Homemade Orange Chicken made with a sweet & savory orange sauce and tender breaded chicken. This orange chicken recipe with orange marmalade is simple and perfect alongside white rice!
This air fryer orange chicken recipe will give you several servings of sweet and tangy orange glazed chicken that is mouth-wateringly good! Seriously, skip those takeout lines and hop in the kitchen because this recipe does not disappoint! In under an hour you can have tasty orange chicken from scratch.
Orange Chicken recipe
Because I know that not everyone has an Air Fryer handy, I included a section on the recipe card below to help you this orange chicken in a skillet on the stove. That being said, if you have to choose between cooking this recipe in an Air Fryer or in a Skillet, choose the Air Fryer! The texture is different and really makes this dish even more amazing.
Is Orange Chicken Spicy?
This Orange chicken has a glaze that contains red pepper flakes and sriracha sauce so it can get pretty spicy. However, you are able to adjust the amount of spice depending on your personal preferences, so you can definitely tone it down to a more suitable level if you don’t want too much spice. I think that the amount I used was perfect, as I do not enjoy really spicy foods.
Can I Use Frozen Chicken?
While I’m sure that you could, I personally prefer having my chicken thawed beforehand. Having it thawed before putting the breading on it helps the coating to stick. Not only that, but cooking frozen chicken tends to affect the texture, so I recommend thawing it first.
Orange Chicken Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
-2 lbs of chicken tenders cut up into bite size pieces
-1 cup buttermilk
-1/3 cup flour
-1/3 cup corn starch
-1 tablespoon garlic salt
-1/2 cup orange marmalade
-1 cup orange Juice
-3 teaspoons soy sauce
-1 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
-1/2 – 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce (more or less depending on how hot you like it)
-1 tsp fresh grated ginger (or 1/2 tsp minced ginger)
-pinch of red pepper flakes
-1 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
How to Make Orange Chicken
Place the chicken pieces into a large Ziplock baggie. Pour the buttermilk into the baggie and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for about 30 min.
In a shallow plate, whisk together the Flour, Cornstarch, Garlic Salt.
Shake off the excess buttermilk from the chicken and coat with the flour/cornstarch mixture.
Shake off the excess flour.
How to Cook Orange Chicken in an AirFryer
Place the chicken in a single layer on the air fryer basket that has been sprayed with Olive Oil. I don’t recommend stacking the chicken but a little overlaying is fine. Then spray the chicken with Olive oil so it will get nice and crispy.
Bake at 380 degrees for 5 min. Pause the air fryer and then shake the chicken. Bake for another 5 min and repeat process for another 5 min or until chicken is no longer pink inside. About 15 min total. While the chicken is cooking prepare the orange sauce.
How to Cook Orange Chicken in a Skillet
Heat some olive oil in a medium sized skillet over medium high heat. Wait a minute or two for it to sizzle and come to heat.
Place your chicken in the heated skillet. Heat for about 10-12 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink, stirring often.
How to Make the Orange Sauce
In a skillet mix together the Orange Marmalade, minced garlic, orange juice, ginger, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, and sriracha sauce. Heat the mixture on the stove on medium heat until it’s bubbly.
When the chicken is done cooking, place it into the Skillet with the orange sauce and let it come to a gentle boil. The sauce should thicken as it simmers. If it doesn’t thicken add in 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch and whisk.
Eat the chicken as it is or put it over a bed of rice.
Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
ENJOY!!
AirFryer Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken tenders cut up into bite size pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1/3 cup corn starch
- 1 tbsp garlic salt
- 1/2 cup orange marmalade
- 1 cup orange juice
- 3 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2-1 tbsp sriracha sauce (more or less depending on how hot you like it)
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger (or 1/2 tsp minced ginger)
- pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
Instructions
Marinade Chicken
- Place cut up chicken pieces in a large zip lock baggie. Pour into the baggie the Buttermilk and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for about 30 min.
- In a shallow plate whisk together the Flour, Cornstarch, Garlic Salt
- Shake the excess buttermilk from the chicken and coat with the flour/cornstarch mixture.
- Shake off excess flour.
AirFryer Cooking Method
- Place chicken in a single layer of the air fryer basket that has been sprayed with Olive Oil. I don’t recommend stacking the chicken but a little overlaying is fine. Then spray the chicken with Olive oil so it will get crispy.
- Bake at 380 degrees for 5 min. Pause air fryer and shake the chicken. Bake for another 5 min. Repeat process for another 5 min or until chicken is no longer pink inside. About 15 min total While cooking prepare the orange sauce.
Skillet Cooking Method
- In a medium sized skillet over medium heat, add a little olive oil and wait for it to sizzle.
- Place the chicken in the hot and ready skillet for about 10-12 minutes, stirring often until the chicken is cooked thoroughly and no longer pink in the center.
How to make the Orange Sauce
- In a skillet mix together the Orange Marmalade, minced garlic, orange juice, ginger, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar and sriracha sauce. Heat on stove on medium until bubbly.
- When chicken is done cooking place into the Skillet with the orange sauce and let it come to a gentle boil. Sauce should thicken as it simmers. If it doesn’t thicken add 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch and whisk.
- Eat chicken as it is or put it over rice.
- Garnish with green onion, and sesame seeds and ENJOY!!
Nutrition
Can I Make the Orange Sauce In a Bowl in The Microwave?
While I have not personally done this, you can! Just keep in mind that you will need to cook it a little longer in order for the sauce to thicken into that nice thick glaze we’re looking for. A reminder that when you place the chicken in the sauce, it will thicken due to the cornstarch that the chicken is breaded with.
How Do I Reheat Orange Chicken?
I recommend putting a little bit of oil in a frying pan and heating the chicken until it has been heated through and registers 165 degrees. This will help to cook it quickly without sacrificing some of the textures.
Other Asian Inspired Recipes To Satisfy The Cravings for Chinese Food
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Asian BBQ Chicken Wontons
- Easy Broccoli Beef
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
- Asian Chicken Noodle Salad
- Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
- Asian Coconut 5 Spice Chicken & Asparagus
- Easy Chicken Fried Rice
- Mongolian Beef with Vegetables
You are going to love this Air Fryer Orange Chicken Recipe! It’s so good and refreshing you’ll wish you had made more. Homemade Orange Chicken made with a sweet & savory orange sauce and tender breaded chicken. This orange chicken recipe with orange marmalade is simple and perfect alongside white rice!
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