Are you craving some crispy fried chicken, but the idea of deep frying them prohibits you from making some? Well, we have good news for you. Here is a recipe that ticks all your boxes and promises to satisfy your taste buds. This delicious orange chicken recipe is made in an air fryer to get that mouth-watering crispiness, eliminating the need to deep-fry or pan-fry them.
The recipe is also healthier as it uses far less oil than most of its counterparts (which are deep-fried). If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the chicken in the oven for a similar result. Tossed in the signature sticky-sweet sauce, this orange chicken recipe will be a winner at your lunch/dinner table. Serve it with white rice, cauliflower rice (for a low-carb option), or simply over air-fried vegetables. This recipe will taste delicious with everything!
Ingredients
- 7 cups skinless and boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1″ pieces
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 2 large eggs
- 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch (plus 1 tablespoon)
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 1 ½ cups orange juice
- 1⁄4 cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- Scallions, sliced, for garnish
- Sesame seeds, toasted, for garnish
Preparation
- To start preparing super crispy orange chicken, take a medium-sized bowl, pat the chicken dry with paper towels, and season it with salt and black pepper. Keep aside.
- Take another bowl and beat the eggs.
- In a third bowl, whisk flour and cornstarch (½ cup). Coat chicken in egg, toss it in the flour mixture and shake off any excess.
- Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- To get perfect crispy chicken, work in batches with the chicken. Start by arranging it in a single layer in the basket, then spray the chicken with cooking spray.
- Cook the chicken at 400°, tossing halfway through and spraying with cooking spray again, until golden brown and cooked through (should take about 10 minutes).
- Transfer chicken to a clean, large bowl. Repeat the process with the remaining pieces.
- Coat a small pot with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.
- Sauté garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Stir them regularly until fragrant (should take about 2 minutes).
- Add the orange juice mixture (orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and one tablespoon of cornstarch) and boil.
- Stir the sauce occasionally, until thickened and slightly reduced (should take about 10 minutes). Add oil and stir to combine.
- Finally, pour the orange sauce over the crispy chicken and toss to coat. Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds, and enjoy!
Voila, your crispy air fryer orange chicken is ready to be devoured. The process might look like a lot of work, but truth be told, the whole recipe comes together in about an hour. You can give your own twist to the orange chicken recipe. Moreover, adding some greens (for your kids) and reducing the pepper and chili can make the dish more kid-friendly.
So, when are you making this delicious air fryer orange chicken for your family? Do let us know in the comment section below. We are sure they will love this tangy, flavorful, super crispy air fryer orange chicken.
