Whip up this flavorful and easy Orange Chicken Stir Fry the next time you are in the mood for take out! Crispy, juicy chicken pieces are coated in a tangy orange sauce, paired with crisp veggies, and can be served over a bed of fluffy rice. It's a delicious weeknight meal the whole family will love!
Season the chicken with the spices and then coat each piece with flour.
Air Fryer Chicken
Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
Add the seasoned chicken to the air fryer basket. Spray the chicken with oil.
Air fry the chicken at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Open the air fryer and flip the chicken. If you see any white spots on the chicken from the flour, spray the areas with cooking oil.
Air fry for an additional 5-7 minutes or until the chicken is crisp.
Baked Chicken
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Place the chicken on a parchment paper lined sheet pan or baking sheet. Spray the chicken with oil.
Bake for 10 minutes. Flip and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until the chicken in crisp. If you see any white spots on the chicken from the flour, spray the areas with cooking oil as the chicken bakes.
Sauce and Stir Fry
Place a skillet on the stove at medium-high heat. Add the vegetables and sautee until soft and fragrant. Remove the vegetables and set aside. Depending on the type of pan you use, you may need to oil the pan for this step.
Add in all of the ingredients for the sauce (except the cornstarch and water). Stir to combine. Mix well until the sugar or sweetener has dissolved.The orange zest will mostly dissolve once the sauce has simmered. If you prefer a smoother texture, you can strain out the orange zest.
Combine the cornstarch and water in a bowl and stir well to fully incorporate. This will create a slurry to thicken the sauce.
Add the slurry to the sauce mixture. Stir repeatedly to avoid clumping. The sauce will take a few minutes to thicken.
Add the chicken and vegetables to the sauce and serve.
Notes
If you don't wish to make crispy chicken, you can sear the vegetables on the stove with the vegetables.Be sure to mix the cornstarch and water completely to avoid clumping and lumps in the sauce.Either cornstarch or flour can be used to thicken the sauce. Cornstarch creates a clear, glossy sauce. It thickens quickly and effectively, usually requiring less time to cook than flour. It will have a slightly more “gel-like” texture when thickening sauces compared to flour.Flour can withstand longer cooking times without breaking down, making it suitable for dishes that require extended simmering or baking like gravy, stews, or soups. It requires more heat and cooking time to reach its full thickening potential compared to cornstarch.Whichever ingredient you choose to use, be sure to mix it well and fully incorporate it with water. If you don’t mix it well you will notice white clumps in your sauce.It is also crucial to stir the sauce continuously once you’ve added the thickening agent to the sauce to prevent lumps and ensure even thickening. Thickening may take a few minutes, so be patient and allow the sauce to simmer gently while stirring.
