down to medium-low and add the rest of the sauce ingredients. Allow it to come to a boil, then turn it down to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until it reduces and thickens.
- When the chicken is done, carefully transfer the air fryer chicken to the sauce and toss well. Allow it to cook on low for 4-5 minutes to thicken a bit more. Serve right away with green onions, toasted sesame seeds, or chili flakes.
Video
Notes
Store in the fridge: Allow to cool completely then store leftover orange chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To freeze: I recommend freezing the chicken and sauce separately or the chicken will get soggy. Cook the chicken according to the directions then flash freeze on a baking sheet and transfer to a freezer bag to avoid the chicken clumping together. Store the sauce in a separate container.
Reheat: Thaw both in the fridge overnight and cook together on the stove when you're ready to serve. The chicken and sauce will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
Serving: 4ounces | Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.5g | Protein: 27.3g | Fat: 7.6g | Cholesterol: 82.7mg | Sodium: 647mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 14.8g | Vitamin A: 13.4IU | Vitamin C: 17mg