Orange Chicken · Air Fryer
Air-Fryer Orange Chicken
All the crunch of takeout orange chicken with a spray of oil instead of a pan of it. The chicken crisps in the air fryer while the glaze simmers on the stove.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
- Orange sauce
- ¾ cup orange juice, from 2 to 3 oranges
- 1 tbsp orange zest
Swaps for orange zest
Instead of citrus zest
- Another citrus zest: The same amount. A different citrus aroma; any of them brightens a dish.
- Dried citrus peel: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp fresh zest. Milder and a little bitter.
- Lemon or orange extract: About ¼ tsp extract for each 1 tsp zest, to taste. Strong citrus flavor, no texture.
- ⅓ cup sugar ≈ 67 g
Swaps for sugar
Instead of sugar
- Less sugar: Up to ¼ less in cookies, muffins and quick breads. Less browning and spread, a drier, more cake-like texture, and bakes go stale sooner.
- Brown sugar: The same amount, packed. Moister and chewier, with a caramel flavor and darker color.
- Coconut sugar: The same amount. Darker and caramel-like, a little less sweet; cookies spread slightly less.
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
Swaps for soy sauce
Instead of soy sauce
- Tamari: The same amount. Richer and a little less salty.
- Coconut aminos: The same amount, plus a pinch of salt. Sweeter and much less salty.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
Swaps for rice vinegar
Instead of vinegar
- Apple cider or white wine vinegar: About ¾ the amount, plus a pinch of sugar. Rice vinegar is milder and slightly sweet; seasoned rice vinegar also has sugar and salt.
- Lemon or lime juice: The same amount. Fresh citrus flavor instead of vinegar's bite.
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Swaps for garlic
Instead of garlic
- Garlic powder: ⅛ tsp for each clove. Mellower and sweeter, with no bite.
- Jarred minced garlic: ½ tsp for each clove. Milder and slightly sour from the preserving liquid.
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
Swaps for fresh ginger
Instead of ginger
- Ground ginger: ¼ tsp ground for each 1 tbsp grated fresh. Warmer and less bright, with no zing.
- Ginger paste (jar or tube): The same amount. Close; slightly salty or sour from preservatives.
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Swaps for red pepper flakes
Instead of red pepper flakes
- Cayenne: About half as much. Even heat throughout, no flakes.
- Hot sauce or chili crisp: To taste. Hot sauce adds vinegar; chili crisp adds crunch and oil.
- A fresh hot chile: Half a jalapeño or serrano for each ½ tsp. Fresh, green heat.
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Swaps for cornstarch
Instead of cornstarch
- All-purpose flour: 2 tbsp flour for each 1 tbsp cornstarch. Sauces turn cloudy instead of glossy and a bit heavier.
- Arrowroot: The same amount. Very clear and glossy; can turn slimy in dairy sauces.
- Potato starch: The same amount. Thickens fast with a clear gloss; don't boil it long.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- 2 tbsp water
- Chicken
- 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large egg
Swaps for egg
Instead of eggs
- Flax egg: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water for each egg. Binds well but gives less lift, so bakes are a little denser and flatter, with a mild nutty taste and brown flecks.
- Chia egg: 1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water for each egg. Works like a flax egg: good binding, little lift, slightly denser crumb.
- Unsweetened applesauce: ¼ cup for each egg. Moister and denser, with a soft, slightly gummy crumb if you swap more than one egg.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
Swaps for soy sauce
Instead of soy sauce
- Tamari: The same amount. Richer and a little less salty.
- Coconut aminos: The same amount, plus a pinch of salt. Sweeter and much less salty.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- ½ cup cornstarch ≈ 64 g
Swaps for cornstarch
Instead of cornstarch
- All-purpose flour: 2 tbsp flour for each 1 tbsp cornstarch. Sauces turn cloudy instead of glossy and a bit heavier.
- Arrowroot: The same amount. Very clear and glossy; can turn slimy in dairy sauces.
- Potato starch: The same amount. Thickens fast with a clear gloss; don't boil it long.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
Swaps for garlic powder
Instead of garlic
- Fresh garlic: 1 clove for each ⅛ tsp powder, minced fine. Sharper and stronger.
- Granulated garlic: About twice as much as the powder. The same flavor in coarser grains, which blend better into rubs.
- vegetable oil spray
- To serve
- 2 green onions, sliced
Swaps for green onions
Instead of green onions
- Chives: The same amount, for the green tops. Milder and more delicate, without crunch.
- Shallot or red onion: Half as much, chopped fine, for the white parts. Stronger; best cooked or soaked in cold water first.
- Leeks: The same amount, sliced thin. Milder and better cooked than raw.
- cooked rice
Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.
Cook to 165°F inside (check with a thermometer).
Steps
- Heat the air fryer to 400°F (205°C) for 3 minutes.400°F⏱ Preheat: 3 min
- In a bowl,the egg with the 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Add the chicken and stir to coat.
beat (how to beat)
Beat Mix hard and fast, by hand or with a mixer, to blend ingredients fully and add air. 1. Use a mixer on the speed the recipe gives, or a fork or whisk for a few eggs.2. Add eggs one at a time, beating until each disappears before the next.3. Stop and scrape the bowl and beaters now and then.4. Mix on low once flour goes in, just until combined. Done when: The mixture is smooth and even, with no streaks of yolk or white. Safety: Turn the mixer off before you scrape the bowl or reach in.How to beat eggs and batters: mistakes to avoid - In a second bowl, mix the 1/2 cup cornstarch, salt and garlic powder.
- Lift the chicken from the egg, letting the extra drip off, and toss in the cornstarch until coated with no wet spots.
- Spray the basket with oil. Add the chicken in a single layer with space between pieces (cook in two batches if needed) and spray the tops well with oil. Dry, unsprayed spots stay powdery.
- Air-fry for 6 minutes, then shake the basket and spray any pale spots with oil.400°F⏱ Air-fry: 6 min
- Air-fry until golden and crisp and the largest piece reads 165°F (74°C).400°F⏱ Air-fry again: 6 min
- Meanwhile,the orange juice, zest, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Stir the 1 tablespoon cornstarch with the 2 tablespoons water in a cup.
whisk (how to whisk)
Whisk Beat ingredients with a whisk to mix them smoothly or to add air. 1. Use a bowl big enough to whisk without splashing; set it on a damp towel to stop it spinning.2. Hold the whisk loosely and move it in quick circles or side to side, touching the bottom.3. For lumpy mixtures, add liquid a little at a time and whisk after each.4. For sauces on the stove, keep the whisk moving across the whole bottom of the pan. Done when: The mixture is even with no lumps or streaks of egg. How to whisk: mistakes to avoid - Bring the sauce to a⏱ Thicken sauce: 2 min, stir in the
simmer (how to simmer)
Simmer Cook liquid just below a boil, with small bubbles breaking the surface now and then. 1. Bring the liquid up over medium-high heat.2. As soon as bubbles rise steadily, turn the heat down.3. Adjust until only a few small bubbles break the surface every second or two.4. Stir now and then and check that it hasn't crept back to a boil. Done when: You see lazy, small bubbles, not a rolling boil. A "bare" simmer has just a bubble here and there. Safety: Steam burns fast: lift lids and foil away from your face, tipping the far edge up first.How to simmer: mistakes to avoidand simmer, stirring, until thick and glossy.slurry (how to cornstarch slurry)
Cornstarch slurry Cornstarch stirred into cold liquid, then added to a hot sauce to thicken it. 1. Stir 1 tablespoon cornstarch into 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth.2. Bring the sauce to a simmer.3. Stir the slurry again (it settles), then pour it in while stirring.4. Simmer for a minute or two until the sauce turns clear and thick. Done when: The sauce goes from cloudy to glossy and clear and coats the food. How to thicken with a cornstarch slurry: mistakes to avoid - Toss the hot chicken with the sauce in a large bowl and serve right away over rice with green onions.
Tap an underlined word for how to do it, or see all techniques.
Tips
- Air fryer sizes vary. If the pieces touch, cook in batches; crowding makes them steam instead of crisp.
- An oil mister or spray bottle with your own oil works as well as canned spray.
Storage
Refrigerate up to 3 days. Re-crisp in the air fryer at 375°F for 4 minutes.
How long leftovers keep, and freezing and reheating: leftovers and storage. In season: oranges (December to April).
Quick answers
- What can I swap?
- Instead of citrus zest: Another citrus zest, the same amount.
- Instead of sugar: Brown sugar, the same amount, packed.
Answered from this recipe's own storage, make-ahead and swap notes.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 390 1,630 kJ
- Protein
- 41 g
- Carbohydrates
- 40 g
- Fiber
- <1 g
- Sugars
- 21 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Saturated fat
- 1.5 g
- Sodium
- 970 mg
Whole recipe, 4 servings: about 1,560 calories.
Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 17 of 17 ingredients.
How we estimate
We add up USDA FoodData Central values for each measured ingredient as written and divide by the recipe's 4 servings, so changing the servings or units here doesn't change a serving. Brands, swaps, trimming and cooking all change the real numbers.
Not counted: vegetable oil spray, cooked rice (to taste or as needed).
Estimated cost
About $2.00 a serving
About $8.00 for the recipe as written (4 servings).
Estimate; prices vary by store and region. U.S. average prices for September 2026 from BLS Average Price Data and USDA ERS Purchase to Plate prices updated with the BLS Consumer Price Index. Priced: 10 of 17 ingredients, 93% by weight.
How we estimate
Each measured ingredient is weighed as in the nutrition estimate and priced at the U.S. average: BLS's average price where BLS publishes one, else USDA ERS's Purchase to Plate price for 2017-18 raised to September 2026 with the CPI for that food group. Whole packages, store brands, sales and regions all change the real cost: treat it as a ballpark.
- boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs $6.30 BLS
- orange juice $0.50 ERS
- soy sauce $0.25 ERS
- green onions $0.20 ERS
- rice vinegar $0.20 ERS
- egg $0.20 BLS
- sugar $0.15 BLS
- soy sauce $0.10 ERS
- garlic $0.05 ERS
Free: water (tap water).
Not priced (no official average price we can match, so not in the total): orange zest, fresh ginger, red pepper flakes, cornstarch, kosher salt, garlic powder.
Not counted: vegetable oil spray, cooked rice (optional, or to taste).
More dishes for less: cheap eats.
Goes well with
Picked by our pairing rules: the same kind of kitchen, room in the oven and on the stove, ready in time, and a balance of starch, vegetables and richness.
- Side Garlic Sesame Roasted Broccoli 30 min Uses the oven while the orange chicken is on the stove. The oven and stove are free while the air fryer does the main. Ready in 30 min, inside the main's 35 min.
- Side Honey Thyme Roasted Carrots 40 min Uses the oven while the orange chicken is on the stove. The oven and stove are free while the air fryer does the main. Ready in 40 min, inside the main's 35 min.
- Dessert Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies 4 hr Something rich after a light main. Make it ahead, so it's ready when dinner is.
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Gear for this recipe
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Basket air fryer
Crisps breaded and coated foods with a spoonful of oil instead of a pan of it.
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Cleanup score 2/5 (more cleanup): 4 things to wash, air fryer basket, saucepan, bowl 1, bowl 2.
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