Air Fryer Orange Chicken

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Sweet and tangy but with a hit of heat, this Air Fryer Orange Chicken is a classic take out recipe that you can easily make at home! You won’t believe how crispy this orange chicken is without deep frying!

I find that I’m craving more crispy fried foods recently. It’s a major comfort food for me and it’s not something that can be satisfied with a substitution. Fresh crunchy carrots aren’t going to hit the spot like a piece of crispy and crunchy fried chicken! However, I’d love a healthier alternative so I can indulge in it more often which is where my air fryer steps in! Lightly coated in cornstarch to make a crispy exterior then tossed in a bright orange soy flavored sauce, this orange chicken in the air fryer is an easy weeknight dinner and healthier than take-out option!

A plate of rice with air fryer orange chicken on top with a fork in the plate. Garnished with sesame seeds and green onion.

Why You’ll Love this Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe

It’s pretty easy! Since we aren’t deep frying, once the chicken goes into the air fryer, you’re free to walk away and do something else. Also there’s no oil splatter on your backsplash to clean up after lol.
This orange chicken recipe is quite customizable as you’re simmering the sauce on it’s own, you can taste throughout to adjust it to how you like it. Add more chili flakes or more honey to suit you preferred sweet/heat levels!
It’s a kid-friendly recipe that the entire family will love. Who doesn’t love little nuggets of crispy chicken?
This air fried orange chicken is just like the Chinese takeout version! Whether it be Panda Express, PF Changs, Manchu Wok, etc, this homemade version is pretty comparable in my opinion. Let me know in the comments if it tastes like the take-out version you get locally!

Ingredients You’ll Need for Orange Chicken

chicken thighs — I prefer using boneless, skinless chicken thighs for super flavourful bites of orange chicken but you can also use chicken breasts.
cornstarch — to give the chicken that crispy exterior.
oil spray

Overhead photo of ingredients needed to make the sauce for orange chicken.

orange juice — either juice it yourself or buy some no-pulp juice.
orange zest — this really brightens the orange flavour.
honey — or brown sugar if you prefer
rice vinegar
soy sauce — I recommend using low sodium soy sauce
oyster sauce
garlic
red chili pepper flakes
cornstarch — not pictured but you’ll need cornstarch to make a cornstarch slurry. To do so, mix it 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of cold water.

How to Make Orange Chicken in an Air Fryer

Chicken pieces covered in cornstarch in a bowl.

In a bowl, coat the chicken cubes in cornstarch.
Spray the basket with some cooking spray.

Cornstarch covered chicken pieces in an air fryer basket.

Add the chicken in a single layer to your air fryer basket, spray with cooking spray, and air fry at 375F for 11 minutes, shaking the basket at the half way mark. You’ll have to do this in 2 to 3 batches as it won’t all fit at once in your air fryer.

Mixing crispy air fried chicken into the orange sauce.

While the chicken is air frying, make your orange sauce by combining all the ingredients but the cornstarch in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil.
Simmer on low for 5 minutes and then add in a cornstarch slurry (mixing 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of cold water).
Mix until combined and simmer to your desired consistency.
Once the chicken in the air fryer is done, coat the crispy “fried” chicken in the orange sauce.
Serve with your side of choice and garnish.

Close up of coating the chicken in the sauce.

Tips and Notes

Be sure to shake off any excessive cornstarch from the chicken before adding it to your basket.
Be generous with the oil spray as it helps browning and crisping of the chicken bites.
This is the air fryer I use for my air fryer orange chicken.

My Recommendation

This is the air fryer I use. I love how large this air fryer is! It can fit a whole chicken or 2 bags of frozen French fries!

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Usually when deep frying, I dredge my chicken in beaten egg but I didn’t want to clean up the drips from a wet batter in the air fryer. The cornstarch is enough to make the chicken crispy in the air fryer. It won’t be a super thick crispy coating but it’ll still be crispy!
My air fryer doesn’t require preheating. If you’re does, preheat it to 375F.
You definitely need to spray some cooking oil to the chicken and isn’t something you can skip.
It’s best to be enjoyed immediately as the sauce will decrease the crispness of the chicken.
Make this air fryer orange chicken spicy by adding extra red chili flakes.

A plate of rice with air fryer orange chicken on top. Garnished with sesame seeds and green onion.

Make Ahead Tips

Make ahead: if you would like to make your orange chicken ahead of time, skip coating your chicken in the orange sauce to avoid it getting soggy. Store separately in the fridge. When ready to enjoy, add all the cooked chicken back into the air fryer to crisp it back up and reheat the sauce in the microwave or stovetop.
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Meal prep: if you don’t might your chicken to be a little bit softer, you can meal prep this. If you have access to an air fryer or toaster oven, you can crisp it back up at lunch! Alternatively, you can keep the chicken and sauce separate and combine them at lunch.

My Recommendation

This is my go-to meat thermometer for making sure that the internal temperature of my meat is good to go. It’s also magnetic so I have it on my fridge door to save drawer space!

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What do you serve with orange chicken?

I like to serve mine with jasmine rice but coconut rice and purple rice are great as well. For an extra healthy dinner, you can serve this with some broccoli, green beans, roasted vegetables, or some corn with shallots.

Are General Tso Chicken and Orange Chicken the same?

They’re not! General Tso’s is usually spicier and made with whole chiles whereas orange chicken is sweeter and made with orange juice.

How does orange chicken taste like?

Orange chicken is coated in a sticky, tangy, and sweet sauce. The taste of orange juice is quite bold so if you’re not a fan of orange flavour, then this isn’t for you. Try my orange tofu recipe for a meatless version!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 11

Total Time: 21

Servings: servings

Ingredients

For the Chicken

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch cubes
⅓ cup cornstarch, or more if needed

For the Sauce

1½ cup orange juice
orange zest, from 1 orange
2 tbsp honey, or brown sugar if you prefer
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce, I recommend using low sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
3 tbsp minced garlic
1-2 tsp red chili pepper flakes
1 tbsp cornstarch, mixed with 1 tbsp of cold water

Equipment

air fryer

Instructions

In a bowl, coat the chicken cubes in cornstarch.
Spray the basket with some cooking spray.
Add the chicken in a single layer to your air fryer basket, spray with cooking spray, and air fry at 375F for 11 minutes, shaking the basket at the half way mark. You’ll have to do this in 2 to 3 batches as it won’t all fit at once in your air fryer.
While the chicken is air frying, make your orange sauce by combining all the ingredients but the cornstarch in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil.
Simmer on low for 5 minutes and then add in a cornstarch slurry (mixing 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of cold water).
Mix until combined and simmer to your desired consistency.
Once the chicken in the air fryer is done, coat the crispy “fried” chicken in the orange sauce.
Serve with your side of choice and garnish.

Tried this recipe?Did you make this recipe? I’m always so happy to hear about it! I’d love to see how it turned out. Tag me at @CarmysHungry on Instagram so I can see it! If you enjoyed the recipe, I’d really appreciate a comment with a 5 star rating! ♥

Nutrition Per Serving

Author: Carmy

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Asian, Chinese

Nutrition Disclaimer

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Why You’ll Love this Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need for Orange Chicken

How to Make Orange Chicken in an Air Fryer

Tips and Notes

Make Ahead Tips