Make Air Fryer Orange Chicken that tastes just like takeout - but better, and cheaper! Perfectly air fried chicken is covered in the juiciest orange sauce, all done in under 30 minutes with a few simple steps.
Your Go-to Takeout Order, Now Homemade!
Ever since my first trip to Panda Express as a kid, orange chicken has been my absolute favorite takeout. The crisp, the tang, the sweetness... it's such a perfect flavor and texture combo.
But this air fryer version has removed any reason for me to get takeout. It's cheaper, almost faster, and even tastier. You get perfectly crispy, air fried chicken, loaded with flavor and covered in the juiciest orange sauce out there.
And it's all done in under 30 minutes, with simple steps to get you there. Enjoy!
"The flavor was the perfect mix of sweet and savory." - Cathy
What You Need for the Best Orange Chicken
Fresh Oranges or Orange Juice
I always make this with fresh oranges. The reason is twofold: flavor, and I also want the zest, so I might as well use real oranges. You can use bottled orange juice as well, but it's so much tastier squeezing it yourself.
What Chicken to Use
I use chicken thigh filets or boneless chicken thighs for this recipe, mainly because they have more flavor than chicken breasts. But you can also use chicken breasts.
Flour or Corn Starch - Or Both!
I use both flour and corn starch for the best combination of color + crisp. You can use just either, but the result will not be quite as good.
With just flour, it will not come out as crispy.
With just cornstarch, the color will not be as nice.
Make It Gluten-Free
If you want to make this gluten-free, you can either use all cornstarch, or swap flour for rice flour, and use a gluten-free soy sauce. Also make sure the sesame oil, rice vinegar and honey you're using are actually gluten free.
How to Make It in 5 Simple Steps
1. Make the Sauce
Start by combining all ingredients for the sauce - except water and cornstarch - in a pot, and let it simmer 10 minutes over medium heat.
2. Coat the Chicken
In one shallow bowl, mix together egg, salt, pepper and oil. In another, combine flour and cornstarch. Then coat the chicken by first dipping it in the egg mixture, and then dredging it in flour. Ensure it gets well coated, but shake off any excess - too much flour will just make it soggy.
3. Cook the Chicken
Place coated chicken in a single layer in your pre heated air fryer basket, and air fry 3 minutes. Mix very gently, then air fry 3 more minutes, until done.
4. Thicken the Sauce
When the sauce has simmered 10 minutes, or longer, mix together water and cornstarch, then add it to the sauce. Mix well and simmer until thickened.
5. Put It All Together
When the chicken is cooked, place it in a bowl and pour over ⅔ of the sauce - save the rest for serving. Mix well, and seve immediately with the rest of the sauce on top.
Tips & Tricks
Keep a close eye on the sauce. It should only simmer, if the heat is too high it can end up burning.
To save time you can bread all the chicken at once. It won't get as evenly breaded, but it definitely works. Place the chicken in a large mixing bowl and mix with the egg mixture, then pour over the flour mixture and mix again.
Preheat your air fryer for best results and quicker cooking. If you don't preheat you might need to add a minute to the cook time.
Cook the chicken in a single layer. A little bit of overlap is fine, but you should not have multiple layers on top of each other. Cook in batches if necessary.
Mix the chicken gently halfway. Make sure to break apart any pieces that are stuck together, for an even cook on all sides.
Cook time can vary. Some air fryers run colder than others, so make sure the chicken is cooked through before removing from the air fryer basket.
Use a meat thermometer. This is the best way to know exactly when the chicken is done. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
What to Do with Leftovers
Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Store leftovers in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Reheating in microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 30-second increments.
Prep ahead: You can cook both the sauce and chicken in advance. Store separately, then reheat and combine just before serving. Cooking the chicken in advance saves time but it will not be as crispy.
Prep ahead #2: Cook the sauce in advance, and coat the chicken in egg and flour. Store separately, then just before serving reheat the sauce, cook the chicken, and combine.
What to Serve With It
More quick & easy air fryer recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks38 Minutes
- Air Fryer Bacon6 Minutes
- Air Fryer Skirt Steak50 Minutes
- Air Fryer Steak Bites50 Minutes
Recipe
Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Print RateIngredients
Fried Chicken
- 1 lb chicken thigh filets cut in bite-size pieces
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoon fine table salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoon cooking oil
- ½ cup corn starch
- 1 cup flour
Orange Sauce
- 1 cup orange juice 1 cup is about 3 oranges
- 2 teaspoon orange zest 2 teaspoon is about half an orange
- 4 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon Japanese soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ¼ cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
Instructions
- In a saucepan, mix together all the ingredients for the sauce, except water and corn starch. Place over medium heat and simmer for at least 10 minutes, stirring only occasionally. Take care that it does not burn and lower the heat if needed to keep it at a slow simmer.1 cup orange juice, 2 tsp orange zest, 4 Tbsp honey, 2 Tbsp rice vinegar, 2 Tbsp Japanese soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil
- Crack the eggs on a deep plate or in a shallow bowl, and add the salt, pepper and oil. Mix well.2 eggs, 2 tsp fine table salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- On another deep plate or shallow bowl, mix together the flour and the corn starch for the chicken.½ cup corn starch, 1 cup flour
- Dip the chicken first in the egg mixture, and then the flour. In both instances, make sure the chicken gets completely covered. Repeat for all the chicken pieces.1 lb chicken thigh filets
- Preheat the air fryer by running it at 390°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, without creating multiple layers. You might need to fry the chicken in batches. Air fry for 3 minutes at 390°F (200°C).
- After 3 minutes, bring out the air fryer basket and use kitchen forceps or another tool to mix the chicken and break apart any pieces that are stuck together. Then place back in the air fryer and air fry for 3 more minutes at 390°F (200°C).
- Mix the cold water and corn starch for the sauce, then add to the orange sauce. Mix well and allow to simmer for a minute more, until thickened.¼ cup cold water, 1 Tbsp corn starch
- Check to make sure the chicken is done, then place fried chicken in a large bowl and pour over ⅔ of the sauce. Mix well, then serve with the remaining sauce on top.
Equipment (may contain affiliate links)
- Sauce pan
- Measuring cups (metric or US)*
- 2 Deep plates
Video
Notes
Flour or Corn Starch - Or Both!
I use both flour and corn starch for the best combination of color + crisp. You can use just either, but the result will not be quite as good.Make It Gluten-Free
If you want to make this gluten-free, you can swap flour for rice flour and use a gluten-free soy sauce. Also make sure the sesame oil, rice vinegar and honey you're using are actually gluten free.Can I make this in the oven instead?
Yes! Just bake on a lined baking sheet for 12-15 minutes at 400°F (200°C), turning halfway.What to Do with Leftovers
Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Freezing: Store leftovers in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheating in microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 30-second increments. Prep ahead: You can cook both the sauce and chicken in advance. Store separately, then reheat and combine just before serving. Cooking the chicken in advance saves time but it will not be as crispy. Prep ahead #2: Cook the sauce in advance, and coat the chicken in egg and flour. Store separately, then just before serving reheat the sauce, cook the chicken, and combine.Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
Recipe FAQ
Yes, you can definitely cook the chicken in the oven instead. Just bake on a lined baking sheet for 12-15 minutes at 400°F (200°C), turning halfway.
Kathy
I made this air fryer orange chicken gluten free by swapping wheat flour for rice flour and wow it turned out great!! I think the rice flour also worked really well with the other flavors in the dish. The flavor was the perfect mix of sweet and savory - I also added in a bit of fresh ginger and garlic as recommended at the end which was so tasty. This meal makes for great leftovers especially mixing rice with the orange chicken because it really absorbs the amazing sauce.