Air Fryer Orange Chicken – Super Crispy! (VIDEO)
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This Air Fryer Orange Chicken recipe is for those who love the taste of Orange Chicken but don’t want to go through the hassle of frying in oil! I tested this recipe multiple times so anyone can still get the super crispy, juicy chicken from the air fryer, coated in the signature orange sauce!
Watch the Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe Video!
A Note from CJ
This is the BEST Air Fryer Orange Chicken!
What’s my secret to the crispiest Air Fryer Orange Chicken? I use potato starch to coat the chicken, spray with avocado oil spray, and then recreate the “double fry” method by cooking it TWICE in the air fryer (first at a lower temperature and then at a higher temperature) for maximum crispiness!
Looking for more delicious air fryer recipes? Try Air Fryer Tofu, Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Skewers, Air Fryer Chicken Katsu, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Pork Belly, or Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly!
Ingredient Tips
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
- boneless, skinless chicken thigh – cut boneless, skinless chicken thigh 2″ pieces – I prefer thighs because there is less risk of the meat drying out. You can use chicken breast if you prefer.
- egg whites – this is a binder for the chicken and potato starch.
- potato starch – Potato starch is my secret ingredient to getting the same crispy Orange Chicken batter in the air fryer WITHOUT having to deep fry! Potato starch has larger granule sizes than other starches (such as cornstarch), which helps it get a crunchier texture.
- orange juice + orange zest – I use fresh squeezed orange juice for the best flavor (I find store bought versions too sweet.)
- neutral oil spray – I use avocado oil cooking spray. A oil spray is a key ingredient, as you need to lightly coat the air fryer basket and chicken pieces.
How to Make Orange Chicken in the Air Fryer
Marinate the Chicken and Make the Sauce – Marinate the chicken thigh pieces with salt, white pepper, soy sauce, shaoxing wine, grated garlic and ginger, sesame oil, and egg white, mixing until everything is evenly coated. Let the chicken rest for at least 15 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, orange juice, orange zest, chicken stock, brown sugar, and cornstarch until smooth, dissolving all the sugar and cornstarch, then set the sauce aside.
Air Fry The Chicken and Cook With Orange Sauce – Lightly coat the marinated chicken in potato starch and shake off the excess. Spray the air-fryer tray, arrange the chicken in a single layer, spray the top of the chicken, and air fry at 350°F for 10 minutes. Flip, spray again, and air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes until crispy and cooked through. In a hot wok, sauté garlic and ginger briefly, then pour in the premixed orange sauce and cook until thickened. Add the vinegar, toss in the crispy chicken, and finish with a splash of sesame oil. Serve hot with rice and enjoy!
CJ’s Tips
CJ’s Recipe, Storage, & Reheating Tips
Be generous with the oil spray, as it’s the only source of fat in this recipe. Don’t skip spraying the air fryer tray or sheet BEFORE cooking the chicken – this will help prevent the chicken pieces from sticking. Generously and thoroughly spray the chicken pieces to allow the potato starch coating to cook nicely (otherwise the chicken will look and taste dry). Don’t forget to give the chicken a good second spray again when air-frying for the second time!
Store Air Fryer Orange Chicken in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I like reheat it in the air fryer at 350°F for 6-8 minutes or until warmed through and crispy. You can also reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. If you don’t care about restoring any crispiness, you can reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
If you tried this Air Fryer Orange Chicken or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Air Fryer Orange Chicken (VIDEO)
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken thigh, boneless & skinless, cut into 2" pieces
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp shaoxing wine
- 3 cloves garlic , grated
- 1 inch ginger, grated
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 egg white
Sauce
- 1/4 cup light soy sauce
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
Chicken Dredge
- 1.5 cup potato starch
- neutral oil spray, I recommend avocado oil
Oils & Aromatics
- 2 tbsp neutral oil, I recommend avocado oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil, optional
Instructions
- Add the chicken thigh pieces in a bowl with salt, white pepper, soy sauce, shaoxing wine, grated garlic & ginger, sesame oil and egg white. Mix well until the seasonings and egg white are evenly distributed and marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, make the sauce by combining soy sauce, orange juice, orange zest, chicken stock, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Mix until the cornstarch and sugar is dissolved and set aside.
- Line a small baking sheet or plate with potato starch. Lightly coat the chicken pieces in potato starch, shaking off any excess. Spray the air fryer tray with cooking spray then lay the chicken down on a single layer. Spray the top of the chicken and air fry at 350F for 10 minutes. Flip the pieces and spray the other side, then air fry again at 400F for 8 minutes or until the chicken is crispy and reads 165F.
- In a large pan or wok over high heat, add 2 tbsp of neutral oil and saute the garlic and ginger for 15 seconds. Immediately add your sauce and stir until thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Then add the vinegar and mix through.
- Add back your chicken and toss to combine. Once the chicken is coated, finish with a teaspoon of sesame oil. Serve with rice and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Air Fryer Orange Chicken recipe was originally published in February 2022, and updated in January 2026.
Super delicious! And easy🤗
@ekeller224
I will risk hypertension to eat this once a week.
I recently tried out the air fryer orange chicken recipe, and I have to say, it was pretty delicious! The chicken was perfectly crispy, and the sauce had a nice tangy sweetness that really hit the spot. You don’t need another recipe for orange chicken.
Turned out great.
I love orange chicken but have to be careful of how it is made. This sounds delicious and I will be making it soon. Instagram handle @sailredpanda
I love this orange chicken and especially with the air fryer. So much better than TJ’s and other takeout places!!
Made this recipe (although I deep fried since I don’t have air fryer), it was delicious!!! Addding to my rotation!
11/10 we love this recipe and make it all the time! I add extra orange juice and zest a splash of rice vinegar and crushed red pepper in the sauce. You have to make it.
This was my first CJ recipe. I tried it and immediately became a HUGE fan! Love the fact that you are giving air fryer recipes! So wonderful! The chicken was very crispy and I didn’t feel like I was breaking the calorie bank! Please keep them coming! It was also my first experience with potato starch!
Orange chicken is my favorite