There are many claims about the take-out fake-out recipe tasting even better than the restaurant version, but this one is actually true! Not only is this Air Fryer Orange Chicken easy to make, it blows away the competition!
Take-out can be a real timesaver on busy nights. This is a healthier, homemade version of everyone’s favorite Chinese comfort food.
Yes you could make the Trader Joes frozen Orange Chicken instead. Give this one a try and you’ll be convinced it’s worth the small amount of effort needed to prepare it.
Making Orange Chicken in the air fryer eliminates the need for deep frying. You only need a little spray of avocado oil and your chicken cooks up crispy and golden brown.
And, best of all.. you can make this Orange Chicken in less than 15 minutes! That’s quicker than ordering take-out!
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Orange Chicken in an Air Fryer…
- boneless skinless chicken
- tapioca flour (or cornstarch)
- Avocado oil spray
- orange juice
- sweet orange marmalade
- soy sauce
- honey
- hot chili sauce
- rice vinegar
- jarred minced garlic
- dried ginger
How To Make Orange Chicken in an Air Fryer…
- Add chicken to a zippered bag along 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 to a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray tops with additional avocado oil
- Cook in air fryer at 400 degrees for 3-5 minutes, flip, then continue cooking for 3-5 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through
- In the meantime, whisk remaining 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour (or cornstarch) with 1 tablespoon water until smooth
- Add with remaining ingredients in 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
Pro Tips…
Substitute cornstarch for the tapioca flour, if needed. Tapioca flour tends to have a more appealing thickness and flavor.
This recipe has less of a sweet/sugary taste than conventional orange chicken because the orange marmalade can be a bit bitter. For a sweeter result, make sure you use a sweet version of the marmalade. Or, you can add more honey.
You can adjust the hot sauce to make your Orange Chicken as spicy as you want. Or, you can eliminate it altogether and still have delicious results.
Related Recipes:
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
Air Fryer Orange Chicken
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
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon hot chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger
Instructions
- Add chicken to a zippered bag along 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 to a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray tops with additional avocado oil
- Cook in air fryer at 400 degrees for 3-5 minutes, flip, then continue cooking for 3-5 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through
- In the meantime, whisk remaining 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour (or cornstarch) with 1 tablespoon water until smooth
- Add with remaining ingredients in 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
-
Substitute cornstarch for tapioca flour, if needed.
-
Add more honey for a sweeter result
-
Adjust hot sauce to your preference or eliminate
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