Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken Air Fryer

If you are wondering how to cook Trader Joe’s orange chicken in air fryer we have the perfect temp and time to make tender meat on the inside with a crispy breading. Smother with the packet of sauce when done and it is one of our favorite dinners.

What is the best way to cook frozen orange chicken?

In the past we made a homemade version of our Instant Pot orange chicken recipe, but it doesn’t come out crispy at all. If you want to brings this bag from Trader Joe’s to the next level of YUM you should try air frying it, right out of the bag. NO defrosting required, just set the heat to cook, toss with sauce and enjoy!

We have made TONS of different air fryer dinner recipes, but this may be a favorite. I mean you can use the same directions for other store brands at the store too but this is our favorite one.

How long does it take to cook frozen orange chicken in air fryer?

With this breaded and frozen meat the overall cook time is 9-12 minutes depending on the size of your pieces. As you well know there is quite a variety when you used bagged. Smaller bits will get crispier while those big ones may take a bit longer. Just take the “bitties” out earlier and add another minute or two so they’re all perfect. For non breaded like our Crockpot orange chicken it would take less time.

Ninja Foodi (Option)

With this machine you just need to use the lid that is attached for the right function, and the air crisp button. If you wanted to make your own sauce you could make air fryer frozen chicken nuggets first and then use that as a dip or toss to coat so they are sticky sweet and perfect. Kinda’ a cheater version of sorts. 😉

Tips for Success

Most frozen brands are of a similar weight so they’d use the same timing. You may need to adjust by 2 or so minutes to get it just the way you want it but that part is really subjective. I like super crunchy where my husband wants me to take out his when it is barely browned.

If you want to make it a bit more homemade you can make your own sauce and use a bag of frozen popcorn chicken instead. Then toss together and serve on a bed of Ninja Foodi rice. If you need a gluten free version this might be safer than bagged. Then you can adjust everything to your own needs, and make as spicy as you’d like too.

I think that this way is a lot easier though because it already has the sauce and diced air fryer vegetables inside the bag which means it is a 5 minute prep kind of meal and is easy to double with a second batch or tossing the basket more frequently until golden brown.

How can you make orange chicken healthier?

You don’t have to make this breaded. Instead if you buy bottled sauce you can make a batch of our air fryer chicken tenders no breading or homemade popcorn chicken and then make our copycat Panda Express sweet and sour sauce. Then you just toss when the meat is cooked and crisped nicely.

When you cook the chicken this way you’ll get that deep fried texture but without all the extra calories and fat. We have lots of other Ninja air fryer recipes we love and make often, but here are a few you should try next:

How do you reheat leftovers?

I would use this same machine! A microwave will warm it faster but the texture will be quite soft especially after sitting in a container in the fridge overnight. Instead preheat to 380F and spray basket. Pour in pieces and shake after 1 minute, cook for another minute and that should do it!

Other easy dinner ideas you’ll love

Frozen chicken wings in air fryer are to die for, we’ve made air fryer frozen chicken breast too. Homemade ninja foodi french fries are easier to make than you might think.

If you want to use the sauce recipe in this post but use larger pieces, cook frozen chicken tenders in air fryer and brush that on as another idea. You can follow our air fryer sesame chicken directions for an all over homemade recipe. Print recipe below and enjoy.