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Crispy Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Close-up of crispy, glazed Air Fryer Orange Chicken served with white rice and steamed broccoli florets.
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Make crispy, flavorful orange chicken quickly in your air fryer. This recipe uses a simple coating for crispiness and features a balanced sweet and tangy orange sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large egg white
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup orange juice, fresh squeezed preferred
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (slurry)
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • Cooked white rice and steamed broccoli, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces with the egg white until lightly coated.
  2. In a separate small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle this mixture over the chicken and toss until every piece has a light coating.
  3. Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil.
  4. Place the coated chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Do not overlap pieces.
  5. Air fry for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken pieces, then continue to air fry for another 5 to 8 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F or 74°C).
  6. While the chicken cooks, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper flakes (if using), and orange zest.
  7. Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  8. Whisk the cornstarch slurry and slowly pour it into the simmering sauce, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
  9. Place the cooked, crispy chicken into a large bowl. Pour about half of the prepared orange sauce over the chicken and toss gently until the chicken is evenly coated and sticky. Add more sauce as desired.
  10. Serve immediately over rice with steamed broccoli.

Notes

  • For extra crispiness, you can lightly spray the coated chicken with oil just before the first air fry cycle.
  • If you prefer a thicker glaze, use slightly less orange juice or increase the cornstarch in the sauce.
  • You can substitute chicken breasts for thighs, but thighs tend to stay juicier.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonswirl.com/air-fryer-orange-chicken-recipe/