Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Why You'll Love this Recipe

• A healthier version of that favorite takeout, this orange chicken is much lower in fat, calories, sodium and sugar (for a similar portion size.)
• This air fryer orange chicken recipe is easy to make at home with ingredients you may already have.
• Healthy orange chicken isn't fried or deep fried, which means less mess and less cleanup. And air frying still gives the chicken that crispy exterior.
• This delicious recipe is gluten-free, so everyone can enjoy it.
• Kids love the the fast food version of the classic orange chicken dish, so this will be sure to become a family favorite.

Ingredient Notes

For the Chicken

• Chicken Breast Boneless and skinless. You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead.
• Eggs 2 large
• Tapioca Starch Also called tapioca flour, tapioca starch is a root starch from the cassava plant. I love the crisp, golden exterior that it gives the chicken. But you can substitute cornstarch or potato starch in equal amounts.

For the Sauce

• Orange Juice From concentrate or not, just be sure to use pure, unsweetened orange juice.
• Sugar A minimal amount of sugar is enough to add the right touch of sweetness to the orange chicken sauce. You can use brown sugar, but the sauce will be a darker color.
• Tamari To keep this recipe gluten-free, I used tamari, and you can also use gluten-free soy sauce. If gluten isn't a concern, feel free to use regular soy sauce.
• Rice Vinegar Rice vinegar has a smoother, sweeter flavor than white vinegar. Use regular rice vinegar as apposed to seasoned rice vinegar, which has added sugar and seasonings.
• Cornstarch Cornstarch (sometimes spelled corn starch and called corn flour if you are in the UK) is used to thicken the sauce.

How to Make it, Step by Step

These instructions are intended as a visual guide. Complete detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Chicken

1. Slice chicken into cubes
2. Coat chicken pieces in beaten egg
3. Coat again in tapioca starch
4. Place in preheated air fryer

Cook in batches until the chicken is crisp and golden brown.

Sauce

5. Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing the cornstarch with water
6. Combine all of the sauce ingredients, including the cornstarch mixture, in a small saucepan. Heat until the sauce thickens.

Toss the cooked chicken in enough orange sauce to coat. Garnish with green onions and or sesame seeds.

Top Tips

• Try to cut your chicken pieces into roughly equal sizes to ensure even cooking.
• Avoid using aerosol oil sprays (like Pam) which can quickly damage the coating on your air fryer basket. A pump sprayer works great.
• Air frying uses high heat, so use a cooking spray oil with a high smoke point. My favorite is avocado oil. Other good ones are grapeseed oil, peanut oil, corn oil or safflower oil.
• The sauce will thicken as it cools. However, if you like a thicker sauce, whisk in a tablespoon or cornstarch that has been mixed with two tablespoons of water and heat the sauce until it thickens more.
• If you want a thinner sauce, whisk in more orange juice until it's the right consistency.
• This recipe has just a hint of spice. You can adjust the spice level to your liking by adding more or less red pepper flakes. Make it kid friendly by leaving out the chili flakes.
• Serve orange chicken with white rice, fried rice, or cauliflower rice, and a vegetable like steamed broccoli or sautéed green beans.
• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Common Questions

More Air Fryer Recipes!

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• Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
• Air Fryer Butternut Squash
• Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
• Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs (Gluten-Free)
• Air Fryer Cornish Hens