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.
Fast and Easy!
The air fryer is the best way to cook Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken. Period.
There are so many frozen meals that give you directions for making them in the oven. Buuuut 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!
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!)
What You’ll Need
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!
Done in 6 steps!
- 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 bowl. 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.
How to heat up the sauce
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.
Here are my recommendations for heating the sauce:
- Microwave: 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.
Here’s how to Serve it
Steamed rice and a simple veggie side is the way to go!
Make your frozen orange chicken dinner extra fancy by garnishing the plates with fresh parsley, sesame seeds, or sliced green onion.
Try pairing it with some other air fryer Chinese food dishes, like our Air Fryer Frozen Dumplings, or Air Fryer Fried Rice.
Tips and tricks for this chicken
- Don’t Put The Sauce In The Air Fryer! You’ll add the sauce to the chicken after it’s cooked and crispy.
- Always cook orange chicken in the air fryer while it’s still frozen.
- These instructions will work for any type of frozen chicken: Aldi’s frozen orange chicken, PF Chang’s, General Tso’s, etc.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Arrange the pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- You Don’t Have to Use All of the Sauce: Save the other for dipping frozen meatballs into later.
FAQs
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.
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.
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
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 🙂