Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe

Make takeout at home with air fryer orange chicken! Crispy chicken bites are tossed with a sweet and sticky orange sauce to create this Chinese American favorite.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs (cut into bite-size pieces)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• green onions
• sesame seeds

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Set the air fryer to preheat at 350 °F for 5 minutes.
2. 2Put the meat in a bowl and add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch (do not include the cornstarch the in sauce ingredients), salt, and pepper. Stir to coat the pieces thoroughly. If you want the chicken to be extra crispy, add ½ tablespoon of olive oil or spray it with cooking spray.
3. 3Put the meat in the air fryer and cook at 350 °F for 5 minutes.
4. 4While it cooks, make the sauce. Combine the orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper in a saucepan.
5. 5Cook on medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture just starts to boil. Reduce the heat to low.
6. 6In a shallow bowl, mix the remaining cornstarch with water. Add this cornstarch slurry to the saucepan. Keep stirring, so it doesn't get lumpy. Cook for about 2 more minutes until the sauce thickens. Remove the sauce from the heat.
7. 7After the initial 5 minutes of air frying time is done, flip the chicken pieces over and cook for another 3-5 minutes until it is cooked through and golden brown. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the meat has reached 165 °F.
8. 8Once the chicken is done, add it to the pan with the orange sauce and stir so that the sauce evenly coats the pieces.
9. 9Serve with rice and green onions.