Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Name: Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 pound chicken breast (cut into 2-inch pieces); 1/2 cup cornstarch or potato starch; 2 eggs (whisked); 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 large orange (juiced); 1-2 tablespoons orange zest; 1/4 cup coconut aminos or soy sauce; 1 tablespoon ginger; 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 3 tablespoons honey

🌟Why You'll Love this Recipe

Made with fresh ingredients - If you've only ever had orange chicken from Chinese takeout or Trader Joe's orange chicken, you're in for a treat! This homemade orange sauce is made with fresh oranges and is so much more flavorful.

No refined sugar - Most orange chicken recipes are made using a lot of white sugar. This version is sweetened with fruit juice and honey, making this orange chicken sauce significantly better for you.

Easy weeknight dinner - This recipe is ready in 25 minutes or less and is a great meal to have in your dinner rotation.

🥘Ingredients and Substitutions

Ingredients in air fryer orange chicken.

Chicken - Although chicken thighs are one of my favorite cuts of chicken to use, it is best to use boneless skinless chicken breasts when making air fryer orange chicken.

Cornstarch - A key ingredient in making the chicken extra crispy and giving it a nice golden brown breading. I have also tested this recipe with potato starch and it provides the perfect light coating on the chicken.

Eggs - Whisked eggs help the cornstarch stick to the chicken. To help the whisked eggs stick to the chicken, pat the chicken cubes dry with a paper towel before dredging.

Orange - For the best-flavored orange sauce you'll need both freshly squeezed orange juice and a couple tablespoons of orange zest. This is going to make your homemade air fryer orange chicken so much more delicious than a Chinese restaurant or frozen orange chicken with pre-made sauce packets. You won't regret it!

Coconut aminos - Coconut aminos are a healthy alternative to soy sauce that is lower in sodium. If you prefer a saltier orange sauce, feel free to use regular soy sauce or tamari if you are gluten-free.

See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.

🔪Instructions

Set up an assembly line. Add sifted cornstarch to a bowl and the whisked eggs mixed with salt and pepper to another bowl.

Dredge the chicken. Dip the chicken pieces into the egg mixture followed by the cornstarch and coat completely on all sides. Shake off any excess cornstarch.

Place in the air fryer. Spray the air fryer basket with a light layer of cooking spray, add the coated chicken pieces in a single layer and spray the chicken with additional cooking spray.

Air fry. Cook for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165 degrees F.

Prepare the sauce. While the chicken cooks, prepare your orange sauce. Add the orange juice, orange zest, coconut aminos, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and honey to a small saucepan and whisk to combine.

Heat until thickened. Cook over medium heat while stirring frequently until the sauce thickens, about 8 minutes. You want the sauce to be thick enough to coat the chicken, but not so thick that it is a glaze.

Coat the chicken. Once the chicken has cooked to 165 degrees F, pour the orange sauce over the hot chicken and toss to coat.

Serve. Serve your crispy orange chicken immediately while hot and crispy.

💭Recipe FAQs

Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?

Yes, raw chicken can be safely cooked in the air fryer and is one of the best, fastest ways to cook chicken at home! If you're looking for more air fryer chicken recipes to try, you may like this dry rub wing recipe, Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs, or this Air Fryer Nashville-Hot Chicken and Waffles. You can even cook a full Rotisserie Chicken in the Air Fryer.

Why is my chicken not crispy?

If your chicken is not crispy after 15 minutes, it is likely that the air fryer basket was too crowded, or the chicken was not coated fully in cornstarch. It is important to leave enough space between the chicken bites to allow them to crisp up properly in the air fryer basket.

Is air-fried chicken healthier?

Air fryer chicken is a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried chicken because it requires very little oil and is much lower in fat. If choosing between deep-fried chicken and air-fried chicken, the air-fried version will almost always be healthier.

Do I have to flip chicken in the air fryer?

No, flipping the chicken is not necessary. One of the best perks of cooking in the air fryer is the air circulates completely around the food. This prevents the need for flipping and makes air fryer chicken one of the easiest cooking methods!

👩🏻‍🍳Chef Tips

Invest in a meat thermometer. If you're a newer chef or tend to question the doneness of chicken, invest in a meat thermometer! They're inexpensive and will help prevent you from overcooking your meat.

Adjust the cooking time based on your own air fryer. 15 minutes was the perfect cook time in my personal air fryer model, but depending on yours, you may need a slightly altered cook time. I would recommend checking the chicken after 13 minutes to test for doneness and adjust from there.

Air fryer orange chicken on plates with rice and broccoli.

🥗Serving

This air fryer orange chicken makes a delicious lunch or dinner recipe. Serve over your favorite grain such as white rice, brown rice or cauliflower rice and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.