Trader Joe’s makes some amazing frozen products, and their mandarin orange chicken is one of the most popular. This Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken Air Fryer Recipe will help you to make this delicious Chinese chicken in just minutes.
DIRECTIONS FOR TRADER JOE’S ORANGE CHICKEN AIR FRYER
The air fryer is the best way to cook Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken.
There are so many frozen meals that give you directions for making them in the oven. This is great, but the purpose of convenience food like Trader Joe’s orange chicken is for it to be fast and easy to make – and it takes more than 20 minutes to bake in the oven!
I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time for that. If I had time, I’d make Air Fryer Orange Chicken from scratch instead!
And, it turns out that Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken comes out better in the air fryer than any other method I’ve tried (I might even like it better than the homemade version!)
I’ve tested this method multiple times, and I’ve perfected it! Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken in the air fryer is the best way to cook it, hands down.
You can air fry Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken, directly from frozen, in under 15 minutes! It’s amazingly crispy, and super easy to make in your trusty air fryer.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE MAKING TRADER JOE’S ORANGE CHICKEN IN THE AIR FRYER
It’s Just Like Take Out – The entirety of the internet agrees, Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken tastes the most like your favorite Chinese food restaurant dish. Skip the trip to Panda Express, and enjoy a $5 Trader Joe’s meal instead.
No Dishes – You’ll need to clean the air fryer of course, but otherwise, the clean up for this recipe is super simple! There’s no pan to clean, or oil to clean off of your stovetop.
An Appetizer or a Main Dish – There’s enough in the package for four small servings, or two large ones. You can also serve orange chicken on a platter with toothpicks at your next dinner party.
INGREDIENTS IN TRADER JOE’S ORANGE CHICKEN AIR FRYER
A Package of Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken – This is the only thing you need. The frozen chicken pieces and delicious sauce are right in the bag. Technically, It’s called “Trader Ming’s” Mandarin Orange Chicken.
Here’s a TJ’s pro tip: Find out when your Trader Joe’s stocks the freezer section. At my store, the orange chicken and frozen potstickers are often sold out!
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you ASAP
HOW TO MAKE TRADER JOE’S ORANGE CHICKEN AIR FRYER
- Remove the sauce packets from the packaging and set them aside for later.
- Add the chicken pieces into the air fryer basket in a single layer. If you’re using a small air fryer, you can cook the chicken in batches. Don’t add the sauce yet!
- Air Fry as directed in the recipe card below, for about 14 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown, and the internal temperature is at least 165°F/74°C.
- Warm up the orange sauce by placing the contents of the packets into a large microwaveable bow. Microwave for 30-45 seconds, or until heated through.
- Add the air fried orange chicken to the sauce, and toss to make sure every piece is coated.
- Serve immediately.
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH TRADER JOE’S ORANGE CHICKEN
Steamed rice and a simple veggie side will turn mandarin orange chicken in the air fryer into a complete and tasty meal!
You might also like to make some other air fryer Chinese food dishes, like our Air Fryer Frozen Dumplings, or Air Fryer Fried Rice.
Make your frozen orange chicken dinner extra fancy by garnishing the plates with fresh parsley, sesame seeds, or sliced green onion.
FROZEN ORANGE CHICKEN TIPS
Other Brands Work Too: This recipe works perfectly for making crispy Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken in the air fryer, but you can also use your air fryer to make other brands of frozen orange chicken.
Try Aldi’s frozen orange chicken, PF Chang’s, or InnovAsion versions.
You can make frozen General Tso’s chicken in exactly the same way too.
We haven’t tested vegan versions of frozen Orange Chicken, but I think you can use this method as well. Just keep an eye on it in the air fryer, as it may cook more quickly.
If you’re looking for a similar vegetarian dish, Try making Tofu Manchurian in the Air Fryer.
Don’t Thaw The Chicken: Always cook orange chicken in the air fryer while it’s still frozen.
Don’t Put The Sauce In The Air Fryer! You’ll add the sauce to the chicken after it’s cooked and crispy.
Avoid Overcrowding: Because the air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food, it’s important that the frozen chicken has space. Arrange the pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
You Don’t Have to Use All of the Sauce: If you want the chicken less sauce, just use one packet. Save the other for dipping frozen meatballs into later.
HOW LONG DO YOU COOK TRADER JOE’S ORANGE CHICKEN IN THE AIR FRYER?
It takes about 14 minutes to cook frozen mandarin orange chicken in the air fryer. Of course, all air fryers cook differently, so be sure to check on your chicken as it’s cooking, and adjust as needed.
Your chicken might be ready after 11 or 12 minutes, or you might need 15-16 minutes to get it perfectly crispy.
IS TRADER JOE’S ORANGE CHICKEN PRE COOKED?
It is, but you still need to heat it in order to eat it. For food safety, you should be sure that frozen pre-cooked chicken is re-heated to a temperature over 165°F/64°C.
HOW DO YOU HEAT UP THE SAUCE FOR TRADER JOE’S ORANGE CHICKEN IN AIR FRYER?
I don’t recommend heating the orange chicken sauce in the air fryer. There are certain things that you just shouldn’t put in the air fryer, and sauces are one of them.
Microwave: I recommend this method. Add the sauce (not the plastic packaging though) to a microwaveable bowl, and microwave at 30-second intervals until warmed through.
Stovetop: You can also warm orange chicken sauce on the stove, over low heat.
Counter: Another way is to simply thaw the sauce, rather than heating it up. You can do this by placing the packet in a bowl of hot water while your chicken is in the air fryer.
CAN I SKIP THE SAUCE?
Yes, these little chicken nuggets are delicious even without the addictive sweet and savory orange sauce. Kids might enjoy them dipped in ketchup or ranch dressing instead.
IS TRADER JOE’S ORANGE CHICKEN WHITE MEAT?
No, this chicken is made with whole pieces of dark meat chicken, which is how most Chinese restaurants do it too.
MORE EASY AIR FRYER RECIPES
Frozen foods like Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken make fast and simple dinners in the air fryer.
Frozen Popcorn Shrimp in the Air Fryer is cooked in less than 10 minutes. Serve it with cocktail sauce or tartar sauce and some crispy air fryer french fries.
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders are just as good as you’d get in a restaurant. Serve these with all of your favorite dipping sauces, or slice them up and add them to a green salad.
Have you made this recipe? Please leave a comment AND rating below! It helps other readers!
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Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 package Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken
Instructions
- Remove the frozen chicken from the packaging and set aside the sauce packets.
- Place the frozen orange chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not add the sauce from the sauce packet yet.
- Air fry at 400°F/200°C for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is crispy and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
- Place the sauce packet contents into a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30-45 seconds, until warmed through.
- Add the air fried chicken to the sauce and toss to coat.
- Serve immediately with rice and chopped parsley if desired.
Video
Notes
- Please refer to the packaging of the Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken for the nutritional values for this recipe.
- The Trader Joe’s orange chicken comes with two sauce packets. Do not add the sauce to the chicken before air frying as the chicken won’t get crispy and you’ll end up with a big mess. Instead, warm the sauce while the chicken is cooking in the air fryer and then toss to coat just before serving. You can use one or both sauce packets depending on how saucy you like your chicken.
- You can microwave the sauce in a microwave-safe bowl because it’s really quick and easy. However, if you don’t have a microwave or prefer to use another method, you can add the sauce packet contents to a small saucepan over low heat and stir until it is warmed through.
- I like to serve this orange chicken with rice and chopped parsley. Sesame seeds and green onions are other good toppings.
- Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.
- Pro Tip: Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Sometimes airfying is a trial and error process. Check your food as it cooks to learn your air fryer better! When cooking a new recipe or food items be sure to check your food often to help avoid over/under cooking.
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
Thank you!
This orange chicken is my favorite Trader Joe’s indulgence!
And I love it a whole lot more, now that I can do it in my beloved air fryer 🙂
Tasha x
Tasha you are so welcome, this is one of my personal favorites, too!
Glad you enjoyed the tips 🙂