Air Fryer Orange Chicken

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Better than take-out, this Air Fryer Orange Chicken ticks all the boxes! The chicken is golden brown and crispy, the sauce is sweet and sticky, and the recipe is quick and easy! You’ll love this healthier version of orange chicken!

You guys, this orange chicken is simply the best! It’s been on repeat in our house and I’m not one bit mad about it!

Overhead view of orange chicken and rice in a bowl with chop sticks.

Orange chicken is one of our faves to get when we have take-out so I’m happy to be sharing this one today because it tastes better than take-out and it’s healthier!

We're also pretty big fans of this air fryer sesame chicken and air fryer general tso's chicken!

We’ve been enjoying it with coconut jasmine rice, but plain rice or this Chinese fried rice would also be amazing with it.

Check out the air fryer orange chicken story!

Why this recipe works

The chicken turns out super crispy with very little oil. Traditional orange chicken is fried in oil, but we’re only using a light spritz of oil for this recipe. The hot air circulating in the air fryer creates the signature crispy texture for this orange chicken!
There’s very little refined sugar in this recipe. The sweet and sticky orange sauce is sweetened with honey instead of granulated sugar or brown sugar.
It comes together in less than an hour! And that includes time to air fry 3 batches of chicken and make the sauce. It’s the perfect dinner for busy weeknights!

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

Air fry recipes to try

Ingredients

For the full list and quantities of ingredients, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

You’ll need 1 pound of chicken thighs, cut into 1-2 inch pieces. I prefer to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe as they’re easier to cut into pieces than bone-in and skin-on thighs. You can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breast, but it won’t be as flavorful as thighs.

The chicken is coated in 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, which helps create the crispy batter. You can substitute flour but cornstarch creates a crispier coating.

For the sauce, you'll need ½ a cup of orange juice. For convenience, you can use store-bought orange juice. You can also use freshly squeezed if you prefer.

Don't forget the fresh orange zest. It’s only a teaspoon but it really adds a pop of orange flavor to the sauce.

You’ll also need honey as the sweetener in the sauce. You can substitute another liquid sweetener such as maple syrup or agave syrup, but it will change the taste of the sauce slightly.

Ginger is another essential ingredient for orange sauce and, for the best flavor, you’ll want to make sure it’s freshly grated ginger.

Step by step instructions

Mix the cornstarch and salt together and toss the chicken so it's coated evenly.

Chicken pieces coated in cornstarch in a white bowl.

Spray the air fryer basket lightly with an oil sprayer and place the chicken in a single layer inside (the chicken will be cooked in 3 batches).

Spray the chicken lightly with spray oil.

Chicken pieces arranged in a single layer in an air fryer basket.

Use the air fryer function and cook at 400F degrees for 9 minutes, shaking 2-3 times while cooking. The chicken will be golden brown and crispy on the outside when done.

**It's okay if some of the pieces are a touch white from the cornstarch. It'll fall off and mix into the sauce.

Place the cooked chicken in a bowl and repeat with the other 2 batches.

Crispy pieces of chicken in a glass bowl.

Toss with the orange sauce, sprinkle with sesame seeds and garnish with green onions and serve with rice.

Air fried crispy chicken pieces being tossed with orange sauce in a glass bowl.

How to make orange sauce

Combine all the ingredients except the cornstarch slurry in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes, until it starts to thicken.

Slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry, whisking while pouring and simmer until the sauce is thickened and coats the back of a spoon (about 3 minutes).

Expert tips

Use a good quality spray oil (not PAM or equivalent) to avoid damaging the air fryer. I like to use this oil sprayer and fill with my favorite oil.
If your air fryer model requires preheating, you should do so before adding the chicken.
To ensure even cooking, cut your chicken into roughly even pieces (about 1-2 inches in size).
Be sure to air fry the chicken in a single layer. If you overcrowd the air fryer, pieces of chicken may be undercooked.
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will need to air fry the chicken in at least 3 batches.
Shake the basket a few times while the chicken cooks to make sure it browns evenly on all sides.
Each air fryer cooks a little differently, so you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly.
For extra flavor, add minced garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes to the orange sauce.
If your sauce is too thin, just add more cornstarch slurry. If it’s too thick, stir in a couple of teaspoons of water.

Air fryer orange chicken served in a bowl with rice.

Common questions

What temperature should you air fry chicken for orange chicken?

For the crispiest chicken, you’ll want to set your air fryer to 400F degrees. If your air fryer doesn’t go this high, just set it on the highest it will go and air fry it for a little longer.

How long does it take to air fry orange chicken?

At 400F degrees, it will take about 9 minutes to cook each batch of chicken. Chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165F degrees. If you’re not sure, it’s best to use a meat thermometer.

Can you use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs?

Yes, you can substitute chicken breast for thighs in this recipe. Chicken breast is leaner so it will make this recipe even healthier. Just note that breasts will be a little drier and not as flavorful as thighs.

How do you thicken the orange sauce?

If your orange sauce isn’t thick enough for you, just stir in a little more cornstarch slurry until the sauce reaches your desired thickness. If it gets too thick, just stir in a little bit of water to thin it out.

What’s the best way to serve orange chicken?

You can serve it over steamed white rice, Instant Pot sushi rice, Chinese fried rice, coconut jasmine rice, or any rice of your choice. We love to add a sprinkle of sesame seeds and chopped green onion on top. Feel free to pair it with some veggies too, like these air fryer carrots or this Instant Pot broccoli.

Close up of orange chicken topped with sesame seeds and green onion.

Storage and reheating leftovers

You can store any leftover orange chicken in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just make sure it’s in a freezer safe container and cooled completely before placing it in the freezer.

If you know you’re going to have leftovers, I suggest storing the chicken and the orange sauce separately.

To reheat leftovers, you have a few options. For the chicken in the sauce, you can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop in a skillet.

If the chicken and sauce have been stored separately, you can reheat the chicken in the air fryer or in the oven to get it crispy again, and heat the sauce on the stovetop. Combine and enjoy!

Orange chicken and white rice in a bowl.

Other chicken recipes to try

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!