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We have had an air fryer built into both our oven and toaster oven for the last 3+ years. But it took until getting our Ninja Foodi for me to really get hooked on the air fryer. We literally cook everything in it. We started with little things like chicken fingers and french fries. But now we’re using it for other things — like frying fresh cod and making our own Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken!
You’ll need an air fryer and this
The recipe is super easy. And it calls for one of my husbands favorite ingredients — orange zest! Honestly, the first time I used orange zest in any recipe, my husband freaked out (in a good way)! And I’ve been hooked on zest ever since!
Here’s what else you’ll need:
- 1 chicken breast, cubed
- flour
- cornstarch
- paprika
- cayenne
- Natures Seasoning
- 2 eggs
- an orange
- soy sauce
- white vinegar
- brown sugar
- minced garlic
- cornstarch mixed with water
That’s it! Just make a side of rice (I use my Instant Pot for rice) and serve your Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken over it! If you’ve never made rice in the Instant Pot before, here’s what you need to know:
I highly recommend using jasmine rice. Measure a cup of jasmine rice. Rinse in water and then put the cup of jasmine rice in your Instant Pot. Add 1 and 1/4 cup of water to the Instant Pot. Lock and seal the Instant Pot. Set your Instant Pot to manual for 4 minutes. Once the Instant Pot timer goes off, let the IP natural release for 10 minutes. Then release the rest of pressure.
The recipe
Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast, cubed
- 1 cup of flour
- 1/3 cup of cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon of paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne
- 1/2 Tablespoon of Natures Seasoning
- 2 eggs
Sauce
- 1 orange, juiced + reserve a 1/2 Tablespoon of zest from peel
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup of white vinegar
- ½ cup of brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch, mixed with 1 tbsp water
Instructions
INGREDIENTS -
STEP 1 -
In a saucepan over medium heat, add all of the sauce ingredients and bring to a slow boil. Once slow boiling reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes.
Stir every couple of minutes to prevent sauce sticking. Let sit on warm while the chicken cooks
STEP 2-
In a mixing bowl, mix spices, flour and cornstarch.
STEP 3 -
In a separate bowl whisk egg.
STEP 4 -
Coat the chicken in the flour, and then dredge in egg.
STEP 5 -
Return chicken back to flour and fully coat.
STEP 6 -
Place breaded chicken in oil sprayed air fryer basket. Spray chicken with oil.
STEP 7 -
Cook on 380 for 10 minutes.
STEP 8 -
Once all chicken is cooked, increase sauce heat to low medium and add fried chicken. Stir until chicken is completely coated.
STEP 9 -
ENJOY over rice!
PIN FOR LATER
My family and I have never been to Panda Express sadly. I really want to try their famous orange chicken, because my daughters love anything chicken lol. Thanks for the recipe!
Okay at first I was skeptical..we love Panda’s chicken and we usually get the Trader Joe’s orange chicken to make at home, but each bag is $5 bucks and we usually need 2+ bags depending on if my sisters also drop by for dinner….But I like that your recipe has simple ingredients, the sauce seems easy enough to make. And I can totally make the breaded chicken and throw in the airfryer. Ps. I love my airfryer too, I want to cook everything in it now.
Are you kidding me? this looks amazing! I need to try it
This looks so good and probably so much healthier homemade!
I am personally not a fan of warm oranges, but I think I could switch them for pineapple 🙂
This looks so amazing! I love being able to make take out at home. Can’t wait to try this one!!
One of my favorite things to get from Panda Express!!! Now I can make it at home