This air fryer orange chicken is crispy, juicy, and coated in a zesty homemade orange sauce that's healthier and tastier than takeout. It's ready in under 15 minutes, gluten-free, and made without refined sugar, oil, or flour. A quick, flavorful dinner the whole family will love!
Update: This recipe was originally published in November 2021. I've updated it with more details, helpful tips, and step-by-step photos to show how easy it is to make air fryer orange chicken at home!
I’ve always loved orange chicken, but the takeout version is often loaded with sugar, oil, and flour. That’s why I set out to create a healthier, homemade version that doesn’t sacrifice any flavor. I wanted something quick, easy, and just as delicious—perfect for weeknights when you’re craving takeout but want to keep it light. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about recreating a classic dish with fresh, wholesome ingredients. This orange chicken is very similar to my healthy air fryer teriyaki chicken!
This orange chicken recipe is made with healthy swaps like fresh orange juice, honey instead of brown sugar, and no oil or flour. The chicken turns out perfectly crispy in the air fryer, and the sauce is tangy, sweet, and full of flavor. It’s also great for meal prep since you can store it in the fridge for up to five days, making it a lifesaver for busy weeks.
Healthy, flavorful, and easy—this orange chicken checks all the boxes!
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Why you'll love this air fryer recipe:
- 15-Minute Recipe: A super quick and easy meal that's perfect for busy weeknights.
- Healthy & Sweetened Naturally: The chicken is coated in a homemade orange sauce sweetened with freshly squeezed orange juice, so there is no refined cane sugar!
- No Oil or Flour Needed: Skip the mess of frying and breading your orange chicken. This recipe is healthier without sacrificing flavor.
- Crispy & Juicy: Tender chicken bites with perfectly crisp edges.
- Fits All Diets: It's naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo-friendly, so everyone can enjoy this recipe.
- Meal Prep Friendly: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple and healthy ingredients to make this delicious air fryer orange chicken. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and packed with over 26 grams of protein per serving. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Chicken - Use three boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Cut them into bite-sized pieces for air frying.
- Sesame Oil - Just 1 teaspoon gives that classic orange chicken flavor.
- Arrowroot Starch - Makes the chicken crispy in the air fryer without oil, flour, or eggs, and also thickens the orange sauce. Substitutes are listed below if you don’t have it.
- Fresh Oranges - Juice 2–3 fresh oranges and zest one for the best flavor. You can use no-sugar-added orange juice from the store if needed.
- Chicken Broth or Bone Broth - Either will help form the base of the healthier orange sauce.
- Soy Sauce - Low-sodium soy sauce works great, or use tamari for a gluten-free option.
- Rice Vinegar - Adds a tangy kick to balance the flavors.
- Honey - This is my secret ingredient for naturally sweetening the orange sauce. Unlike most recipes that use brown sugar or cane sugar, honey keeps it wholesome and adds a rich flavor.
- Garlic & Ginger - I highly recommend using freshly minced garlic and grated ginger for the best flavor. Trust me, it’s worth it over powdered versions!
- Salt and Pepper - Adjust to your taste.
Instructions
This delicious, healthy air fryer orange chicken comes together in under 15 minutes. It’s an easy weeknight dinner and meal prep recipe everyone will love! Here are detailed step-by-step instructions with pictures for visual reference so any level cook can make them; scroll to the bottom of this post for the full recipe and ingredient measurements.
Preheat your air fryer to 360°F and toss the chicken pieces with arrowroot starch and sesame oil in a large mixinga bowl.
Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer (work in batches if needed).
Air fry for 8–10 minutes, or until the chicken is crispy and reaches 165°F internally.
While the chicken cooks, zest one orange and dissolve the arrowroot starch in the chicken broth. Set these aside.
In a saucepan, mix orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, garlic, and ginger. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low. Stir in the arrowroot starch mixture.
Add the orange zest and simmer for 3–4 minutes, whisking until the sauce thickens. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
Toss the cooked chicken in the saucepan with the orange sauce until fully coated.
Serve the orange chicken warm over rice with vegetables like broccoli, and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Air Fryer Orange Chicken Video Tutorial
Top tips
- Space Out the Chicken: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Keeping the chicken pieces in a single layer ensures even cooking and makes them crispy. If your air fryer is small, cook in batches.
- Don’t Skip the Orange Zest: Orange zest is the key to getting that bold, fresh flavor. Make sure you have at least one orange for zesting—it really makes a difference!
- Use Starch, Not Flour: Coat the chicken with arrowroot starch, cornstarch, or tapioca flour instead of regular flour. It creates a crispier texture without needing oil or eggs.
Substations & Variations
- Make it Gluten-Free - This recipe is naturally gluten-free. Just be sure to coat your chicken with arrowroot starch, tapioca flour, or gluten-free cornstarch.
- Make it Dairy-Free - This orange chicken is already dairy-free, so no need for substitutions here!
- Make it Spicy - Add a teaspoon of red chili flakes!
- Fresh Orange Juice - If you only have one orange, you can substitute it with store-bought organic juice (look for one with no added sugar). Just don’t skip the orange zest—it adds key flavor!
- Rice Vinegar - You can swap rice vinegar with white wine vinegar in a 1:1 ratio.
- Fresh Ginger - If you don’t have fresh ginger, use one teaspoon of ground ginger as a substitute. I always recommend trying to get your hands on fresh ginger since it tastes much better.
- Chicken Broth - Feel free to use chicken bone broth or vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a lighter option.
- Honey - You can replace honey with maple syrup, coconut sugar, or light brown sugar.
- Arrowroot Starch - If you don’t have arrowroot starch, tapioca flour or cornstarch are great alternatives.
- Soy Sauce - Use tamari instead of soy sauce if you need a gluten-free version.
Equipment
Equipment can make a big difference in how your air fryer orange chicken turns out. Here's what you'll need:
- Air Fryer
- Mixing bowl
- Saucepan
- Stirring utensil
- Measuring cups and spoons
What to serve with orange chicken
To make your homemade orange chicken a complete meal, pair it with these tasty sides:
- Steamed Rice: Brown rice or Jasmine rice works great!
- Vegetables: Try steamed broccoli, air fryer shishito peppers, or air fryer green beans.
- Noodles: Lo mein or rice noodles are perfect options.
- Salad: A refreshing spicy cucumber salad pairs nicely.
- Fried Rice: A healthier version of fried rice is always a hit.
- Spring Rolls: Try these homemade air fryer spring rolls (so good)!
- Quinoa or Couscous: Switch up rice with quinoa or couscous for a different grain option.
- Pickled Vegetables: Add some tangy pickled cucumbers or carrots to balance the sweetness of the chicken.
Storage
Store leftover air fryer orange chicken in airtight containers in the fridge for 3-4 days. When you're ready to reheat, preheat your air fryer to 350°F and cook for 5-7 minutes until heated through and crispy. Depending on your microwave's strength, you can also reheat in the microwave for 1-5 minutes. To keep the chicken moist, place a wet paper towel on top while microwaving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken can become rubbery in the air fryer if it’s overcooked or cooked at too high a temperature, which dries it out. For juicier chicken, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket, as this can cause the chicken to lose moisture and take longer to cook, leading to dryness. Make sure the chicken pieces are spaced out for even cooking and crispiness.
To reheat orange chicken and keep it crispy, preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place the chicken in the basket in a single layer and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through and crispy. This method helps the chicken stay crunchy without drying it out.
Traditionally, orange chicken is not spicy. However, some recipes may include chili flakes or other spicy ingredients for added heat. Feel free to spice it up with red chili flakes if you like it hot!
Yes, you can use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. Just reduce the air frying time by 2 minutes, checking to ensure the center of the chicken reaches 165°F.
This homemade air fryer orange chicken recipe is healthy because it’s refined sugar-free, using fresh oranges and a bit of honey for sweetness. There’s no added oil, and the chicken is not deep-fried. It's high in protein, gluten-free, and flourless, made with simple, nourishing ingredients.
Yes, you can freeze air fryer orange chicken. Allow it to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
More air fryer recipes!
If you liked this healthy orange chicken, here are some more air fryer recipes you might like:
Did you make this recipe?
Don't forget to leave a review and let me know how it turned out! And tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram with #healthfulblondie—I'd love to see and share your creations!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Orange Chicken
Ingredients
The Chicken:
- 1 pound chicken breast, skinless and boneless, cut into 1-inch bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoon arrowroot starch
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Sesame seeds and green onion, for garnish
The Healthy Orange Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch
- 1 cup orange juice, about large 3 oranges
- ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce, or tamari if gluten-free
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon orange zest, about 1 large orange
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the chicken pieces with arrowroot starch and sesame oil.
- Once the air fryer is heated, spray it with cooking spray and add the chicken to the basket, ensuring the pieces are spaced out and not overlapping. If your air fryer is small, do this in two batches.
- Air fry for 8–10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- While the chicken is cooking, zest one orange and dissolve the arrowroot starch in the chicken broth. Set both aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine fresh orange juice, low-sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, garlic, and ginger. Bring the sauce to a quick boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and whisk in the arrowroot starch broth.
- Add the orange zest and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, whisking continually until the sauce thickens. Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Add the cooked chicken pieces to the saucepan with the orange sauce. Gently toss to coat and remove from heat.
- Serve the orange chicken warm on a bed of rice with a side of your favorite vegetables (I love broccoli). Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Enjoy your delicious air-fried orange chicken!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Saskia says
Super good. I thought that the recipe was easy to follow and the orange sauce was not difficult to make. I did use cornstarch and it turned out well. I will be making again soon - thank you.
Andrea says
SO GOOD! Thanks for such an amazing recipe. It was easy to make and really flavorful (how is this healthy?!)
Kylie says
Unreal how good this was...... made this for me and my boyfriend last week! Incredibly easy and flavorful! Def make these if you have a air fryer.
Kate says
Easy, delicious, and so easy. This orange sauce is AMAZING!
Lisa Anderson says
It was delicious
Lisa says
This was delicious I maybe should’ve used less orange zest.However it was my first time cooking an Asian dinner.
I will definitely be making this again.