Air Fryer Orange Chicken is a healthier but just as tasty as the takeout favorite! Easily make it at home for a delicious meal the whole family will love.
Orange Chicken is a popular menu item on Chinese takeout restaurants in North America, with the most famous one being Panda Express.
In the takeout version, pieces of chicken are battered and deep fried before being bathed in a flavorful orange sauce. It's delicious, but it's also loaded with fat, sugar and salt.
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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
- Slice chicken into cubes
- Coat chicken pieces in beaten egg
- Coat again in tapioca starch
- Place in preheated air fryer
Cook in batches until the chicken is crisp and golden brown.
Sauce
- Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing the cornstarch with water
- 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 of 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
How do I know when the chicken is cooked?
The chicken is cooked when the internal temperature is 165°. The safest way to tell is using a meat thermometer. It's an inexpensive tool that ensures your food is perfectly cooked.
How do I reheat leftovers?
You can reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 380° for 5-7 minutes. Because the leftover chicken will be coated in orange sauce, watch carefully to ensure it doesn't burn.
Can I freeze leftover orange chicken?
Yes, after cooking the chicken, allow to cool completely before transferring it (without sauce) to and airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Allow the chicken to thaw in the fridge before following the above instructions for reheating.
Recipe
Air Fryer Orange Chicken
A much healthier but every bit as delicious version of the popular take out chicken.
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Servings: 6
Calories: 310kcal
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup tapioca starch
Sauce
- 1 cup orange juice unsweetened
- 3 tablespoon sugar
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ tsp red chili flakes
Instructions
Chicken
- Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray and preheat to 400°
- Cut chicken into one inch cubes
- In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with beaten egg, stirring to coat
- Put tapioca starch in another bowl, and add chicken pieces, allowed excess egg to drip off. Stir well to coat each piece of chicken with the tapioca starch.
- Arrange the chicken pieces (so that they aren't touching) in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You will need to cook in batches to avoid overcrowding. Spray the chicken with more cooking spray.
- Air fry 15 minutes, turning halfway through. Chicken should be golden brown and crisp.
Orange Sauce
- Make a cornstarch slurry by combining the cornstarch with 4 tablespoon of water. Stir until there are no lumps
- Combine all of the sauce ingredients, including the cornstarch slurry in a saucepan. Heat over medium high heat, whisking, until sauce is thickened. Remove from heat.
- Toss the cooked chicken in the orange sauce. You will have extra sauce which you can serve over rice.
- Garnish with green onions and serve hot.
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 701mg | Potassium: 692mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 232IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
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Jacqueline Debono
I've been collecting recipes to try in my new air fryer and this orange chicken has just gone to the top of my list. It's one of my favourite Chinese restaurant dishes!
Colleen
I think you'll love it Jacqueline. Enjoy your new air fryer!
Fouzia Husainy
I love the orange flavour in chicken and I am sure it tasted awesome. It looks so beautiful with the shiny glaze of orange sauce and so tempting! Thanks for your tip on using arrowroot for crisping the chicken. I am going to try it out.
Colleen
You're welcome, Fouzia. Enjoy!
Dennis Littley
your orange chicken was a big hit with my family they loved it!
Colleen
I'm so glad your family loved the chicken, Dennis! Thanks so much for letting me know.
Kayla DiMaggio
This air fryer orange chicken was so delicious! What a great dinner!
Colleen
I'm so happy to hear this, Kayla! Thanks for your feedback.
Leslie
Air fryers are just the best invention ever..they make every recipe 10x easier!! Love your orange sauce for this chicken!!
Colleen
Hi Leslie. Yes aren't air fryers the best? So glad you love the orange sauce!
UR
I love my air fryer we can make so many recipes with less time right? The orange chicken looks interesting and easy!
Colleen
Yes, you should give it a try!
nancy
the orange sauce had so much zing to it - super lovely and the chicken was juicy too
Colleen
I'm so glad to hear this, Nancy! Thanks for your feedback!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady
Oh this looks awesome! Chicken breast was on sale this week. I can't wait to try this on the weekend so hubby can enjoy it as well!
Colleen
Hi Cindy, I hope you and your family love this orange chicken! I would love to hear back how it went for you. Enjoy!
Sharon
This orange chicken is so good, just like from my local restaurant. I like that it's made in the air fryer too, so easy to clean up.
Colleen
Hi Sharon! I'm so happy that you loved the chicken, Sharon!
Andrea
I love that this is healthier and easier to make. The flavors are fantastic and my family will love this.
Colleen
Hi Andrea, I would love to hear back how the recipe worked out for you. Enjoy!
Heather Johnson
this was delicious - especially the sauce - it was orange but not TOO orange!
Colleen
I know exactly what you mean, Heather. So happy that you loved the orange chicken!
Heather
Love orange chicken… never tried in my
Air fryer! Used cornstarch instead and worked wonderfully!
Colleen
Hi Heather, I'm so happy that it worked out great for you! Thanks for your feedback!
rebecca
what a great way to use up that last cup of OJ! thanks for sharing
Colleen
You're so welcome, Rebecca!
MJ
This is one of our family faves for take-out, and I love how easy it is to make at home now! Thank you for the recipe!
Colleen
You're so welcome, MJ!
Amalia
Yummy
Colleen
❤ Amalia!