Cody Casey
Air Fryer Orange Chicken is a tasty, healthier alternative to the classic Chinese takeout dish. This recipe uses an air fryer to create a crunchy, golden coating on bite-sized pieces of chicken without the need for deep-frying in oil. The chicken is marinated in a soy sauce-based mixture and then dredged in flour and cornstarch, or just cornstarch for a gluten-free option, before being air-fried. The signature orange sauce is made with orange juice, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and other seasonings, creating a sweet and savoury dish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken cut size | 1-inch cubes |
| Chicken amount | 1.5-2 lbs |
| Marinade ingredients | Soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, white pepper, grated garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, egg white |
| Marinade time | 15-30 mins |
| Breading | Cornstarch, potato starch, breadcrumbs, egg |
| Sauce ingredients | Orange juice, orange zest, brown sugar, Rice wine vinegar, Soy sauce, Ginger, Red pepper flakes, Cornstarch, Water, Garlic, Honey, Oyster sauce |
| Sauce preparation | Combine ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a simmer, add cornstarch slurry to thicken |
| Air fryer temperature | 350-400°F |
| Air fryer time | 10-15 mins |
What You'll Learn
Marinate the chicken
Marinating the chicken is an important step in this recipe as it ensures the chicken pieces absorb the flavours of the marinade. This step also ensures the chicken is tender and moist when cooked.
Firstly, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, or 1-inch cubes. Place the chicken pieces in a bowl and add the marinade. You can use a variety of ingredients for the marinade, but common ones include soy sauce, Shaoxing wine (or dry white wine/dry sherry), white pepper, sesame oil, and garlic. Mix well, ensuring all the chicken pieces are coated in the marinade. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to marinate. The length of time you marinate the chicken can vary from 15 minutes to overnight.
Once the chicken has finished marinating, you can proceed to the next step of coating the chicken in cornstarch or potato starch before air frying.
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Prepare the sauce
While the chicken is cooking, you can start making the sauce. For this, you will need a small saucepan, a whisk, and a separate small bowl.
First, combine the orange juice, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, red pepper flakes, and orange zest in the saucepan. You can also add minced garlic to the pot with the oil and sauté until lightly golden brown. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. This should take about 5 minutes.
In the separate small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. This will help thicken the sauce. Add this mixture to the saucepan with the sauce and whisk together. Let the sauce simmer until it thickens. Remove from the heat and let it cool, which will help it thicken further.
You can also add vinegar to the sauce and mix well to incorporate.
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Coat the chicken
To make the coating for the chicken, you will need to cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, or cubes, and place them in a bowl or Ziploc bag. You can then add the cornstarch, or potato starch, and mix until the chicken is evenly coated. If using a bowl, use tongs to mix the chicken with the starch. If you are using an egg in your recipe, coat the chicken with the egg before adding the starch.
When coating the chicken, be sure to only use enough starch to cover the chicken. You can add the starch in increments to ensure you don't use too much. If you add too much starch, it will fly around your air fryer and your chicken won't brown correctly.
Once the chicken is coated, tap off any excess starch and place the chicken in the air fryer. Spray the chicken with cooking spray, or olive oil spray, to help the coating crisp up.
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Air fry the chicken
Air-frying the chicken is a two-step process. First, you need to prepare the chicken. Cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes and place them in a bowl or Ziploc bag. Add in the cornstarch or potato starch and mix or shake to combine and coat the chicken evenly. You may need to add the cornstarch in batches to ensure the chicken is not overly coated. Tap off any excess starch and place the chicken in the air fryer basket. Spray the chicken with cooking spray or olive oil spray to ensure the chicken does not stick to the air fryer and to help the coating crisp up.
Second, you need to cook the chicken. Preheat your air fryer to between 350°F and 400°F. Cook the chicken for 7-9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Depending on your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches to ensure it cooks evenly. If you are using a lower temperature, you may need to cook the chicken for up to 15 minutes, turning the chicken halfway through.
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Toss the chicken in the sauce
Now for the fun part: tossing the chicken in the sauce!
Once your chicken is cooked and your sauce is ready, it's time to combine the two. Add the sauce to the chicken and toss to coat. You can do this directly in the air fryer basket or in a separate bowl or pan. Make sure each piece of chicken is evenly coated in the delicious, sticky sauce.
If you're feeling fancy, you can finish the dish with a drizzle of sesame oil. This will add a nutty aroma and flavour to the dish.
Remember, the sauce is key to this dish, so be generous when coating your chicken! You can even reserve some sauce to serve on the side for those who want an extra saucy treat.
Serve your air fryer orange chicken immediately to maintain the crispiness of the chicken and enjoy the fruits of your labour!
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Frequently asked questions
You will need chicken, orange juice, orange zest, cornstarch, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and brown sugar. You can also add in sesame oil, white pepper, and chili flakes to taste.
Coconut oil or olive oil cooking spray will work best. Avoid vegetable oil cooking sprays as they can gum up your air fryer.
Combine orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, red pepper flakes, and orange zest in a saucepan on medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Add this to the saucepan and whisk together until the sauce thickens.
Cut your chicken into bite-sized pieces and place them in a bowl or Ziploc bag. Add in cornstarch or potato starch and mix until the chicken is evenly coated. Shake off any excess starch before placing the chicken in the air fryer.
Preheat your air fryer to between 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook the chicken for 10-15 minutes, tossing halfway through.
