Air Fryer Orange Chicken – Excellent Recipe 2021

You’ve tried the fried version and now it’s time to try something new. Air Fryer Orange Chicken is a healthier alternative that still has all of the flavors you love!

It only takes 35 minutes and can be cooked with or without rice. You won’t regret trying this recipe because it’s easy, healthy, and delicious!

Orange chicken is a dish that is popular in many cultures. It’s often made with deep-fried crispy pieces of breaded chicken, and it can be served with noodles or rice.

Air fryers have become very popular because they cook food faster, use less oil, and are healthier than traditional frying.

The air fryer orange chicken recipe below will show you how to make this delicious meal using your air fryer!

Let’s start with Mosaiccafes!

Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe 

Orange chicken is a famous Chinese dish that is observed in the US more regularly than in China.

It’s usually made through deep frying battered portions of chicken, and coating them with an orange glaze earlier than serving over rice.

Chicken breast or chicken thigh fillets are normally used. Chicken portions with bones aren’t suitable for this dish.

In this recipe, we live true to the flavors of orange chicken, however rather than battering and deep frying the meat, we certainly air fry the portions to a barely crispy texture.

The end result is a far healthier, however nonetheless scrumptious meal.

Ingredients

FOR THE CHICKEN

• 1.5 lbs raw boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 large egg, whisked
• 2/3 cup cornstarch or potato starch

FOR THE SAUCE

• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, from about 2 medium oranges
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp minced ginger
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce (Mili, New Moon, and Ayam brands all have gluten-free oyster sauce)
• 3 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• 2 1/2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp water
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 375F.
2. Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes. Mix together with whisked egg till all chicken is lined.
3. In a big plastic bag, add the cornstarch. Using tongs, take chicken pieces out of the egg mixture, permitting extra egg to drip off and add to the bag.
4. Close the bag and shake chicken pieces round till absolutely lined with the aid of using the cornstarch. Remove pieces from the bag and place on the reducing board which you used to break up your chicken.
5. Liberally coat the side of the chicken going through up with cooking spray. Add the chicken, sprayed side down, to the basket of your air fryer. Now spray the aspect going through up, so all facets of chicken are lined.
6. Air fry at 375F for 10-15 minutes, or till chicken is barely browned and cooked through.
7. As the chicken cooks, make the sauce in a medium-sized skillet. Whisk sauce components collectively and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, till the sauce thickens–about five minutes.
8. Toss cooked chicken with sauce and serve immediately.

What happens if I use too much cornstarch?

Cornstarch and potato starch could make a MESS in case you upload too much. Since starch is mild and airy, it’s going to fly across the air fryer, inflicting it to appear to be a snow globe.

Your chicken additionally won’t brown correctly, even though it might be nevertheless edible.

I promise it’s easy to keep this from happening.

Simply add half the cornstarch to the chicken and mix then add the relaxation in slowly. Once the chicken is completely lined, stop. You don’t want to apply the overall 2 tablespoons in case you don’t want it!

Before you surround the lined fowl into the air fryer, faucet any extra starch off and cook following the directions above.

Can I make this in the oven?

You can without a doubt cook the chicken in the oven. It will simply take a bit longer, and a number of the breading would possibly fall off as you turn the chicken.

Place chicken on a baking sheet covered with cooking spray. Bake at 425F for 15-20 minutes, flipping the hen half manner through. Follow all different steps as indicated in the recipe card.

Now you’re geared up for a Chinese meals feast! It would possibly appear to be a whole lot of steps, however it comes together faster than you think. So really well worth it for such delicious, healthful meals!

Make Ahead, Storage and Meal Prep

Prep Ahead – The chicken may be cooked earlier and reheated earlier than including the sauce. The chicken might not be as crispy.

Store – Leftovers may be saved in an hermetic box in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze – We do not endorse freezing this recipe.

Reheat – If you observed you may have leftovers, we endorse which you hold the chicken and the sauce separate.

Put the chicken into the air fryer and cook for 3-4 mins at 350F / 176C. Reheat the sauce in the microwave or at the range and blend it with the reheated chicken.

Variations

Here are a number of my favored opportunity versions of the dish:

Change of citrus: You can genuinely make the glaze with any citrus fruit you want, not simply orange. Try making it with clementines, kumquat or blood oranges!

Add vegetables: Mix the chicken with steamed or sauteed vegetables including broccoli or sugar snap peas earlier than coating it with the orange sauce.

Gluten free: This dish might be gluten free so long as you make sure that every aspect is gluten free approved. Consult the dietary labels of every aspect.

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

• Store any leftovers in a tightly-sealed box in the fridge for as much as four days.
• If you don’t have arrowroot starch, you could use cornstarch.
• If you don’t have coconut aminos, you could use decreased sodium tamari (gluten-free) or soy sauce (not gluten-free).
• If you don’t have fish sauce, simply depart it out.
• If you make a decision to double the recipe make certain to cook the chicken in batches. The hot air desires to flow across the chicken pieces to crisp them up.

FAQs

What if I don’t have fresh orange juice?

You can use jarred orange juice in case you don’t have fresh orange juice. But, I absolutely decided on freshly-squeezed orange juice for this recipe.

How do you make orange chicken crispy again?

If your leftover chicken is barely soft, you may place it in the air fryer for a few minutes. It has to crisp up quickly. Be cautious not to overcook it, or it would emerge as dry.

How do you make frozen orange chicken in the air fryer?

You are probably capin a position to shop for frozen orange chicken at your neighborhood supermarket. This may be cooked in an air fryer for about 10 minutes, or till it has heated via for a fast model of the dish.

Can I Use Oil To Air Fry This?

You don’t really need oil or cooking spray for the cubed chicken. It chef’s up flawlessly without it. But in case you decide on it, then use a little bit for cooking.

Conclusion

The air fryer orange chicken recipe is a quick and easy dish that tastes great. It’s perfect for those nights where you want something fresh, but don’t have time to spend an hour in the kitchen.

That’s all for today! We hope you enjoyed reading about this delicious, easy and healthy recipe.

If you have any questions or comments please leave them below in the comment section.

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