Description
Make delicious orange chicken at home with this easy air fryer recipe. It’s crispy, flavorful, and better than takeout!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup water
- Cooking spray
- For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water
- Orange zest and sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, toss chicken pieces with soy sauce, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and black pepper. Let it marinate for 10 minutes.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and paprika.
- In a third bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and water.
- Dip each marinated chicken piece first into the egg mixture, then dredge it in the flour mixture, ensuring it’s well coated.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook in batches.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
- While the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 1-2 minutes.
- Once the chicken is cooked, add it to the saucepan with the sauce. Toss gently to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately, garnished with orange zest and sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- For extra crispy chicken, ensure the pieces are well-coated and don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Adjust sweetness and tanginess of the sauce to your preference.
- Serve with rice and steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg