Ninja Foodi Orange Chicken
Ninja Foodi Orange Chicken is the perfect way to enjoy your favorite Chinese dish at home. It is simple to make and ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes. You can easily make extra batches to enjoy as well because everyone knows that Orange chicken is everyone’s favorite.
Ninja Foodi Orange Chicken
Orange chicken is one of our favorite Chinese dishes and I have to say making it in my Ninja Foodi is my favorite way to cook it! Ninja Foodi Orange Chicken is super crispy on the outside and nice and moist and tender on the inside. We always pair it with our Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken and our homemade Wonton Soup for the perfect night in making homemade Chinese food. Once you make this dish you will realize how easy it is and it will become your go-to Chinese dish to make at home.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 chicken breasts, skinless, boneless, and cubed in 1-inch pieces (The chicken was 1.75 pounds. If you have small breasts you may need more.)
- ½ cup of cornstarch (overcoating the chicken pieces with too much cornstarch will make the bites chalky.)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (you can use either smoke or sweet, whatever you prefer. I used smoked paprika)
- ½ cup BBQ sauce (you can make your own or store-bought. I used Sticky Sweet from Stubb’s)
- ½ cup orange juice (no pulp)
- ½ cup orange marmalade
- 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
How to Make Ninja Orange Chicken
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika. Mix until blended.
- Add the chicken bites and coat them with the cornstarch mixture.
- Place in the air fryer basket and air fryer at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes, flip, and air fry for an additional 4 minutes. (internal temperature should be 165 degrees F.
*NOTE* When placing it in the air fryer make sure you don’t overpack it. Place enough pieces so there is space in between each for more even cooking. You may need to make a few batches. I had to make 3 batches.
- Once the chicken is all cooked. Take the air fryer basket out.
- Using the cooking pot (inside gray liner), set the Ninja Foodi to Air Fry/Stovetop setting and turn the dial to Saute/Sear. Let it warm up for 1 minute.
- Add the BBQ sauce, orange juice, orange marmalade, brown sugar, and water. Stir until all ingredients are combined.
- Bring to a boil (about 4 or so minutes), once it is boiling add the chicken.
- Mix to coat the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Tips Tricks and FAQs
- Be sure to use chicken breasts when making this recipe. Chicken filets are too thin and the recipe will not turn out how you would like it to.
- This is best served over rice or pasta.
- You can garnish the tops with sesame seeds and chopped green onions if you prefer.
- Use your favorite BBQ sauce for this recipe.
- If your BBQ sauce is sweeter and you want to make this dish a little spicier, add ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the BBQ sauce. Taste it and see if it is spicy enough, if it is not, add a touch more.
- You can easily double or triple this recipe, but you may just have to cook it in batches.
Title for This Block
Store your leftover orange chicken in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Can you make Ninja Foodi Orange chicken ahead of time?
Yes! You can make this ahead of time! Prep your chicken bites, rub them with seasoning and then place them in an airtight plastic bag and place them in the fridge.
When you are ready to cook them, sprinkle them with cornstarch and then cook as directed.
Ninja Foodi Orange Chicken
Ninja Foodi Orange Chicken is the perfect way to enjoy your favorite Chinese dish at home. It is simple to make and ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes. You can easily make extra batches to enjoy as well because everyone knows that Orange chicken is everyone’s favorite.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, skinless, boneless, and cubed in 1-inch pieces (The chicken was 1.75 pounds. If you have small breasts you may need more.)
- ½ cup of cornstarch (overcoating the chicken pieces with too much cornstarch will make the bites chalky.)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (you can use either smoke or sweet, whatever you prefer. I used smoked paprika)
- ½ cup BBQ sauce (you can make your own or store-bought. I used Sticky Sweet from Stubb’s)
- ½ cup orange juice (no pulp)
- ½ cup orange marmalade
- 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika. Mix until blended.
- Add the chicken bites and coat them with the cornstarch mixture.
- Place in the air fryer basket and air fryer at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes, flip, and air fry for an additional 4 minutes. (internal temperature should be 165 degrees F. *NOTE* When placing it in the air fryer make sure you don’t overpack it. Place enough pieces so there is space in between each for more even cooking. You may need to make a few batches. I had to make 3 batches.
- Once the chicken is all cooked. Take the air fryer basket out.
- Using the cooking pot (inside gray liner), set the Ninja Foodi to Air Fry/Stovetop setting and turn the dial to Saute/Sear. Let it warm up for 1 minute.
- Add the BBQ sauce, orange juice, orange marmalade, brown sugar, and water. Stir until all ingredients are combined.
- Bring to a boil (about 4 or so minutes), once it is boiling add the chicken.
- Mix to coat the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 347Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 962mgCarbohydrates: 62gFiber: 1gSugar: 41gProtein: 19g
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!