Recipes

Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Serves 4

| Prep Time: 20 mins

| Cook Time: 20 mins

| Total Time: 40 mins

You may need: Spicy Tangerine

Discover The Recipe

Ah, orange chicken, a beloved staple of American Chinese takeout menus. It's sweet, it's tangy, and it's oh-so-addictive. This recipe is perfect for those nights when you're craving takeout but don't want to leave the house. Believed to have originated in Hunan Province, China, the original version of the dish is made with dried orange peels, which gives it a distinct citrus flavor. But what if I told you that you could make this takeout classic at home - in your air fryer or oven, and on a weeknight? That's right, folks - crispy, succulent, tangy orange chicken is just a few steps away. Plus, you get to control the ingredients for a healthier version than your typical deep fried orange chicken takeout dish.

First things first, you’ll coat your chicken in a quick marinade of soy sauce and egg white before dredging in cornstarch to develop its signature crispy coating. Pop the chicken into the air fryer and cook until it's golden brown and crispy. Then, whip up a sauce featuring fresh orange juice, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar and our signature Spicy Tangerine spice blend. Once the chicken is cooked, toss it in the sauce and serve it up with some fluffy white rice and a sprinkle of green onions and sesame seeds. It's that easy. You'll be amazed at just how simple and delicious this recipe is.

Ingredients

Air Fryer Orange Chicken:
1.5 lbs chicken breast, cubed into 1-inch cubes
1 tsp Kosher salt
2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
1 egg white
¼ cup cornstarch or tapioca starch
Vegetable oil spray
Orange Chicken Sauce:
2 Tbsp sesame oil
½ tsp fresh ginger, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
¾ cup orange juice
¼ cup low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp Piquant Post Spicy Tangerine
2 tsp toasted sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Green onions, for garnish
Cooked jasmine rice, for serving

Notes

If you don’t have coconut aminos, you can substitute tamari or soy sauce. If substituting, add an additional teaspoon of sugar to the marinade.

If you don’t have an air fryer, use your oven! Simply extend the cooking time to 20-25 mins. If you have a convection oven, keep an eye on it and reduce cooking time somewhat.

Optional ingredients add a little character and flavor but don’t sweat it if you don’t have them.

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine chicken, salt, coconut aminos and egg white. Toss to combine. Add cornstarch to a bowl and completely coat the chicken.

Spray the pan or tray with a little vegetable oil. Add chicken in one layer on the air fryer tray or pan, spray chicken with vegetable oil (or brush lightly with vegetable oil) and air fry for 8-10 minutes, until cooked through and lightly crispy on the outside. You may need to air fry in 2 batches if the pieces don’t fit in a single layer. [note: if using a conventional oven, extend cooking time to 20-25 mins].

While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce. Combine all ingredients for the sauce in a medium skillet. Bring to a simmer over Med heat, and simmer for 3-4 minutes, until slightly reduced.

Add the chicken and stir to coat in the sauce, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately and garnish with sesame seeds and green onion.

Alternatives & Substitutions

Substitute boneless chicken thighs for an even more tender dish.
For other options, try our Tangerine Firecracker Shrimp, Tangerine Beef, or this hearty Tangerine Pork Fried Rice.
In the mood for noodles? Try our Tangerine Chicken Chow Mein, or our Vegan Chinese Stir Fried Noodles.
For vegan/vegetarian, try our Sticky Orange Tofu.
For another twist on a classic, try these Wok Seared Scallops with a versatile Tangerine Sauce or Duck w i th Orange Sauce.
Be sure to leave comments and feedback on your meals and experiments in the comments for others to read.
Post pictures of your masterpiece meal on social media and tag us. We repost!