Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe

This Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe is easy to make and can be made in less than a half hour.

Made with perfectly air fried skinless chicken breast bites served up in a sweet and tangy sauce, this orange chicken is sure to impress.

What makes this orange chicken so good?

It is the combination of the sweet and slightly tangy sauce that surrounds the bite sized moist and chewy chicken breast chunks that make this dish so good.

I like that air frying the orange chicken rather than frying it in oil, makes it healthier and a tastier dish.

Have you tried my Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Wings

Made with wing drumettes and flats along with seasoning, those wings are deliciously moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Both this recipe for orange chicken and that recipe for wings are great tasting chicken recipes that can be made in an air fryer.

Rice vinegar is an important part in the sauce as it helps to give the chicken that tangy flavor. You can find rice vinegar here.

Why you will love this homemade orange chicken recipe.

This orange chicken is just as good as the take-out version if not better. Unlike the take out version, this orange chicken is made with skinless chicken breast and air fried rather than deep fried.

Here is what else you will like about this recipe.

• It takes less than a half hour to make this entire recipe.
• The air fried chicken is cooked to a slightly crisp outside and a moist and tender inside.
• Because you are making the sauce, you know exactly what goes into it.
• Personalizing this recipe is as easy as adding sesame seeds or chopped green onions.

Ingredients you will need to make orange chicken.

Chicken.

• Chicken. Boneless skinless chicken breast that has been cut into 1" pieces.
• Cornstarch. This will help make the chicken crisp on the outside.
• Egg and Water. Combined together and used to help the cornstarch stick to the chicken.
• Seasonings. Salt and pepper.

Sauce.

• Orange Juice. Freshly squeezed is preferred.
• Soy Sauce. Low sodium soy sauce can be used.
• Honey. Added for texture and as a sweetener.
• Rice Vinegar. Adds the perfect tangy balance to the sauce.
• Cornstarch and Water Used as a 'slurry' or thickener.
• Sesame Oil. Adds moisture, texture, and an important flavor to the sauce.
• Seasonings. Garlic Powder, Ground Ginger, and Red Pepper Flakes.

Expert Tip 👉 Orange zest can be added to the sauce for even more flavor!

How to make Homemade Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Prep Time: 15 minutes .
Air Fry Time: 12 minutes .
Servings: 4 .

1. Prepare. If you have not done so, cut your chicken breasts into 1" chunks. You can prep your air fryer basket for nonstick and preheat the air fryer to 375.
2. Dredge. Make a dredging station using two shallow bowls. In the first bowl use a whisk to combined together the egg and water. For the second bowl, whisk or mix with a fork the cornstarch with the salt and pepper.
3. Chicken. Use a fork to dip the first piece of chicken into the first bowl, tap off the excess liquid. Dip the chicken into the second bowl, tap off the excess cornstarch, and then place the chicken into your air fryer basket. Continue with the remaining chicken until your basket is full.
4. Air Fry. Air fry the chicken for five minutes and then flip the chicken over. Continue to air fryer until golden brown and cooked through (five to seven more minutes).
5. Sauce While your chicken is air frying you can make your sauce. In a saucepan over medium heat, use a whisk to combine together the orange juice, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and seasonings. Once the sauce begins to bubble you can whisk in your slurry (cornstarch and water) and then turn the heat down to low and allow the sauce to thicken, stirring or whisking as needed.
6. Finish. Place the cooked chicken into a large bowl. Carefully pour about half of the sauce over the chicken and toss the ingredients. Then add the remaining sauce and toss until the chicken is well covered with sauce.

Tips for making the best orange chicken in an air fryer.

When cutting up your chicken, cut the pieces into the same sized chunks. This will help the chicken air fry at the same rate.

More helpful tips for you.

1. Before placing your chicken chunks into the air fryer you can give them a quick spray with oil or vegetable spray. This will help the chicken get extra crisp on the outside.
2. When placing your chicken into the air fryer, leave room between each piece of chicken for the air to circulate. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to make this recipe in batches.
3. According to the experts, chicken is done cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 165f and it is no longer pink.
4. For additional sauce to use for dipping, simply double the sauce ingredients.