Air Fryer Orange Chicken

This air fryer orange chicken recipe is made with a delicious homemade orange marmalade sauce. This is seriously the best healthy air fryer orange chicken recipe that is ready to serve in 30 minutes or less!

One of our favorite meals growing up was Panda Express’ famous orange chicken. Knowing that it may not be the healthiest choice out there, I wanted to come up with a simple and quick recipe for air fryer orange chicken.

Making a home made orange marmalade sauce for this dish is a lot easier that you might think! The sauce that goes with this air fryer orange chicken takes just a few ingredients and 5 minutes of your time. You probably have most of what you’ll need in your pantry or fridge right now!

While your meal planning for the week, be sure to give this delicious air fryer orange chicken recipe a try. It is gluten free, soy free and egg free as well. Your family is going to love this healthy air fryer orange chicken!

This post is all about how to make this delicious air fryer orange chicken recipe.

Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Why this air fryer orange chicken with orange marmalade is so perfect for busy weeknights

If you have a busy lifestyle, then you are probably looking for dinner recipes that are easy to put together, don’t take a lot of time, and taste amazing. Right?!

The homemade orange marmalade sauce takes just a few minutes to make and tasted better than any sauce you’d try at a restaurant. You can serve the orange chicken with steamed broccoli or a bowl of white rice.

When you are using an air fryer to make this recipe, you are going to save yourself so much time in the kitchen! One batch of air fryer orange chicken takes only 8-10 minutes to cook. This recipe took two rounds in the air fryer for a total of about 20 minutes of cooking time.

Easy Orange Chicken 3 Ingredients

For the air fryer orange chicken you only need three key ingredients (this is specifically for the chicken portion of this recipe, not the sauce)

• 3 lbs of organic free range chicken breast
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 4 tablespoons of corn starch

What you will need for the homemade orange marmalade sauce

• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• juice of one whole orange (about 1/4 cup)
• 1/4 cup orange marmalade
• 2 tbsp coconut aminos
• 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 tso ginger powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1.5 tbsp corn starch

Easy to Follow Steps on How to Make this Recipe

How to prep and air fry your chicken

• pat dry your chicken breast with a paper towel
• carefully slice and dice your chicken breast into half inch chunks
• place your cut up chicken pieces in a large bowl
• add salt and corn starch and mix so all chicken pieces are coated
• air fry chicken at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes,
• remove and shake basket to toss chicken pieces about half way through.

Here is how you made this super easy homemade orange marmalade sauce

• place a sauce pan over medium heat
• add in all ingredients except corn starch and whisk vigorously until combined.
• then add in your corn starch and continue to whisk until no clumps are left behind
• bring to a boil and whisk again to prevent sticking
• cook for a few minutes until your sauce has thickened up

Recipe Notes

What goes well with air fryer orange chicken?

You can serve this dish with a variety of different sides. Our go-to sides are typically steamed broccoli and white rice. You can steam a variety of vegetable to serve with this recipe. Here are a few suggestions: carrots, bok choy, cauliflower or mung beans! 

How to store your left overs

Left overs should be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to four days.

FAQ

How long does it take to cook orange chicken in air fryer? 

In my Instant Vortex Plus air fryer it took about 10 minutes to cook the chicken. As an overall, I would say anywhere between 8 and ten minutes depending on what type of air fryer you have. They might all cook slightly different. You can always check a piece by cutting it in half to ensure it is fully cooked.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast for this recipe?

You are welcome to use any type of chicken for this recipe. I find that skinless boneless chicken breast is easiest because it is already prepped and all you have to do it cut it. To make things even easier you can buy chicken tenderloins.

Here are more chicken recipe that might interest you!

• 12 minute crispy air fryer chicken thighs
• easy spicy buffalo chicken pasta bake
• chicken fajita tray bake
• pineapple teriyaki chicken burgers

Homemade Orange Marmalade Sauce Recipe:

• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• juice of one whole orange (about 1/4 cup)
• 1/4 cup orange marmalade
• 2 tbsp coconut aminos
• 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 tso ginger powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1.5 tbsp corn starch

1. place a sauce pan over medium heat
2. add in all ingredients except corn starch and whisk vigorously until combined.
3. then add in your corn starch and continue to whisk until no clumps are left behind
4. bring to a boil and whisk again to prevent sticking
5. cook for a few minutes until your sauce has thickened up