Description

This Air Fryer Orange Chicken recipe offers a crispy, flavorful chicken dish coated in a tangy and sweet orange sauce. The air fryer ensures a healthier, guilt-free alternative to traditional fried chicken with less oil, while still delivering a deliciously crunchy texture. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe is easy to prepare and pairs wonderfully with steamed rice and garnished with green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup cornstarch

Orange Sauce

1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Zest of 1 orange

Garnish and Serving

Green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
Cooked rice (for serving)

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Instructions

Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the optimal temperature for cooking the chicken evenly and creating a crispy texture.
Coat Chicken: In a medium-sized bowl, toss the bite-sized chicken thigh pieces with 1/2 cup cornstarch until fully coated. This coating helps the chicken crisp up nicely in the air fryer.
Prepare Air Fryer Basket: Place the coated chicken pieces in the preheated air fryer basket. Shake off any excess cornstarch to prevent clumping and ensure even cooking.
Air Fry Chicken: Cook the chicken at 400°F for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway through. This allows the chicken to cook evenly and develop a golden-brown crispy exterior.
Make Orange Sauce: While the chicken cooks, combine orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and orange zest in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens to coat the back of a spoon.
Combine Chicken and Sauce: Once the chicken is cooked, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Pour the thickened orange sauce over the chicken and gently toss to coat each piece evenly in the flavorful sauce.
Serve: Serve the sauced chicken over cooked rice for a complete meal.
Garnish: Sprinkle sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds over the dish to add freshness and a nutty crunch before enjoying.

Notes

Adjust the red pepper flakes to your heat preference or omit for a milder sauce.
Using chicken thighs ensures more tender and juicy meat; however, chicken breasts can be substituted but may yield a drier texture.
Ensure the air fryer basket is not overcrowded to allow even air circulation and crispiness.
For gluten-free version, use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
Leftover chicken is best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the air fryer to retain crispiness.
For extra zest, garnish with additional fresh orange slices.