Air Fryer Orange Chicken (Panda Express Copycat)

You are going to love this Panda Express Copycat Air Fryer Orange Chicken recipe. It’s easy to make, and takes just 20 minutes.

Suitable for gluten free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Air Fryer Orange Chicken

This takeout classic is so easy to make at home, and this recipe is better than Panda’s Orange Chicken.

Air frying the chicken eliminates the use of a deep fryer, and the homemade sauce is made with fresh ingredients, so no nasties. You can save money and keep your family happy with a delicious meal.

You’ll never want to order the takeout version again! More recipes you love include Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken and definitely better than restaurant take-out Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken.

Why Make This Recipe

• Better Than Takeout – Cheaper, healthier, and tastier than takeout!
• Healthier – Get crispy chicken without deep frying and a tasty orange sauce made with fresh ingredients. 
• Loved By Picky Eaters – Picky eaters and kids will love this recipe!

What’s Needed

You only need a few ingredients to make this delicious recipe.

• Chicken – Both chicken breast and chicken thigh meat are tasty in this recipe. I prefer chicken thighs as they’re generally less expensive and incredibly flavorful in this recipe. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces
• Cornstarch – Cornstarch will give the chicken crispiness and will also thicken the glaze via a cornstarch slurry. 
• Orange Juice – Use orange juice or the juice from 2 medium oranges from the grocery store. Add the zest as well for the most orange flavor. 
• Brown Sugar – Adds a caramel sweetness. 
• Gluten-Free Soy Sauce – Not all soy sauce is gluten-free so check the packaging closely. 
• Rice Wine Vinegar – Rice vinegar is milder and slightly sweeter than white vinegar. Use white vinegar if you don’t have rice.
• Sesame oil – This toasty oil adds a signature Asian flavor. Substitute olive oil or canola oil if necessary, but it will change the overall flavor.
• Garlic – Gives dishes a warm, spicy bite. Add more or less to your liking. 
• Ginger – Ginger gives this dish a spicy, earthy flavor.

Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!

For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Air Fryer Tools on Amazon.

How To Make This

The prep is minimal, and this fake-away will be ready in no time. Get the full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. In a medium bowl, coat chicken evenly in cornstarch. Lay chicken pieces in a single layer in your air fryer basket and air fry for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C or until golden brown and cooked through. Shake the chicken halfway through cooking. 
2. Whilst the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce by combining the sauce ingredients in a saucepan and cooking over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until the sauce thickens. 
3. Add the air-fried chicken pieces to the sauce and toss to coat before serving.

Bintu’s Tips And Variations

Love air fryer Chinese recipes, then here are some tips to make this turn out well.

• Be sure to shake off any excess corn starch from the chicken, or it may become gummy or burn during cooking. Turn or shake the chicken halfway through air frying.
• Make sure the air fryer basket is not crowded, or rather, cook the chicken in batches.
• Check for doneness with a meat thermometer. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C before consuming. 
• Garnish the finished chicken with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. I prefer using toasted sesame seeds.
• Add red pepper flakes or chili garlic oil to the sauce to make it spicy. 
• The longer you simmer the sauce, the thicker it will become. Just keep an eye on it so it does not burn. You can add another teaspoon of cornstarch and make a slurry, and add it in to cook for another minute if you want it even thicker.
• If you have too thick a sauce, then thin it down with some water or orange juice.
• You don’t need to use oil or cooking spray for the cubed chicken. It cooks up perfectly without it. But if you prefer to, then use a little bit for cooking.

Storage

• Prep Ahead – The chicken can be cooked in advance and reheated before adding it to the sauce. The chicken, however, may not be as crispy. 
• Store – Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. 
• Freeze – We do not recommend freezing this recipe. 
• Reheat – If you think you will have leftovers, we recommend that you keep the chicken and the sauce separate. Put the chicken into the air fryer and cook for 3-4 minutes at 350 degrees F / 176 degrees C. Reheat the sauce in the microwave or on the stove and mix it with the reheated chicken. 

Weight Watchers Points

There are 3 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

Check out these weeknight dinner favorites

You can try Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken, better than take-out Air Fryer General Tsos Chicken, and delicious Kung Pao Chicken.

Or this family-friendly Air Fryer Fried Chicken, and the best Copycat Chipotle Chicken.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with Instant Pot Coconut Rice, stir-fried veggies, or noodles to make this chicken a full meal.

Get The Orange Chicken Air Fryer Recipe: