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    Home » By Cooking Method » Air Fryer » Air Fryer Orange Chicken

    Air Fryer Orange Chicken

    Published: Oct 21, 2021 by Andrea Howe · This post may contain affiliate links.

    35 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This made from scratch air fryer orange chicken will easily compete with your favorite takeout or store bought version. A crunchy breaded coating and tangy sweet orange sauce work together to bring you a healthy twist on our family’s favorite Trader Joe’s orange chicken made in the air fryer.

    2 round plates filled with air fryer orange chicken topped with sesame seeds and scallions on a white board

    One of our favorite quick weeknight dinners is Trader Joe’s frozen orange chicken. Believe me, as a mom I love the ease and convenience! But it is a little heavy on the sauce and the breading is quite thick. So I set out to make a copycat Trader Joe’s orange chicken in the air fryer. I am quite pleased with the results and I think you will be too!

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-step Instructions
    • Air frying the chicken
    • Making the orange sauce
    • Recipe FAQ’s
    • More Cooking Tips
    • Air Fryer Orange Chicken

    Why this recipe works

    Healthier – you know I love my air fryer because it produces similar tasting results as pan or deep frying, but with about 60% less calories on average. Air frying is also lower in saturated fats. But even if you decide to pan fry this, homemade is still healthier than store bought.

    Crunchy breading – many homemade orange chicken recipes leave out the crispy crunchy breading! Where’s the fun in that? My version still has the breading, and the air fryer ensures a crispy finish.

    Quick and flavorful sauce – The sauce comes together while the chicken are cooking, and taste just as good as takeout. It has the perfect blend of tart and sweet.

    raw ingredients in shallow white bowls for trader joe's orange chicken air fryer recipe

    Ingredients

    For the chicken:

    • Cornstarch and all purpose flour to bread the chicken – According to the Kitchn, when paired with all-purpose flour, cornstarch helps prevent gluten development, which makes the flour coating crispier, and absorb moisture (from the frying and the chicken), which also means a crispier coating.
    • Egg wash – 2 whisked eggs with a splash of water to coat chicken in between dredges of the flour/cornstarch mix.

    For the orange sauce:

    • Grated ginger and orange zest – this gives the sauce the heightened orange flavor and a bit of spice to offset the sweetness.
    • Honey and orange juice – this will add the flavor and sweetness you need. Feel free to sub granulated sugar or maple syrup, but I definitely prefer honey.
    • Rice vinegar and soy sauce – classic Asian inspired flavors that offer the sauce the perfect bit of umami that Asian dishes are best known for.

    Step-by-step Instructions

    Step 1 – Combine the corn starch and all purpose flour in a shallow bowl and add 2 tsp each of salt and pepper. Whisk 2 eggs with a splash of water in another shallow bowl.

    Step 2 – Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour mixture, then gently dip in the egg wash, shaking off on excess egg.

    Step 3 – Dredge in flour mixture one more time to thoroughly coat, and set aside on a baking sheet.

    step by step process shots of breading chicken to prepare for cooking in an air fryer

    Air frying the chicken

    Working in batches if necessary, place your chicken pieces on your air fryer tray, and air fry at 400 degrees for 13-15 minutes. I personally like chicken thighs cooked a bit longer than usual, as I find it takes away any “chewiness.” Regardless of your preference, just make sure to cook till internal temp of 160 is reached.

    Make sure about half way through cooking, you either rotate each piece of chicken if on a tray like mine. Or, if using a basket style fryer, give the basket a hearty shake to move pieces around.

    breaded chicken pieces set on air fryer rack

    Don’t worry if you see some corn starch dust left over after air frying; it will either shake off or disappear when you add the sauce.

    fried chicken thigh pieces set on an air fryer basket tray

    Making the orange sauce

    Over medium low heat, add the orange juice, soy sauce and rice vinegar to a small saucepan and heat till simmering.

    Whisk in the orange zest and grated ginger and stir until sauce bubbles and starts to thicken up ever so slightly, about 2 minutes.

    Combine the corn starch and water in a separate bowl, and quickly whisk the slurry into the sauce, till well combined. Keep whisking for about a minute until sauce thickens to a thick paste. Remove from the stove and set aside.

    orange sauce in a saucepan being heated on a burner

    Drizzle the sauce over the chicken pieces and stir to combine. I usually put a baking tray under my fryer basket to catch the drips. Feel free to toss right on the basket or in a bowl.

    air fried chicken in a tray and orange sauce being drizzled on top

    Recipe FAQ’s

    Can I make this dish ahead of time?

    Yes, you can, but as with all things air fried, fresh out of the fryer does taste best. If you must make ahead of time, definitely reheat in your air fryer at a lower temp of 325 for about 6 minutes.

    How do I reheat the sauce?

    The sauce may get a bit lumpy if made ahead of time and refrigerated. No big deal, as it will still taste the same. Reheat over low heat in a small saucepan. Add a tablespoon or two of water if the sauce has gotten quite thick. Whisk until well combined and heated through.

    Can I use store bought sauce?

    Of course! Even if you just have time to air fry the chicken but use jarred sauce, it will still be a healthier dish overall compared to store bought.

    white plate with copycat Trader Joe's orange chicken made in air fryer on a bed of rice with scallions and sesame seeds

    More Cooking Tips

    To actually make the Trader Joe’s orange chicken in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Add the whole bag of chicken pieces (without the sauce) to the air fryer. Cook for 10 minutes. Rotate the tray and cook for about 5 minutes more.

    While the chicken is cooking, heat the sauce for about 45 seconds in the microwave, or over low heat in a small sauce pan. Toss the sauce with the chicken and serve.

    You may also use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe. I just prefer the flavor and juiciness that comes from thighs. They also resist drying out as chicken breasts can do.

    Don’t have an air fryer? No problem, you can pan fry instead. In a large skillet, heat 3-4 tbsp of oil over medium heat, and cook chicken in batches. Cook for 5-7 minutes, then toss and cook for another 5-7 minutes till cooked through. Stir in sauce and serve.

    Air fryer orange chicken on a bed of rice on a round plate with chopsticks
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    Tried this recipe? Please leave a comment and/or rating, letting me know how you enjoyed it! Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, and never miss a post by signing up for my weekly newsletter!

    Air Fryer Orange Chicken

    This made from scratch air fryer orange chicken will easily compete with your favorite takeout or store bought version. A crunchy breaded coating and tangy sweet orange sauce work together to bring you a healthy new twist on a beloved classic.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 5 people
    Author:Andrea

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    For the chicken

    • 1.5 lbs Chicken thighs cut up into apx 1" pieces
    • ½ cup Corn starch
    • ½ cup All purpose flour
    • 2 Eggs whisked with a splash of water
    • 2 tsp each Salt & pepper
    • Cooking oil spray

    For the sauce

    • 4 tbsp Soy sauce
    • 5 tbsp honey
    • 4 tbsp Rice vinegar
    • Zest of one large orange
    • 3 tsp Finely grated ginger apx the size of a small thumb knob of ginger
    • ½ cup Orange juice
    • 3 tsp Corn starch
    • 3 tsp Water
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    To make the air fried chicken

    • Mix the flour and corn starch, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl, and whisk the eggs with a splash of water in a separate shallow bowl.
    • Working in batches, toss some chicken in the flour/corn starch mix, then gently toss in the egg wash.
    • Spray your air fryer tray or basket. Dredge the chicken in the flour/corn starch mix one more time, lightly coat with cooking spray, and then place on the tray.
    • Set air fryer to 400 degrees and cook chicken in batches, for apx 13-15 minutes, until chicken reaches 160 degrees internal temperature. Make sure to toss or flip each piece halfway through cooking to get evenly crispy chicken.

    To make the sauce

    • Over medium low heat, add the orange juice, soy sauce and rice vinegar to a small saucepan and heat till simmering.
    • Whisk in the orange zest and grated ginger and stir until sauce bubbles and starts to thicken up ever so slightly, about 2 minutes.
    • Combine the corn starch and water in a separate bowl, and quickly whisk the slurry into the sauce, till well combined. Keep whisking for about a minute until sauce thickens to a thick paste. Remove from the stove and set aside.
    • Toss the cooked chicken in the sauce and serve immediately, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.

    Notes

    To actually make the Trader Joe’s orange chicken in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Add the whole bag of chicken pieces (without the sauce) to the air fryer. Cook for 10 minutes. Rotate the tray and cook for about 5 minutes more.
    While the chicken is cooking, heat the sauce for about 45 seconds in the microwave, or over low heat in a small sauce pan. Toss the sauce with the chicken and serve.
    You may also use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe. I just prefer the flavor and juiciness that comes from thighs. They also resist drying out as chicken breasts can do.
    Don’t have an air fryer? No problem, you can pan fry instead. In a large skillet, heat 3-4 tbsp of oil over medium heat, and cook chicken in batches. Cook for 5-7 minutes, then toss and cook for another 5-7 minutes till cooked through. Stir in sauce and serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 508kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 199mg | Sodium: 1701mg | Potassium: 409mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 251IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Howe.We.Live or tag #HoweWeLiveRecipes!
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    About Andrea Howe

    Andrea Howe is the recipe developer and photographer of Howe We Live. She is also a seasoned home cook of over 20 years, for her family of 5. Andrea has spent over 10 years in the food industry, writing for various publications including Babble and Disney. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Taste of Home, Yahoo, Buzzfeed and ABC News.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dennis says

      November 07, 2021 at 8:00 am

      5 stars
      The chicken was ah-mazingly delicioius and so easy to make in the air fryer!! thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    2. Chenée says

      October 31, 2021 at 7:21 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! I’m always looking for air fryer recipes and who doesn’t love orange chicken! Thanks for this recipe!

      Reply
    3. Marie says

      October 31, 2021 at 6:41 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow my family would just love these golden, crunchy nuggets of chicken! That orange sauce sounds irresistible. I think I’ll need to get myself an air fryer just to give this recipe a try!

      Reply
    4. Leslie says

      October 31, 2021 at 5:05 pm

      5 stars
      I love everything about this recipe! It’s so easy to make, it’s delicious, and it’s a hit with the whole family!

      Reply
    5. Amy Casey says

      October 31, 2021 at 2:51 pm

      5 stars
      I have a personal chef client that loves Asian dishes and they loved this one too! The sauce was perfect ~ the orange juice was a delicious addition.

      Reply
    6. Liz says

      October 31, 2021 at 8:06 am

      5 stars
      I love cooking chicken in the air fryer! I haven’t made orange chicken in forever, as I find it takes me a while to make on the stovetop. This recipe seems quick! Excited to give it a try!

      Reply
    7. Jessica says

      October 30, 2021 at 8:00 am

      I just love all the fresh flavors in this dish! Just wish I had an air fryer – I recently gave mine to my daughter when she moved out. I’d like to replace it but have been hesitating because I’m not sure which one to purchase. Do you have any suggestions? In the meantime, I will be using the pan fry method to prepare this.

      Reply
    8. Adriana says

      October 29, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      5 stars
      No more take out everyone should make this orange chicken at home. It is so yummy and super easy to make. My family loved it!

      Reply
    9. Dennis says

      October 29, 2021 at 12:33 pm

      5 stars
      I’m a big fan of Orange Chicken and your recipe made in my air fryer is the only way I’ll be making it! It was delicious!

      Reply
    10. Tammy says

      October 29, 2021 at 11:38 am

      5 stars
      Orange chicken is my favorite and this air fryer version does not disappoint! So delicious!

      Reply
    11. Colleen says

      October 27, 2021 at 10:15 am

      5 stars
      I am air fryer obsessed, so this chicken recipe caught my eye and it did not disappoint! The chicken was crisp and juicy and orange sauce was delicious!

      Reply
    12. Heather says

      October 26, 2021 at 11:06 am

      5 stars
      I love the tangy sweet orange sauce of this air fryer orange chicken – great recipe! Thankyou

      Reply

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    Welcome to Howe We Live. I’m Andrea, a passionate home cook and mother of 3. I’ve been cooking and writing about healthy eating for almost a decade, and my number one goal here is to help you develop the tools needed to throw together a great meal at home that is both delicious, and healthy-ish. All eaters are welcome here! Read More

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