This Air Fryer Orange Chicken is made with a homemade sweet, tangy, spicy sauce for a burst of flavor! With crispy panko encrusted chicken pieces, this yummy recipe will be the star of the show. Enjoy this homemade orange chicken with fried rice, egg drop soup, or other Asian-inspired dishes!
This mouthwatering air fryer orange chicken is the answer to saving money on takeout. Made with freshly squeezed orange juice, expect a bold, citrusy taste in every bite. Even though this recipe doesn’t require flour, the air fryer and panko breadcrumbs help create a deliciously crispy outside on each piece of chicken.
If you have leftover chicken breasts, use them up by creating one of the following recipes: Healthy Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk, No Bean White Chicken Chili, or Crispy Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthier – Using the air fryer to create this orange chicken recipe helps cut down the amount of oil needed, making it healthier than takeout.
- Made without flour – I’ve included cornstarch instead of flour in this air fryer orange chicken recipe, which helps create an even crispier outside.
- No marinating – This recipe only takes 25 minutes to create, as you don’t have to wait for the chicken to marinate!
- Budget-friendly—You likely already have most of the ingredients for this recipe in your pantry or fridge, so it’s a more budget-friendly option than grabbing takeout.
- Flavorful sauce – The orange sauce for this air fryer orange chicken breast recipe is tangy, sweet, savory, and spicy, so each bite is packed with flavor.
- Crispy outside – Panko breadcrumbs and cornstarch come together to create a deliciously crispy exterior on each chicken piece.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Toasted Sesame Oil: I highly recommend using toasted sesame oil instead of regular. It adds so much more flavor than the regular option. It’s nuttier and more aromatic, making it a perfect addition to homemade orange sauce.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
How to Make Orange Chicken in the Air Fryer
Quick Overview
- Add topping to chicken.
- Air fry.
- Prep sauce.
- Toss together.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: In a plastic sealable gallon bag, combine the panko, cornstarch, and salt. Seal the bag tightly and shake it to mix the ingredients.
Step 2: Place the chicken in the bag with the panko mixture. Seal the bag tightly and shake it until all the chicken is well coated. Use your hands to press the panko mixture onto the chicken.
Be sure to preheat the air fryer for this recipe, as it will create crispier chicken pieces.
Step 3: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Step 4: Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for about 10 minutes or until the chicken is golden. Spray the chicken with more oil after about 5 minutes. Do not flip or shake the basket during the cooking process.
If the sauce is too thin for the air fryer orange chicken, keep cooking it to the desired consistency.
Step 5: While the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce. Heat the sesame oil over medium heat in a small saucepan. Add the garlic and ginger, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant. Add the orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, zest, chili flakes, and sugar. Stir and bring to a light boil. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Add the mixture to the saucepan and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat immediately.
Step 6: In a large bowl, toss the cooked chicken with the prepared sauce until evenly coated.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Garnish the air fryer orange chicken with chopped green onions, sesame seeds, and extra grated orange zest. I love serving this air fryer orange chicken healthy recipe with other Asian-inspired dishes. Here are a few ideas:
Expert Tips
- Cut the chicken into uniform pieces. For the best results with this air fryer orange chicken recipe, chop the chicken into even pieces. This step will help ensure your chicken cooks evenly, so there aren’t under or overcooked bits.
- Use fresh orange zest. Fresh orange zest provides the recipe with delicious aromatics, a tangy taste, and a fresh flavor. I would not recommend using dried orange peel from the store for this recipe, as it tends to have a more bitter flavor.
- Coat the chicken pieces thoroughly. The key to creating crispy chicken pieces is ensuring the outside is evenly coated with breadcrumbs and cornstarch. Otherwise, you’ll be left with uncoated sections that aren’t crispy.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer. For the chicken to get crispy in the oven, there must be space between each piece. This allows the hot air to circulate around the entire outside of the chicken. If you overcrowd the air fryer basket, it can lead to soggy or undercooked pieces.
- Be generous with the cooking spray. Another way to get the chicken to crisp up is by adding oil to the outside of the chicken. Be sure to spray the basket and the chicken pieces well before cooking to ensure the crispiest results.
- If the sauce is too thin, keep cooking it. If you find the sauce is too thin for your liking, you can keep cooking it to help thicken it up. The sauce also thickens as it cools, so avoid making it too thick on the stove. Otherwise, coating the chicken in the sauce will be too difficult.
Additions & Variations
- Use store-bought- orange chicken sauce if you are short on time. Store-bought- orange chicken sauce is also quite tasty and will save you time in the kitchen. Keep in mind, you won’t be able to alter the flavor like you would with a homemade version. However, it’s still a good option in a pinch.
- Add vegetables to the mix. If you want to boost the nutrients of this air fryer orange chicken, you can add chopped veggies to the recipe. Cut vegetables like bell peppers and onions and add them to the pan with the sauce. They’ll soften as the sauce simmers. Then, toss everything together and enjoy.
- Serve with rice. The easiest way to make this recipe more filling is to serve it with rice on the side. You can use any rice, including white, brown, basmati, jasmine, etc. You can either cook it on the stove in a pot or in a rice cooker. Follow the instructions according to the rice package. You can also use microwave rice as a quick alternative.
Recipe FAQs
Allow the air fryer to preheat to 400°F for about five minutes. Then, follow the recipe notes above to season/prep the chicken. Cook for about 10 minutes or until golden. Toss with homemade or store-bought sauce, and enjoy.
I recommend cooking the chicken for about 10 minutes for this air fryer orange chicken recipe. Other air fryer chicken recipes may require more time, depending on how big the chicken pieces are. Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temp of 165°F.
I recommend air-frying chicken at 400°F (200°C) to create crispy pieces. However, if you’re air-frying larger pieces of chicken or chicken breast, you may want to cook them at a lower temperature, like 375°F, to prevent them from drying out.
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Air Fryer Orange Chicken (CRISPY)
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt*
- 1 pound chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
- spray oil
Orange Sauce
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil*
- 4 cloves garlic pressed
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1/3 cup fresh orange juice
- 2 Tablespoons EACH soy sauce rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a plastic sealable gallon bag, combine the panko, cornstarch, and salt. Seal the bag tightly and shake it to mix the ingredients.1/3 cup panko bread crumbs, 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt*
- Place the chicken in the bag with the panko mixture. Seal the bag tightly and shake it until all the chicken is well coated. Use your hands to press the panko mixture onto the chicken.1 pound chicken breasts
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket.spray oil
- Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for about 10 minutes or until the chicken is golden. Spray the chicken with more oil after about 5 minutes. Do not flip or shake the basket during the cooking process.
- While the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce. Heat the sesame oil over medium heat in a small saucepan. Add the garlic and ginger, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant. Add the orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, zest, chili flakes, and sugar. Stir and bring to a light boil. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Add the mixture to the saucepan and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat immediately.2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil*, 4 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon ginger paste, 1/3 cup fresh orange juice, 2 Tablespoons EACH soy sauce, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, 2 tablespoons water
- In a large bowl, toss the cooked chicken with the prepared sauce until evenly coated.
Notes
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Toasted Sesame Oil: I highly recommend using toasted sesame oil instead of regular. It adds so much more flavor than the regular option. It’s nuttier and more aromatic, making it a perfect addition to homemade orange sauce.
- Cut the chicken into uniform pieces. For the best results with this air fryer orange chicken recipe, chop the chicken into even pieces. This step will help ensure your chicken cooks evenly, so there aren’t under or overcooked bits.
- Use fresh orange zest. Fresh orange zest provides the recipe with delicious aromatics, a tangy taste, and a fresh flavor. I would not recommend using dried orange peel from the store for this recipe, as it tends to have a more bitter flavor.
- Coat the chicken pieces thoroughly. The key to creating crispy chicken pieces is ensuring the outside is evenly coated with breadcrumbs and cornstarch. Otherwise, you’ll be left with uncoated sections that aren’t crispy.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer. For the chicken to get crispy in the oven, there must be space between each piece. This allows the hot air to circulate around the entire outside of the chicken. If you overcrowd the air fryer basket, it can lead to soggy or undercooked pieces.
- Be generous with the cooking spray. Another way to get the chicken to crisp up is by adding oil to the outside of the chicken. Be sure to spray the basket and the chicken pieces well before cooking to ensure the crispiest results.
- If the sauce is too thin, keep cooking it. If you find the sauce is too thin for your liking, you can keep cooking it to help thicken it up. The sauce also thickens as it cools, so avoid making it too thick on the stove. Otherwise, coating the chicken in the sauce will be too difficult.
- Use store-bought- orange chicken sauce if you are short on time. Store-bought- orange chicken sauce is also quite tasty and will save you time in the kitchen. Keep in mind, you won’t be able to alter the flavor like you would with a homemade version. However, it’s still a good option in a pinch.
- Add vegetables to the mix. If you want to boost the nutrients of this air fryer orange chicken, you can add chopped veggies to the recipe. Cut vegetables like bell peppers and onions and add them to the pan with the sauce. They’ll soften as the sauce simmers. Then, toss everything together and enjoy.
- Serve with rice. The easiest way to make this recipe more filling is to serve it with rice on the side. You can use any rice, including white, brown, basmati, jasmine, etc. You can either cook it on the stove in a pot or in a rice cooker. Follow the instructions according to the rice package. You can also use microwave rice as a quick alternative.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Omg this was amazing! We loved it. Thank you for the recipe! 🙂
Thank you so much DJ!
Hi! Does the sauce call for 1/3 CUP sugar or a different measurement? Thanks!
Yes! I’m fixing the recipe card now.
these AF orange chicken are so bomb!
so delicious and orange flavor, great appetizer and meal in our household
Such an easy and delicious chicken recipe. I am ao excited to make this for the family. Yum!