Air Fryer Frozen Orange Chicken: Quick, Easy, Delicious!

Making frozen orange chicken in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and healthy alternative to deep-fried takeout. The air fryer's hot circulating air cooks the chicken nuggets to perfection, resulting in a crunchy exterior and tender interior.

To make frozen orange chicken in an air fryer, first preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the frozen chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Cooking times may vary depending on the air fryer model, but generally, cook the chicken for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to flip the pieces.

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce by combining orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ginger, red pepper flakes, and a cornstarch slurry in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once the chicken is cooked, toss it with the sauce to coat evenly. Serve the chicken with steamed rice and a side of vegetables, such as broccoli or green beans. Enjoy!

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures your air fryer is at the optimal temperature to cook your food evenly and efficiently. For this recipe, you should preheat your air fryer to 400°F. This will usually take around 10 minutes, but it's a good idea to check your air fryer manual for specific instructions.

While your air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your ingredients and cooking area. Gather your frozen chicken pieces and any tools you will need, such as tongs or a spatula. You can also use this time to prepare the sauce by heating it in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Once your air fryer has preheated to the desired temperature, you can carefully place the chicken pieces inside. It is important to ensure they are in a single layer with a little space between each piece for even cooking.

After preheating, your air fryer is ready to cook your frozen orange chicken to crispy perfection!

Place the chicken in the air fryer basket

When placing the chicken in the air fryer basket, it's important to ensure that the chicken pieces are arranged in a single layer, with a little space between each piece. This will ensure even cooking and help achieve that desirable crispy texture.

If you're cooking a large batch, you may need to cook the chicken in multiple rounds, as overcrowding the basket can lead to uneven cooking and affect the crispiness of the chicken. It's all about giving the hot air enough space to circulate and work its magic on the chicken pieces.

Additionally, there's no need to add any oil spray to the basket or the chicken pieces. Simply place the chicken in the basket and you're ready to start air frying!

For Trader Joe's frozen orange chicken, air fry at 400°F/205°C for 8 minutes. Then, shake and flip the chicken pieces and continue cooking for another 2-4 minutes, or until they're heated through and crispy.

Air fry for 10 minutes

Air frying is the final step in making frozen orange chicken. It is important to ensure that the air fryer is preheated to the right temperature before placing the chicken inside. The ideal temperature is 400°F/205°C.

When air frying, it is crucial to spread the chicken pieces in a single, even layer to ensure consistent cooking. Depending on the size of the air fryer, cooking in multiple batches may be necessary.

During the 10 minutes of air frying, it is recommended to shake and flip the chicken pieces halfway through to ensure even cooking and browning on both sides. This can be done after 5 minutes, or closer to the 10-minute mark, depending on the desired level of crispiness and colour.

While the chicken is air frying, it is a good time to prepare the sauce. This can be done by heating the sauce in the microwave for about a minute or on the stovetop over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.

After the initial 10 minutes of air frying, the chicken should be crispy and heated through. It is then ready to be tossed with the sauce and served.

Heat the sauce in the microwave

Heating the sauce in the microwave is a quick and easy way to prepare the sauce for your frozen orange chicken.

To start, grab a bowl that's big enough to fit the entire bag of chicken pieces. Place the frozen sauce packet into the bowl and add water. The water should be hot, so heat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes before adding the sauce. Alternatively, you can heat the sauce directly in the microwave for about 45 seconds to 1 minute.

Once the sauce is warm, you can add the crispy chicken pieces and toss them in the bowl to coat them evenly.

If you prefer to use the stovetop to heat the sauce, it will take about 2-3 minutes over medium heat.

Toss the chicken in the sauce

Now that your chicken is cooked through and crispy, it's time to toss it in the sauce. If you're using a store-bought sauce, such as the one that comes with Trader Joe's frozen orange chicken, you can heat it in the microwave for about a minute or on the stovetop for 2-3 minutes. If you're making your own sauce, you can follow the recipe below.

Sauce Recipe:

Combine the orange juice, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, red pepper flakes, and orange zest into a small saucepan on medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. In a separate small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to create a slurry. This will help thicken the sauce. Mix the cornstarch and water mixture into the sauce and simmer for one additional minute, then remove from the heat. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

Tossing the Chicken in the Sauce:

Once your sauce is ready, simply combine the cooked chicken pieces with the sauce. You can do this by adding the chicken to the saucepan or transferring the sauce to a larger bowl. Gently toss the chicken and sauce together until the chicken pieces are evenly coated.

Serving:

You can serve the saucy chicken as-is or with a garnish of green onions and sesame seeds. It goes well with rice and steamed or stir-fried vegetables on the side. Enjoy your homemade orange chicken!

Frequently asked questions