Air Fried Panda Express Orange Chicken
Air Fried Panda Express Orange Chicken
Ingredients
For the Orange Sauce
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup light orange juice
- 1/4 cup sugar-free maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (for slurry)
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs, skinless, boneless, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger, ground
- 1/2 cup cornstarch, for coating
For Serving
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish
- 4 cups cooked rice, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the orange sauce: Heat a large pan or wok over medium heat. Add the chicken stock, minced garlic, soy sauce, light orange juice, sugar-free maple syrup, and grated ginger to the pan. Stir to combine.
⏱️ 3 min
- 2
Add the red pepper flakes to the sauce. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Once simmering, slowly whisk in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with cold water). Continue to stir until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Prepare the chicken: Place the cut chicken thigh pieces into a large bowl. Season the chicken with black pepper, garlic powder, and ground ginger. Toss to coat evenly.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Add the 1/2 cup of cornstarch to the seasoned chicken. Mix thoroughly by hand, ensuring each piece of chicken is fully coated with the cornstarch.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Cook the chicken: Preheat your air fryer to 390°F. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
⏱️ 2 min•🌡️ 390
- 6
Air fry the chicken for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
⏱️ 18 min•🌡️ 390
- 7
Combine chicken and sauce: Once all the chicken is cooked, transfer it to the pan with the prepared orange sauce. Stir well to coat all the chicken pieces thoroughly with the sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Serve: Serve the Air Fried Panda Express Orange Chicken immediately over cooked rice. Garnish with sesame seeds.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
For the Orange Sauce
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup light orange juice
- 1/4 cup sugar-free maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (for slurry)
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs, skinless, boneless, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger, ground
- 1/2 cup cornstarch, for coating
For Serving
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish
- 4 cups cooked rice, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the orange sauce: Heat a large pan or wok over medium heat. Add the chicken stock, minced garlic, soy sauce, light orange juice, sugar-free maple syrup, and grated ginger to the pan. Stir to combine.
⏱️ 3 min - 2
Add the red pepper flakes to the sauce. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Once simmering, slowly whisk in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with cold water). Continue to stir until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Prepare the chicken: Place the cut chicken thigh pieces into a large bowl. Season the chicken with black pepper, garlic powder, and ground ginger. Toss to coat evenly.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Add the 1/2 cup of cornstarch to the seasoned chicken. Mix thoroughly by hand, ensuring each piece of chicken is fully coated with the cornstarch.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Cook the chicken: Preheat your air fryer to 390°F. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
⏱️ 2 min•🌡️ 390 - 6
Air fry the chicken for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
⏱️ 18 min•🌡️ 390 - 7
Combine chicken and sauce: Once all the chicken is cooked, transfer it to the pan with the prepared orange sauce. Stir well to coat all the chicken pieces thoroughly with the sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Serve: Serve the Air Fried Panda Express Orange Chicken immediately over cooked rice. Garnish with sesame seeds.