Air Fried Orange Chicken
PREP TIME: 30 MIN | COOK TIME: 45 MIN | YIELD: 2-3 SERVINGS
Scrumptious Moment
Sometimes I just crave a big bowl of crispy, saucy orange chicken—Panda Express style - but even though each bite is so satisfying, it is almost always followed by feelings of heaviness and guilt from all the fat and grease. I wanted to recreate a healthier version of this dish that also didn’t compromise the crispy texture and delicious sauce. Turns out, the air fryer does the trick. It gives that crunchy and golden coating without the sogginess that comes from the oven. Tossed in homemade sauce, and you get everything we love about Panda Express’s orange chicken, but lighter and fresher.
AIR FRIED ORANGE CHICKEN
Introducing a delicious and healthier twist on a takeout classic—air-fried orange chicken with jasmine rice, garnished with fresh green onions and sesame seeds. This dish features crispy, bite-sized chicken thighs, marinated in various spices, then coated in cornstarch and air-fried to perfection using only a light spray of oil. The chicken is tossed in a tangy, homemade orange sauce made from fresh orange juice, zest, soy sauce, and a hint of brown sugar, creating a perfect balance of sweet and savory. Served over fluffy jasmine rice, this meal is a satisfying combination of crunchy, tender chicken, vibrant citrusy sauce, and fragrant rice, all topped with green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Perfect for those looking for a healthier, less greasy way to enjoy the bold flavors of orange chicken!
WHAT IS AN AIRFRYER
An air fryer is basically a tiny, magic oven that blasts hot air around your food to make it crispy, kind of like deep frying, but without all the grease. Instead of dunking food in a pool of oil, you just give it a little spritz or a tiny bit of oil, and the air fryer does the rest.
Why Is It Better Than Deep Frying?
Way Less Oil – Air fryers use way less—sometimes just a spray—so you still get crispy food without all the extra fat.
Less Calories, Same Crunch – Less oil = fewer calories, so you can enjoy crispy chicken, fries, or whatever without feeling like you just ate a bucket of grease.
No Mess, No Stress – Air fryers are super easy—just toss your food in, press a button, and let it do its thing. It avoids all the headache and potential injuries in using a deep fryer and working with hot oil.
HOW TO MAKE THIS DISH
Making the Crispy Chicken
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. This ensures that the chicken will start cooking immediately when placed inside, helping to achieve a crispy texture.
Step 2: Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized cubes and place them in a medium-sized bowl. Using thighs instead of breast meat keeps the chicken juicy and tender.
Step 3: Add the seasonings and marinade ingredients to the bowl: salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, white vinegar, sesame oil, and egg white. Mix everything together thoroughly, making sure all the chicken pieces are evenly coated. Let it marinate for at least 10 minutes to absorb the flavors.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, add the cornstarch. Once the chicken has finished marinating, transfer it to the cornstarch and toss until all the pieces are well coated. The cornstarch creates a crispy outer layer when air-fried.
Step 5: Once the air fryer has preheated, place the coated chicken pieces on parchment paper inside the air fryer basket. Lightly spray them with avocado oil or any other cooking spray to help crisp up the exterior.
Step 6: Air fry the chicken for 10 minutes, then remove the basket, spray the chicken one more time, and cook for another 10 minutes. While waiting for the chicken to cook, you can begin preparing the rice and orange sauce. The chicken should be golden brown, crispy on the outside, and fully cooked inside.
Cooking the Rice
Step 7: In a small pot, bring the hot water to a boil over high heat. Add the washed jasmine rice, stirring briefly to prevent clumping.
Step 8: Reduce the heat to medium and let the rice cook for 8 minutes. This allows the rice to absorb the water and begin softening.
Step 9: Lower the heat to medium-low and continue cooking for another 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. The rice should become fluffy and fully cooked by the end of this step. While waiting, chop some green onions for garnish and prepare the orange sauce.
Making the Orange Sauce
Step 10: In a large measuring cup or small bowl, combine the soy sauce, fresh orange juice, orange zest, garlic, ginger, chicken stock, brown sugar, vinegar, and cornstarch. Whisk everything together until the cornstarch is fully dissolved, ensuring a smooth sauce.
Step 11: In a wok or large pan, heat a small amount of oil over high heat for about 1-2 minutes. Once the oil is hot, pour in the prepared sauce and stir continuously. The sauce will start to thicken as it cooks. If it thickens too quickly, lower the heat to medium or medium-low to prevent burning.
Step 12: Add the crispy air-fried chicken to the wok and toss until each piece is well coated with the orange sauce. The chicken should absorb the sauce while maintaining its crispy texture.
Serving the Dish
Step 13: Scoop the cooked rice onto a plate or into a bowl. Place the saucy orange chicken on top of the rice for the perfect balance of flavors.
Step 14: Garnish the dish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds for extra flavor and a visually appealing presentation.
Step 15: Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade crispy orange chicken with rice!
AIR FRYER ORANGE CHICKEN
This recreation is a healthier, but delicious alternative to the Panda Express classic, that skips all the frying but maintains that crunchy texture and tangy orange sauce.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut the chicken thighs into bite size cubes and add to a medium sized bowl.
- Add all the spices and marinade to the bowl: salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, white vinegar, sesame oil, and egg white and mix until well incorporated. Set aside for 10 minutes to marinate.
- In a separate bowl, add the cornstarch. When the meat has marinated, add it to the cornstarch and toss around until all pieces of chicken are well coated with the cornstarch.
- Once the Air Fryer has preheated, add the chicken on top of parchment paper and spray with avocado spray or any kind of oil spray.
- Air fry for 10 minutes. Take out and spray one more time, and fry for another ten minutes. (You can prepare the rice and sauce as described below while waiting).The chicken should be cooked through and crispy on the outside.
- Add the hot water to a small pot and boil on high heat. Add the washed jasmine rice to the pot and reduce to medium and cook for 8 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to cook for another 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is fluffy and cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking to the sides.
- While waiting for the rice, you can shop some green onions to set aside to garnish with the sesame seeds, or prepare the orange sauce.
- In a large measuring cup or small bowl, combine the soy sauce, orange juice, zest, garlic, ginger, chicken stock, brown sugar, vinegar, and cornstarch and mix well.
- In a wok or large pan, heat oil over high heat for about 1-2 minutes. Immediately add the sauce and stir until thickened, you may need to reduce the heat to medium or medium low. Add the fried chicken and toss until well coated in the sauce.
- Serve over the bed of rice and garnish with the green onions and sesame seeds.
- Enjoy!