Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken in Air Fryer Recipe

This crispy, sticky Trader Joes Orange Chicken Air Fryer recipe is made with just the frozen bag contents and ready in under 20 minutes. The hot air circulation creates a golden, crunchy coating that holds up perfectly against the glossy mandarin sauce. I prefer this method over the oven because the chicken never gets soggy.

Better Than Takeaway

I used to bake this chicken in the oven, but the bottom pieces always turned out soft and greasy. Using the air fryer completely changed the texture for me, creating a shell that actually stays crunchy even after you add the sauce.

The only mistake I made initially was adding the sauce packet to the basket during cooking to warm it up. This creates a sticky mess that burns quickly, so always keep the sauce separate until the very end for the best results.

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Trader Joes Orange Chicken Air Fryer Ingredients

• 1 bag (22 oz) Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken (frozen)
• Optional: 1 tbsp Green onions (sliced, for garnish)
• Optional: 1 tsp Sesame seeds (for garnish)
• Optional: Non-stick cooking spray

How To Make Trader Joes Orange Chicken Air Fryer

1. Preheat: Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and let it heat up for 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Arrange Chicken: Place the frozen chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap too much.
3. Air Fry: Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket vigorously halfway through to ensure even browning.
4. Warm Sauce: While the chicken cooks, place the sauce packets in a bowl of warm water or microwave them in a safe dish for 1 minute.
5. Combine: Transfer the crispy chicken to a large bowl, pour the warm sauce over it, and toss immediately until coated.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t overcrowd: If you have a small basket, cook the chicken in two batches to ensure every piece gets crispy rather than steamed.
• Check for crispiness: The chicken should be deep golden brown; add 2 extra minutes if you prefer a harder crunch.
• Sauce timing: Wait to toss the chicken in the sauce until you are ready to plate it, otherwise the breading will soften.

What To Serve With Trader Joes Orange Chicken

Steamed jasmine rice or brown rice is the standard pairing as it soaks up the extra mandarin glaze beautifully. A side of roasted broccoli or stir-fried snap peas adds necessary freshness and crunch to balance the sweet sauce.

How To Store

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the chicken back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes to crisp the breading back up.

FAQs

• Do I need to thaw the chicken first? No, you should cook the chicken straight from frozen to maintain the best texture and food safety.
• Can I put the sauce in the air fryer? No, the sugar in the sauce will burn rapidly and stick to your basket, making cleanup very difficult.
• Is this gluten-free? No, the breading on the Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken contains wheat flour.

Nutrition

• Calories: 320
• Total Fat: 16g
• Saturated Fat: 2.5g
• Cholesterol: 65mg
• Sodium: 430mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 43g
• Protein: 21g