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Discover the best way to cook Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken! (It’s the air fryer!) This easy recipe gives you perfectly crispy, flavorful chicken in just 8 to 10 minutes at 400F (200C). No thawing is needed; just pop it in and enjoy. Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken favorite is consistently voted a top pick by Trader Joe’s fans. Try it and taste why!
LOVE this Orange Chicken. I made it the other night. It doesn’t last long enough to have to be reheated. haha 
– Patty
⭐ Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken (Air Fryer)
To make Trader Joe’s orange chicken in the air fryer, all you need is one bag of Trader Ming’s Mandarin Orange Chicken. You don’t even need cooking spray. The bag includes frozen breaded chicken and two packets of orange sauce.
You’ll also need an air fryer and a meat thermometer. Keep in mind that cook times can vary depending on your appliance.
To make orange chicken taste even better, add orange zest, sesame seeds, or scallions before serving.
🍊 How to Make Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken in the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 400F (200F) for 5 minutes.
Fill a medium-sized bowl with warm water and put the frozen sauce packets in there. The sauce will thaw out while the chicken cooks.
Carefully remove the hot air fryer basket from the air fryer and dump the frozen chicken in. Place the basket back in the air fryer. (Use the top rack of the air fryer oven.)
Note: You do not have to defrost Trader Joe’s orange chicken first. You can cook it from frozen!
Air fry Trader Joe’s orange chicken for 8-10 minutes at 400F (200C). Flip the chicken or shake the basket after 8 minutes and see if it needs additional cooking time.
Check the chicken with a meat thermometer after cooking. It should have reached a safe minimum internal temp of 165F (74C).
The chicken pieces come in varied sizes; air fry the larger pieces a little longer if needed.
Clip the thawed sauce packets and toss the chicken pieces with the sauce AFTER your air fryer Trader Joe’s chicken has finished cooking. The orange sauce looks very watery initially, but the battered chicken will absorb a lot of it. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Is Trader Joe’s orange chicken pre-cooked?
I couldn’t find a reliable source confirming whether Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken is fully cooked, and the packaging doesn’t provide this information either. While the breading looks cooked, the chicken inside could be undercooked or even raw (just like with some frozen chicken nuggets).
To stay safe, cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165F (74C) and check a few larger pieces with a meat thermometer.
How long does Trader Joe’s orange chicken last in the freezer?
According to the FoodKeeper App, frozen entrees last about 12 months in the freezer before deteriorating in quality.
How to Reheat Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken
Reheat cooked chicken in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 400F (200C) if it hasn’t been coated in sauce. If it has sauce on it, reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. The sugary orange sauce on the chicken may burn if reheated in the air fryer.
Leftover cooked orange chicken will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. However, the chicken may lose some crispiness if it’s been covered in sauce.
If you know you won’t be finishing the bag, try air frying half of it at a time. Since the frozen orange chicken comes with two sauce packets, you can use one on a half batch. Keep the uncooked frozen orange chicken and the other sauce packet in the freezer until you are ready to cook and eat it.
️🥗 Side Dishes for Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken
My two favorite sides to serve with orange chicken are rice and steamed broccoli. If you’re looking for more options, here are a few other side dish suggestions:
- Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables
- Wild Rice
- Quinoa
- Air Fryer Pot Stickers (frozen)
You could also use the orange chicken to make a flavorful Orange Chicken Salad.
Watch How to Make It!
Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken (Air Fryer Recipe)
Ingredients
- 22 ounces Trader Joe's Frozen Orange Chicken (624 grams)
- sesame seeds, orange zest, sliced scallions (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°F) for 5 minutes.
- Fill a medium-sized bowl with warm water and put the frozen sauce packets in there. The sauce will thaw while the chicken cooks.
- Carefully remove the hot air fryer basket from the air fryer and dump the frozen chicken in. Place the basket back in the air fryer. (Use the top rack of the air fryer oven.)
- Air fry Trader Joe’s orange chicken for 8-10 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Flip the chicken or shake the basket after 8 minutes and see if it needs additional cooking time.
- Check the chicken with a meat thermometer after cooking. It should have reached a safe minimum internal temp of 165°F (74°C).The chicken pieces come in varied sizes; air fry the larger pieces a little longer if needed.
- Clip the thawed sauce packets and toss the chicken pieces with the sauce after your chicken has finished cooking. The orange sauce looks very watery initially, but the battered chicken will absorb a lot of it. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). One serving of Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken has 533 calories, 38 grams net carbs, and 35 grams protein. This is based on eating one-third of the chicken and sauce. If you stick to the label’s suggested serving size of one-fifth of the package, you’ll get 320 calories, 23 grams net carbs, and 21 grams of protein. Air frying doesn’t make this chicken lighter than oven baking, but it is faster. This method is also lower in fat than deep frying. Nutrition information is for one-third of the package of Air Fryer Trader Joe’s orange chicken and sauce.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
👩🏻🍳 More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
You may also enjoy these Best Frozen Foods for the Air Fryer.
👩🍳 Other Trader Joe’s Air Fryer Recipes
- Trader Joe’s Beef and Broccoli
- Trader Joe’s Chicken Shawarma Thighs
- Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Fish Nuggets
- Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Zig Zags
- Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Trader Joe’s Kung Pao Tempura Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Buffalo Wings (uses Trader Joe’s chicken wings)
- Air Fryer Breaded Fish Fillets (uses Trader Joe’s oven-ready breaded cod fillets)
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
LOVE this Orange Chicken. I made it the other night. It doesn’t last long enough to have to be reheated. haha