Air Fryer Orange Chicken (CRISPY)

5 from 41 votes

Air Fryer Orange Chicken (CRISPY)

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!

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Total Time25

Course: Main

Cuisine: Asian

Servings:

Author: Brianna May

Equipment

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