Air Fryer Orange Chicken: A Flavorful and Quick Dinner Idea

INTRODUCTION

So you love crispy, delicious chicken covered with a sweet and sour glaze? Well, this Air Fryer Orange Chicken is your dish. This is a version of the famous Chinese-American dish without deep frying, but the deliciousness remains the same. Instead of cooking it the traditional way, it uses an air fryer to crisp up the chicken.

The homemade orange sauce used in it brings a beautiful balance of sweetness, saltiness, and slight sourness to the taste. This dish is not only healthy but also delicious and comes out crispy and delicious without much oil. Air Fryer Orange Chicken is one of those deliciously quick and easy dishes you can make if you are in a hurry to prepare dinner.

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Orange Chicken

• Healthier Alternative: This is the lighter version of the traditional dish, still boosting that mouthwatering crunch. It is made with very little oil, making it healthy.
• Quick and Easy: This dish is ready in less than half an hour, so it’s perfect for cooking on busy days. Especially when you need a tasty and nutritious dish in a hurry.
• Aromatic and tangy: Again, the orange sauce used in it is made with fresh ingredients, giving it the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity This sauce gives the whole dish a unique and refreshing taste, and you will want to repeat it again.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thigh cut into 1” cubes
• 1 large egg beaten
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cornstarch or potato starch

For the Orange Sauce:

• ½ cup fresh orange juice
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon orange zest about 2 oranges
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• Chopped sesame seeds and green onions to serve

Instructions

For the Chicken:

1. To coat the chicken evenly, take chicken, egg, and salt, and mix well in a medium-sized bowl.
2. Now take another vessel and put cornstarch in it break it into big pieces and make them smooth.
3. Add little portions of the chicken pieces to the flour mixture at intervals. Continue turning each piece until it is completely coated in flour.
4. Make sure you only put enough pieces at a time to fit comfortably in your air fryer basket.
5. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Then place the sealed chicken pieces in one of the air pans so they don’t overlap each other.
7. Spray chicken pieces generously with cooking spray.
   Air fry the chicken for about 6 minutes. Then turn the chicken pieces and spray them with cooking spray again.
8. Now air fry for about 6 more minutes or until the chicken turns golden and crisp.
9. When the first batch is cooked, transfer to a large bowl and coat with the remaining chicken pieces in the same way

For the Orange Sauce:

1. While the last of your chicken is cooking, combine the orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, coconut flakes, ginger, oil, pepper and garlic in a small saucepan
2. Now place it on a medium-high flame and let it boil. Keep cooking it until the sugar dissolves completely.
3. Meanwhile, stir cornstarch and water thoroughly in a small bowl. When the sauce boils and is ready, add this cornstarch mixture into it and keep whisking well.
4. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce becomes thick and clear, about a minute.
5. Now pour this prepared sauce over the chicken and toss the chicken well so that every piece is coated well with the sauce.
6. Sprinkle sesame seeds and green onions on top and serve immediately.

Can I Make Orange Chicken Gluten-Free?

As discussed above, soy sauce in this recipe is the only ingredient that contains gluten by nature. If you are bound to prepare this recipe gluten-free, then you may replace the soy sauce with gluten-free soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos. If you are sensitive to any form of cross-contamination, make sure to carefully read the gluten-free certification on the label before using the ingredients.

How thick is the sauce if it’s too thin?

If you find the sauce thin, add another teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with water. After this, boil the sauce for one more minute. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken as it cools, so don’t add too much cornstarch.

How Do I Reheat Chicken In The Air Fryer?

Set the air fryer to 350°F. When the chicken is cooked well, add it and air fry for about five minutes. Your air fryer may take a little more or less time. If the chicken is already coated with sauce, it will be very sticky and tasty when reheated in the air fryer, but its saucy texture will be reduced.

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Orange Chicken

• For extra crispiness: If you double dip twice, then it will make the chicken crunchier because it will be double coated.
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer: Spray out the chicken pieces somewhat in order for it to retain the crunchy texture. If this needed be, you could even cook them in parts so that they don’t stick to one another.
• Adjust sweetness: If you want the sauce to be less sweet then you can reduce the sugar and honey while preparing it, this way the sauce turns out to be a little sweet according to your taste.
• Use Fresh Orange Juice: Fresh orange juice is the best for the sauce, however, you may use store-bought orange juice if you don’t have fresh juice at hand.

Variations

• Add Veggies: You can add broccoli or capsicum to make it a complete dinner.
• Spicy Kick: You can make it spicier by using more red pepper flakes or a little Sriracha sauce if you so prefer.
• Gluten-Free Option: For tamari, try using this instead of soy sauce, and the cornstarch packet must be gluten-free.

CONCLUSION

Using an air fryer, you can prepare a perfect combination of orange chicken that combines sweetness, tang, and crunch. All these flavors are made in a healthy way. This dish is quick and easy to make, making it extremely simple to satisfy your Chinese fast food cravings. It can be prepared with very little oil and with more flavors. You can serve it with your favorite steamed rice or any side dish of your choice and enjoy a meal in a restaurant all in the comfort of your home.

FAQ’s