Description
This air-fried orange chicken recipe is a healthier alternative to the classic takeout dish. Crispy chicken bites are coated in a tangy and sweet orange sauce, creating a delicious balance of flavors. With the air fryer, you can enjoy this dish with less oil but still packed with all the tasty goodness.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
For the Orange Sauce:
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: In a bowl, mix cornstarch, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Coat chicken pieces in this mixture.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Preheat the air fryer. Place chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes, until crispy.
- Make the Orange Sauce: In a saucepan, combine orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, cornstarch, ginger, garlic, and orange zest. Cook until thickened.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Toss the cooked chicken in the orange sauce until coated evenly.
- Serve: Serve the air-fried orange chicken hot, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.
Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness of the sauce by adding more or less honey.
- For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes or sriracha to the sauce.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure the chicken gets crispy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
