Air fryer orange chicken is such an easy way to make a delicious dinner fast. I developed this recipe to be fast, easy to make, and packed with citrus flavor—enough to rival the orange chicken at your favorite takeout spot. The air fryer is the secret to getting unbelievably crispy chicken without deep-frying! Just remember to arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, so it has plenty of room for the hot air to circulate for that crunchy exterior.
A reader, Michelle, says: “I made this for dinner and it was delicious! I didn’t make any adjustments. The chicken breast was moist, and the outer coating was crunchy. I enjoyed all the flavors in the sauce.” ★★★★★
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
These are the main ingredients you need to make orange chicken in the air fryer. You can find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.
Chicken — you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes. Try to cut the pieces into similar sizes so they cook evenly.
Egg — you’ll dredge the chicken in a beaten egg and salt mixture first to help the cornstarch stick.
Cornstarch — coating the chicken pieces with a starch makes for a crispy, crunchy coating. Starch absorbs moisture from the egg coating and chicken. When the chicken cooks, the starch will set in the heat, and the moisture evaporates, leaving the starchy coating porous. If you’ve ever had tempura and noticed it has a light, lacy texture to the coating, that’s why! Other starches, like potato starch or tapioca starch, also work. You’ll also use cornstarch to thicken the homemade orange sauce, so I like to use it for the coating, so you only have one ingredient.
Orange — you need orange juice and zest for the sauce. Two larger navel oranges should yield enough zest and fresh orange juice for the recipe. In a pinch, you can use store-bought orange juice, but the chicken won’t have as much orange flavor without the zest.
Soy sauce — soy sauce adds umami and salty flavor to the homemade orange sauce. You can swap it for coconut aminos or tamari if you would like a gluten-free option.
Sugar — light brown sugar adds sweetness to the sauce to balance the salty, zingy flavors and turns the sauce sticky for that signature glaze on orange chicken.
Vinegar — if you can’t find rice vinegar, mirin, apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar can be used instead. These swaps don’t taste exactly like rice vinegar, but they will offer the tart balance of flavor to the sauce.
Ginger and garlic — use freshly minced ginger and garlic, not the pre-prepared kind in jars, for the most robust flavor. If you don’t have fresh, use ¾ teaspoon garlic powder and ½ teaspoon ground ginger.
Sesame oil — you only need a little toasted sesame oil to add lots of depth and complexity to the sauce.
Can I use orange marmalade?
Yes! This is a hack I use for the Air Fryer Orange chicken in my cookbook, Preppy Kitchen Super Easy, when I don’t have fresh oranges on hand. To make this substitute, replace the brown sugar with ¼ cup of orange marmalade. You can leave out the zest or still add it in if you love a really vibrant citrus flavor. The fresh orange juice can be replaced with water, as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the ultimate crunchy chicken, I don’t recommend making this dish ahead of time. The chicken will lose its signature crispiness as it sits, so while it will still taste delicious, you will miss out on the texture.
You can, however, coat the chicken pieces and freeze them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet to cook when you’re ready. Air fryer from frozen and add 3 to 5 minutes to the cooking time. You can also make the sauce up to 4 days in advance and reheat it in a skillet when your chicken is cooking.
Yes, you can make this air fryer orange chicken recipe in the oven with a few small tweaks. Instead of dredging the chicken in batches, you can do it all at once since you will be baking the chicken on a large baking sheet instead of a smaller air fryer basket.
Coat the baking sheet with cooking spray before arranging the chicken on it. Bake the chicken in an oven preheated to 425°F for about 20 minutes. Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time. If you’d like to make fried orange chicken in a skillet, try my classic orange chicken recipe.
Yes, and it’s easy with just swapping one ingredient. This recipe, as written, only has one naturally gluten-containing ingredient: soy sauce. For gluten-free air fryer orange chicken, swap it out for gluten-free soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos. Please double-check ingredient labels for a gluten-free certification if you are concerned about cross-contamination.
Pro Tips For The Best Air-Fried Orange Chicken
Spray the chicken with oil for a crispier exterior. Make sure to coat the chicken with cooking spray so the flour coating is wet. And spray the pieces again when you flip the chicken. Even though you are using oil to coat the chicken, this method still uses much less oil than deep frying for crunchy chicken.
Air fry the chicken in a single layer. This is vital for crisp chicken. If you overcrowd the air fryer basket, the chicken will steam, and the outside will be soft, not crunchy.
Thicken the sauce if it is too thin for your liking. Mix an additional teaspoon of cornstarch with water and add it to the sauce. Cook the sauce for another minute. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken more as it cools, so refrain from adding too much more cornstarch slurry.
Toss the chicken with the sauce just before serving. Because the coating can soften once the chicken is sauced, wait to coat it until you are ready to serve your meal to maintain its crisp and crunchy exterior.
How To Make Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Below, I’ve highlighted portions of the recipe in step-by-step process images along with instructions for making air-fried orange chicken. You can find the full set of instructions in the recipe card below.
1. Prep the chicken: Beat the egg and salt together, then add the chicken and stir so all the chicken is well-coated. Set aside for the moment.
2. Add the cornstarch to a shallow bowl and use a fork to break up any large clumps.
3. Coat the chicken: Place the egg-coated chicken into the cornstarch and toss to coat. (Only coat enough for one batch of air frying. Coat the next batch just before it goes into the air fryer basket.)
4. Air fry the chicken: Arrange the chicken in a single layer in your air fryer basket, preheated to 400°F. Spray generously with cooking spray so that the chicken crisps up properly.
5. Air fry for 6 minutes, then flip each piece and spray the other side with cooking oil spray. Cook for approximately another 6 minutes or until the chicken is nicely golden and crispy. Repeat dredging and air frying the rest of the chicken pieces.
6. Make the sauce: While the last batch of chicken is cooking in the air fryer, you can work on the orange sauce. Add the orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, orange zest, ginger, oil, red pepper flakes, and garlic to a small saucepan. Set it over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cook until the brown sugar has dissolved.
7. Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch and water in a small bowl, then pour the mixture into the sauce. Cook while whisking constantly until the sauce has thickened up nicely and is translucent.
8. Toss with sauce: Just before serving, pour the sticky homemade orange sauce over the cooked chicken and toss to coat it well. Serve your air fryer orange chicken topped with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Video
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 large egg beaten
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs cut into 1” cubes (450g)
- 1 cup cornstarch or potato starch (112g)
- Non-aerosolized cooking spray (avocado or olive oil spray is great!)
For the Orange Sauce:
- ½ cup fresh orange juice (120mL) (about 2 oranges)
- ¼ cup soy sauce (60mL)
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar (55g)
- 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
- Sesame seeds and sliced green onions for serving
Instructions
For the Chicken:
- In a medium bowl, lightly beat the egg and salt together. Add the cubed chicken and stir to coat the chicken well.
- In a shallow bowl, add the cornstarch and stir to break up any large clumps. Work with a few pieces at a time, transfer the chicken pieces to the cornstarch and toss until well coated. (Coat only what will fit in your basket at one time.)
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Place the dredged chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray the chicken generously with cooking spray.
- Air fry for 6 minutes. Flip the chicken pieces and spray them with cooking spray again. Continue to air fry until golden and crispy, about 6 minutes more. Transfer the cooked chicken to a large bowl, and continue dredging and cooking the remaining pieces.
For the Orange Sauce:
- While the last batch of chicken cooks, combine the orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, zest, ginger, oil, pepper, and garlic in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook until the sugar is dissolved.
- Dissolve the cornstarch in the water in a small bowl, and whisk it into the saucepan. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until thickened and translucent, about 1 minute.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and toss to coat. Serve immediately, topped with sesame seeds and green onions.
Notes
- Try not to leave any dry spots on the coated chicken. Those areas will turn sticky, not crispy, so coat the chicken well with the spray oil. Spray the chicken pieces with oil again after flipping them to coat the other side.
- Keep the cooked chicken warm while you finish each batch. If you have to cook in several smaller batches based on the size of your air fryer, heat your main oven or toaster oven to 200F. Place a wire rack on a sheet pan in the oven, and put the air fried chicken pieces on the wire rack. This will keep the pieces warm and crispy while the others finish cooking.
Nutrition
What To Serve With Air Fried Orange Chicken
Air fryer orange chicken doesn’t need much more than a bed of fluffy white rice, fried rice, or Instant Pot brown rice! But, it is also delicious with a simple vegetable stir fry, or make a batch of air fryer broccoli right when the chicken is done, and toss it all together. I sometimes make a batch of air fryer egg rolls to start!
Storing & Reheating Leftovers
Refrigerating: Transfer leftover air fryer orange chicken to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Freezing: You can freeze air fryer orange chicken for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Thaw completely overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave with the Defrost setting before reheating.
How do I reheat air fryer orange chicken? You can reheat it in the air fryer or microwave. For the air fryer, start by preheating your air fryer to 350°F. Add the chicken and air fry for about 5 minutes until heated through. Depending on your air fryer, this may take slightly more or less time. If the chicken is already coated in sauce when reheating, it will be very sticky and flavorful but no longer saucy after reheating it in the air fryer. Be aware that it will not be as crunchy as it was when it was cooked fresh, but the flavor will still be excellent.
More Air Fryer Recipes To Try
There are so many interesting ways to use your air fryer to make cooking dinner more convenient. Here are some air fryer recipes to try next:
Air fryer chicken tenders are a kid-friendly dinner option that’s so easy to make in under 30 minutes. My boys love them with ketchup and fries on the side.
Crispy tofu is simple to achieve with an air fryer! Try my air fryer tofu in rice bowls, sandwiches, wraps, and more.
Ten-ingredient air fryer popcorn chicken is so versatile! Serve these crispy chicken bites on game day as part of a spread, tuck them into rolls for a sandwich, or use them to top pasta.
Easy air fryer coconut shrimp is a recipe you’ll make over and over again! Shredded coconut and Panko breadcrumbs form an irresistible crunchy coating.
Air fryer chicken breast is always juicy, tender, and flavor-packed! Serve it with a side of veggies for a quick, satisfying dinner.
If you’ve tried this air fryer orange chicken recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
William Mueller says
It was really yummy! I could literally taste orange, which I can’t in Panda Express orange chicken. The chicken did not come out dry, even though it was air fried. I made it with a bag of boiled but crunchy green beans, and two cans of sliced water chestnuts. Also, I used 1 1/2 pounds of chicken with 2 eggs (a little bit smaller than suggested), so the dish itself became a little less sweet as I copied the sauce recipe.
Eshwa says
The recipe turned out great .except next time I would reduce the grated orange rind due to personal preference.
sean says
Taste great and easy to make!
Jane Carroll says
So much better than take out!
Michelle T says
I made this for dinner and it was delicious! I didn’t make any adjustments. The chicken breast was moist and the outer coating was crunchy. I enjoyed all the flavors in the sauce – sweet, tangy, sour, and a little kick from the port flakes. Definitely a recipe to keep!
Super Mama says
This turned out better than I could have ever hoped and dreamed- even my children, 2025 winners of the Pickiest Crew Known to Man award, DEVOURED this. As with every recipe from Preppy Kitchen, DELICIOUS!