Ella Walter
Air Fryer Orange Chicken is a tasty, healthier alternative to the classic Chinese-American takeout dish. It's easy to make, with very little mess, and can be cooked in about 30 minutes. The chicken is coated in cornstarch for extra crispiness and then cooked in the air fryer for around 10 minutes. While the chicken cooks, you can make the signature sticky-sweet orange sauce by combining orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. The dish is best served immediately with rice or vegetables.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preheat temperature | 350°F-400°F |
| Preheat time | 5 minutes |
| Chicken preparation | Cut into 1.5-inch cubes |
| Chicken coating | Cornstarch, potato starch, egg, flour |
| Cooking temperature | 380-400°F |
| Cooking time | 7-14 minutes |
| Internal temperature | 165°F |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in the cooking process. It ensures your chicken cooks evenly and efficiently. Here's a comprehensive guide to preheating your air fryer for orange chicken:
Firstly, ensure your air fryer is set to the correct temperature. For orange chicken, preheat your air fryer to around 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Different recipes may specify different temperatures, so always check your recipe first. This temperature setting is important because it ensures your chicken cooks thoroughly without drying out.
Next, prepare your chicken. Cut your chicken into consistent, bite-sized pieces. This step is important because it ensures even cooking. Place the chicken pieces into a bowl or bag and add cornstarch or potato starch. You can also add breadcrumbs at this stage for extra crispiness. Toss or shake the mixture to coat the chicken evenly. The cornstarch and breadcrumbs help create a delicious, crispy coating on your chicken.
Now, it's time to preheat your air fryer. Set the temperature to the desired level, as mentioned earlier, and let it heat up for about 5 minutes. This step is crucial as it ensures your air fryer is at the optimal temperature for cooking your chicken. It also helps to reduce the cooking time and ensures your chicken cooks evenly.
Once your air fryer is preheated, it's important to prepare the basket. Use a cooking spray, preferably an olive oil non-stick spray, to coat the basket. This step is important as it prevents your chicken from sticking to the basket and makes cleanup easier. You can also spray the tops of the chicken pieces with the cooking spray to enhance the coating and crispiness.
Finally, place your coated chicken pieces into the preheated air fryer basket. Ensure you arrange them in a single layer to allow for even cooking. Avoid overcrowding the basket, as this can affect the crispiness of your chicken. You may need to cook the chicken in batches to ensure optimal results.
By following these steps, you'll ensure your air fryer is properly preheated, and your orange chicken will cook evenly and efficiently, resulting in a delicious and crispy final product.
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Marinade the chicken
Marinating the chicken is an important step in the process of making air fryer orange chicken. The chicken should be cut into bite-sized pieces or 1 1/2-inch cubes. The marinade ingredients should then be combined in a medium bowl. The ingredients include 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 2 teaspoons of ginger, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. You can also add an egg to the mixture.
Once the marinade is prepared, add the chicken and stir well to ensure that all the pieces are evenly coated. Cover the bowl and let the chicken marinate for at least 20 minutes or up to 24 hours. If you plan to marinate for longer than 20 minutes, it is recommended to refrigerate the chicken. This marination process allows the chicken to absorb the flavours of the marinade, ensuring that your air fryer orange chicken is packed with taste.
Alternatively, you can simply toss the cubed chicken with cornstarch or potato starch, ensuring an even coat. This method, without the addition of liquid ingredients, can be used if you are short on time or prefer a simpler recipe. The cornstarch or potato starch will give the chicken a crispy texture when cooked in the air fryer.
After marinating, you can preheat your air fryer to 350-380 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare the orange sauce while the chicken cooks. The cooking time for the chicken will vary depending on the size of the pieces and the desired level of crispness, but it typically ranges from 5 to 14 minutes.
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Prepare the sauce
While the chicken is cooking, you can make the orange sauce. In a small bowl, mix one tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of water to make a slurry. Set this aside. Next, combine the orange juice, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, red pepper flakes, and orange zest in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
It is important not to zest the white pith of the orange, as this is bitter. If you want to add a little kick to your sauce, include some chilli flakes, but this can be left out if you prefer a milder flavour. You can also add minced garlic to the sauce. If you do, sauté it in a pot with some oil until lightly golden brown before adding the other ingredients.
After about 5 minutes of simmering, add the cornstarch and water mixture to the saucepan and simmer for one more minute, then remove from the heat. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Once the sauce has thickened to your liking, add the orange zest and mix everything together. Finally, add the cooked chicken pieces and toss until they are all coated in the sauce.
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Cook the chicken
To cook the chicken, start by cutting it into bite-sized chunks or 1 1/2-inch cubes. Then, pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and black pepper powder. Next, prepare a marinade by combining ingredients such as rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, salt, and pepper, and/or tamari. Place the chicken in a bowl or Ziploc bag, add the marinade, and mix well to coat the chicken evenly. Cover and let the chicken marinate for at least 20 minutes or up to 24 hours if refrigerated.
After marinating, dip the chicken pieces in a mixture of egg and cornstarch or flour. Make sure to tap off any excess cornstarch before placing the chicken in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. It is important to not overcrowd the basket to allow air circulation around each piece of chicken. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches. Cook the chicken for about 10-14 minutes, tossing and spraying the chicken with cooking spray halfway through. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and is golden brown.
To check if the chicken is fully cooked, cut into the largest piece to ensure it is cooked all the way through. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it cool for a couple of minutes before serving.
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Combine sauce and chicken
Now that you have your sauce ready and your chicken cooked, it's time to combine the two! There are a few different ways to do this, depending on the recipe you followed.
One method is to first place the cooked chicken in a bowl and then pour the sauce over it. Toss the chicken until it is fully coated in the sauce. You can then serve it over cooked rice and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. This method is ideal if you want to ensure all the chicken pieces are evenly coated.
Another method is to add the cooked chicken pieces directly into the saucepan with the sauce and toss to combine. This way, you can ensure the chicken absorbs more of the sauce's flavors. However, be mindful not to overcook the chicken in the sauce, as this can make the meat dry.
Remember, once the sauce and chicken are combined, the crispy coating on the chicken will start to soften. Therefore, it's best to serve the dish immediately after mixing the sauce and chicken. If you have leftovers, store them in the fridge, and note that while it will still taste delicious, the chicken won't have the same crispy texture.
Some recipes also suggest adding orange zest to the sauce before mixing in the chicken. This adds a burst of freshness and enhances the orange flavor. Just be sure to zest only the orange skin and not the pith (the white part), as that is bitter.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 10-14 minutes to cook orange chicken in an air fryer, tossing halfway through.
Marinate the chicken for at least 20 minutes or as long as 24 hours. If you're marinating for longer than 20 minutes, be sure to refrigerate.
Preheat your air fryer to 380-400 degrees Fahrenheit.
The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
