Name: Crispy Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken (cut into bite-sized pieces); 4 tablespoons tapioca flour or cornstarch (divided); Avocado oil spray; 1/2 cup orange juice; 1/2 cup sweet orange marmalade; 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 teaspoon hot chili sauce; 1 teaspoon rice vinegar; 1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic; 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger

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Recipe Snapshot

PREP + COOK TIME: 25 minutes
METHOD: Air Fryer
OTHER TOOLS: saucepan, whisk
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 11

When I say this meal is better than takeout, I mean it! Crispy Air Fryer Orange Chicken is simple enough for an average weeknight, but feels like a restaurant-worthy splurge! The air fryer produces crispy golden chicken bites, and the sweet and savory sauce is the perfect touch for an Asian-inspired favorite at home.

What’s To Love About This Recipe

Think you can’t get crispy chicken with deep-frying? Think again! The air fryer produces crispy breaded chicken with just a few ingredients and no greasy mess.
The bright, tangy orange sauce made from pantry basics is a healthier way to enjoy your favorite takeout-style meals. No preservatives or MSG-overload leaving you feeling stuffed or sluggish afterwards!
This recipe is ready in under 30 minutes! No need to wait for a special occasion – it’s a perfect choice for dinner tonight.
My version of orange chicken is already gluten-free-friendly when made with tapioca flour and tamari or coconut aminos. Making this at home ensures no one misses out on a tasty, Asian-inspired takeout favorite.
Enjoy the leftovers later with rice or in wraps with extra orange sauce. It’s a great meal prep option to enjoy more than once.

Ingredients Needed

Air Fryer Chicken Ingredients:

Chicken – Use boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized (about 1½”) pieces for even cooking in the air fryer.
Tapioca flour (or cornstarch) – Tapioca flour provides a light coating for the chicken, creating a crispy exterior without heaviness. Cornstarch also works as a swap and provides a similar light texture. Both options add just enough to bread the chicken, but without the need for egg wash and flour.
Avocado oil spray – Avocado oil works well for high-heat air frying since it won’t burn the chicken. It will help the breading brown lightly and crisp up without too much grease.

Orange Sauce Ingredients:

Orange juice – Use juice to create a bright, zesty sauce. Pulp-free juice works best!
Sweet orange marmalade – Orange marmalade is a convenient shortcut to get a bit of orange zest and a thickened, syrupy texture in the sauce.
Soy sauce or tamari – Bring a bit of signature umami flavor with soy sauce or tamari for a gluten-free option.
Honey – Honey adds a little extra sweetness, and the stickiness helps the sauce thoroughly coat the chicken.
Hot chili sauce – A little bit of spice balances the sweet and tangy flavors for a more complex result.
Rice vinegar – Add a bit of acidity with vinegar.
Jarred minced garlic – Deepen the sauce flavors conveniently with minced garlic.
Dried ginger – Dried ginger powder adds warmth and a classic flavor profile to the sauce.

ingredients including white bowl with bite-sized chicken, can of avocado spray, along with small bowls of cornstarch, garlic, soy sauce, honey, hot chili sauce, orange marmalade, rice vinegar, orange juice and ginger

How To Make Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Add chicken to a zippered bag along with 3 tablespoons of tapioca flour (or cornstarch), and shake to coat well.

overhead view of chicken pieces in gallon plastic bag with white bowl or cornstarch on side

overhead view of chicken pieces in gallon plastic bag with cornstarch on top

Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket well with avocado oil.

overhead view of black air fryer with hand holding can of avocado spray

Remove chicken from the freezer bag and shake off any excess coating.
Add chicken pieces in a single layer to the air fryer basket and spray the tops with additional avocado oil.

black air fryer containing chicken prepped with cornstarch

Cook in the air fryer at 400 ℉ for 3-5 minutes, flip, then continue cooking for 3-5 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through.

air fried chicken pieces in black air fryer

In the meantime, whisk the remaining 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour (or cornstarch) with 1 tablespoon of water until smooth.
Add the flour or cornstarch slurry with the remaining ingredients to a saucepan and heat while whisking until it simmers and thickens (taste and add additional honey if desired for sweetness).

small tan skillet of orange marmalade and other ingredients with 2 small white bowls of orange juice and ginger

skillet with orange mixture with silver whisk

Toss cooked chicken well with the thickened sauce and serve immediately.

closeup of orange mixture being poured out of skillet into white bowl containing air fried chicken pieces

PRO TIPS

Cut the chicken into uniformly-sized pieces so everything cooks at the same rate.
Remember to flip the pieces halfway for extra crispiness.
Lightly spray or toss the chicken in oil before air frying to help prevent sogginess.
Ensure the chicken reaches at least 165 ℉ internal temperature before serving.
If the sauce needs to be thickened, add additional slurry (made with tapioca flour or cornstarch).

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Use different cuts of chicken for variation, such as tenders or darker meat.
Substitute tapioca flour with cornstarch, arrowroot flour (also called powder), or a gluten-free all-purpose blend.
Leave out the heat or add sriracha, chili garlic sauce, or crushed red pepper flakes for extra spiciness.
For alternate methods to the air fryer, bake the chicken pieces in the oven at 425 ℉ for 15-20 minutes, or stovetop pan-fry until cooked through and crispy.

closeup of air fried orange chicken topped with green onions and sesame seeds

How To Serve Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Serve crispy air fryer orange chicken however you love your favorite takeout dish! The sweet and savory chicken bites are delicious served over steamed Jasmine Rice, cauliflower rice, or rice noodles. Add sautéed bell peppers, onions, or matchstick carrots to your bowl if you like.

The sweet, tangy sauce is the perfect element that brings together stir-fry bowls with a variety of veggies, or you could roll up the chicken in lettuce cups with a few spoons of rice and crispy noodle toppings.

Top a serving of orange chicken with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, or fresh cilantro for even more brightness. Serve with a cup of easy Hot and Sour Soup on the side if you like!

overhead view of prepared orange chicken pieces with topped with green onion and sesame seeds surrounded by white bowl of white rice, two wooden bowls with sesame seeds with wooden measuring spoons and green onions 3 lemon slices, and a blue and white striped dish cloth

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover chicken and sauce in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat chicken pieces in the air fryer at 375 ℉ for 3-4 minutes to restore crispness. Alternatively, reheat the chicken on the stovetop in a coated skillet with a splash of water or sauce, and warm the sauce in a separate pan or in the microwave in short bursts.

Crispy Air Fryer Orange Chicken

When I say this meal is better than takeout, I mean it! Crispy Air Fryer Orange Chicken is simple enough for an average weeknight, but feels like a restaurant-worthy splurge! The air fryer produces crispy golden chicken bites, and the sweet and savory sauce is the perfect touch for an Asian-inspired favorite at home.

Jennifer Draper

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Total Time 25

Serving Size

Equipment

Air Fryer
saucepan

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken cut into bite-sized pieces
4 tablespoons tapioca flour or cornstarch divided
Avocado oil spray
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sweet orange marmalade
2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon hot chili sauce
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried ginger

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Instructions

Add chicken to a zippered bag with 3 tablespoons of tapioca flour (or cornstarch), and shake to coat well
Spray bottom of air fryer basket well with avocado oil
Remove chicken from freezer bag and shake off any excess coating
Add chicken pieces in a single layer to air fryer basket and spray tops with additional avocado oil
Cook in air fryer at 400 ℉ for 3-5 minutes, flip, then continue cooking for 3-5 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through
Whisk remaining 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour (or cornstarch) with 1 tablespoon of water until smooth.
Add flour or cornstarch slurry with remaining ingredients to a saucepan and heat while whisking until it simmers and thickens (taste and add additional honey if desired for sweetness)
Toss cooked chicken with thickened sauce and serve immediately

Notes

Store leftover chicken and sauce in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat leftover chicken in the air fryer at 375 ℉ for 3-4 minutes to crisp up again, or on the stovetop in a skillet with a splash of water. Warm up the sauce separately on the stovetop or in the microwave in short bursts.
Cut the chicken into uniform-sized pieces to cook evenly and lightly spray with oil to crisp in the air fryer.
Flip halfway through cooking for the best results.
Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 ℉.
If needed, thicken the sauce with additional slurry of equal parts water and tapioca flour or cornstarch.