Easy Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb chicken breast (cut into 1-inch pieces)
• 0.5 cup cornstarch (divided for dredging and sauce)
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 0.75 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed preferred)
• 1 tbsp orange zest
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 0.25 cup honey
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp ginger (freshly grated)
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• cooking spray (for the air fryer basket)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).

2. 2

   In three separate shallow bowls, set up your dredging station: one with flour, salt, and pepper; one with the beaten eggs; and one with 1/4 cup of cornstarch.

3. 3

   Dredge the chicken pieces first in the flour mixture, then dip into the egg, and finally coat thoroughly in the cornstarch.

4. 4

   Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the chicken in the basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching for maximum crispiness. You may need to work in batches.

5. 5

   Air fry the chicken at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

6. 6

   While the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil.

7. 7

   In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/4 cup of cornstarch with a tablespoon of water to create a slurry. Whisk this into the simmering sauce.

8. 8

   Continue to cook the sauce for 2-3 minutes until it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.

9. 9

   Once the chicken is finished, transfer the crispy pieces to a large bowl. Pour the warm orange sauce over the chicken and toss gently until every piece is well-coated.

10. 10

    Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds or sliced green onions if desired.

Notes

For extra spice, add 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce while it simmers. To ensure the chicken stays crispy, do not toss with the sauce until right before serving.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• dinner
• air fryer
• chicken
• orange chicken
• healthy
• quick
• weeknight