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Recipe image shows a bowl of delicious air fried orange chicken with rice and vegetables in a orange color bowl.
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5 from 1 vote

Air fryer orange chicken recipe

Skip the takeout and try this healthier version of orange chicken! Crispy, juicy chicken in a homemade orange sauce - delicious & gluten-free.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American Chinese
Keyword: Air fryer orange chicken, gluten-free orange chicken
Servings: 4 servings
Author: ChihYu Smith

Ingredients

For the chicken:

  • 1 lb chicken breasts diced into 1-inch (2.54 cm) cubes
  • ½ tbsp soy sauce or 1 tbsp coconut aminos
  • ¼ tsp coarse sea salt
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • 1.5 tbsp olive oil
  • 5-6 tbsp potato starch or tapioca starch

Orange sauce: (makes ¾ cup of sauce)

  • ½ cup store-bought orange juice pulp-free
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce or 3 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 3 tsp coconut brown sugar
  • 1 tsp coarse sea salt
  • 1 small orange zest plus a few orange slices for garnish
  • 0.7 oz garlic cloves grated (about 4 large cloves)
  • 0.5 oz ginger grated
  • 2.5 tbsp apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar
  • 1 tsp tapioca starch or potato starch

Suggested serving options:

  • Broccoli florets blanched or microwaved
  • 2 bulb scallion chopped
  • Steamed white rice
  • Toasted white sesame seeds
US - Metric

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken:

  • Dice the chicken breasts into 1-inch (2.54 cm) cubes. In a large bowl, mix the chicken with the soy sauce (or coconut aminos), sea salt, baking soda, garlic powder, olive oil, and starch. Refrigerate while you prepare the sauce.

Prepare the Orange Sauce:

  • In a separate bowl, combine all the ingredients from the orange juice to the starch. Stir well to dissolve the starch and set aside.

Air Fry the Chicken:

  • Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place the chicken pieces in the basket, leaving space between them. Spray more oil on top of the chicken pieces until you don’t see any white spots —this step is essential for crispy results.
  • Air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 8 minutes. There’s no need to flip the chicken. Check to make sure the chicken is cooked through. Repeat until all the chicken is air-fried.

Thicken the Orange Sauce:

  • Preheat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until warm. Pour in the orange sauce and stir with a wooden spoon until it thickens, about 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to over-reduce it.

Combine with sauce:

  • Add the cooked chicken to the pan and toss to coat evenly, about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat.

To serve:

  • Add the chicken to individual serving bowls with rice and broccoli florets. Garnish with scallions, toasted sesame seeds, and orange slices. Serve hot or warm.

Video

Notes

  • Make-Ahead: Marinate the chicken and prepare the orange sauce. Store them separately in the fridge for up to 3 days before cooking.
  • Storage: Keep chicken and sauce in separate airtight containers. Store chicken leftovers in the fridge for up to 1 week. Use the orange sauce within 4 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat: Reheat orange chicken in the air fryer at 380°F (193°C) for 5 minutes or in the oven at 425°F (218°C) for 6-8 minutes.
  • If using chicken thighs: For boneless, skinless chicken thighs, air fry at 400°F (204°C) for 8 minutes on the first side and 4 minutes on the second side.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1386mg | Potassium: 646mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 109IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg