Ingredients
2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1" pieces
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. plus 1 tbsp. cornstarch
Olive oil cooking spray
1 1/2 c. orange juice
1/4 c. packed light brown sugar
2 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
2 tbsp. rice vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. minced fresh ginger
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
Sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds, for serving
Preparation
Step 1In a medium bowl, pat chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and black pepper. In a shallow bowl, beat eggs to blend. In another shallow bowl, whisk flour and 1/2 cup cornstarch. Coat chicken in egg, then toss to coat in flour mixture, shaking off any excess.Step 2Coat an air-fryer basket with cooking spray. Working in batches, arrange chicken in a single layer in basket; spray chicken with cooking spray. Cook at 400°, tossing halfway through and spraying with cooking spray, until golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a clean large bowl.Step 3In a measuring cup, whisk orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and remaining 1 tbsp. cornstarch.Step 4Coat a small pot with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Cook garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add orange juice mixture and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and slightly reduced, about 10 minutes (you should have about 1 1/4 cups sauce). Add oil and stir to combine.Step 5Pour orange sauce over chicken and toss to coat. Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.
How long does Orange Chicken go in the air fryer? Orange chicken takes just 10 minutes in the air fryer, which allows the meat to cook through and the cornstarch coating to crisp up. What is the sauce on Orange Chicken made of? Orange chicken is packed with flavor, thanks to a sauce made from orange juice, brown sugar, soy sauce (or tamari, if you’re gluten-free), rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Are General Tso’s Chicken and Orange Chicken the same? Though they both feature a crispy cornstarch coating and a savory-sweet sauce, General Tso’s Chicken and Orange Chicken are not the same. General Tso’s features a chili-based sauce, while Orange Chicken is—you guessed it—orange-based. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make a baked version of Orange Chicken, or pan-fry it (rather than deep-frying, as is the tradition).
