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Pf Chang’s Air Fryer Orange Chicken

July 14, 2021 Leave a Comment

Crispy, Sweet and Healthy Copycat Air Fryer Easy Orange Chicken Recipe inspired by the P.F Chang’s Asian Table restaurant! This easy recipe is so mouth-wateringly good! The combination of juicy chicken thighs coated in a sweet and TASTY orange peel sauce is so DELICIOUS!

Now who doesn’t love some crispy orange chicken! Drenched in homemade sweet and sticky orange sauce!

What is orange chicken

Orange chicken is a family favorite recipe combining boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs coated in corn starch, deep fried or air fried, mixed in a small saucepan with healthy orange chicken sauce and topped with spring onions and sesame seeds. Homemade orange sauce can be made using various ingredients similar to the takeout version: trader joe’s mandarin orange chicken recipe and other fast food chains renditions of this delicious recipe.

Who invented orange chicken

Orange chicken is such a popular takeaway dish and can be made healthier by cooking it in an air fryer ! Many versions of this recipe dish has been recreated by various restaurant and supermarket chains such as Panda express, Trader Joes – Pre cooked frozen orange chicken (in the US) and PF Chang’s Asian Table.

When I visited P.F. Chang’s Asian Table restaurant in London I was blown away by the amazing flavours. Of course, I had to recreate this amazing dish at home with a copycat recipe! P.F. Chang’s is an Asian restaurant concept founded on making food from scratch every day in every restaurant. P.F. Chang’s has 210+ U.S. restaurants, plus over 95 restaurants in more than 25 countries across the globe.

Find more great air fryer recipes below

How to make air fryer PF Chang’s orange chicken

(Scroll to the bottom of this page for the full list or ingredients and instructions on the recipe card)

Air fryer prep: Preheat the air fryer
Prepare chicken batter: Add the diced chicken thighs into a large bowl, pour in the egg whites, then mix. In a separate large bowl mix the dry ingredients together (cornflour, salt, white pepper, garlic powder).
Dredging the chicken: Pour the seasoned flour into a large food bag, slightly drain off the excess egg whites from the chicken mixture, place into the food bag and seal. Shake the food bag continuously until each piece of chicken is coated. Use your hands to massage the chicken into the flour to ensure each piece is coated well.
Air fry: Brush or spray the air fryer basket with a light layer of vegetable oil or avocado oil spray. Shake off the excess flour from the chicken and then place the chicken cornstarch mixture in a single layer into the air fryer. Spray or brush the top of the dredged chicken with a little oil before cooking. Air fry the chicken for the cooking time of 15 minutes at 170°C / 340 °F , turning the chicken pieces half way through the cooking process. The crispy air fryer chicken should be golden brown. If you are unsure if the chicken is cooked you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken is a minimum of 165 degrees f (75ºC) or over.
How to make p.f changs orange peel chicken sauce: Whilst the chicken is in the air fryer heat a pan to a medium level, add all the orange juice sauce ingredients listed into the pan, bring to the boil and then simmer for 6-8 minutes until the sauce is thick in consistency.
Final step: Mix the cooked chicken pieces and orange sauce in a large serving bowl. Serve with white rice or noodles and enjoy! Store any leftover orange chicken in an airtight container once cooled.

Air fryer orange chicken pieces raw 1 inch cubes

What ingredients are in crispy air fryer orange

This crispy air fryer orange chicken recipe comprises of fresh ingredients for the coated chicken and the flavorful orange sauce. Here’s the ingredients you need below! (you can find the full measurements for each ingredient in the recipe card at the bottom on this blog post);

Crispy air fried chicken

Boneless chicken thighs
Cornflour/ cornstarch
Egg whites
Salt
Ground white pepper
Garlic Powder
Vegetable oil cooking spray

P.f changs orange peel sauce

Freshly squeezed orange juice
Orange Zest
Light Soy Sauce
Rice vinegar
Fresh garlic cloves
Fresh ground ginger
Siracha sauce
Granulated white sugar or brown sugar
Sesame oil
Cornstarch slurry – 1 x teaspoon
Green onions / spring onions, sesame seeds (optional)

Other alternative ingredients you can also find in orange chicken include: black pepper, potato starch, coconut aminos, oyster sauce, all purpose flour, premade orange sauce packet, olive oil, rice wine vinegar, chicken nuggets, maple syrup, orange marmalade.

Air fryer orange chicken in the basket uncooked

Air fryer orange chicken cooked in the basket

AIR FRYER ORANGE CHICKEN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is orange chicken spicy

Orange chicken is not typically spicy however you can adjust the flavour by adding red pepper flakes or fresh chillies. Chili flakes add a medium heat to the dish whereas fresh chillies would make this great meal pack a very spicy punch!

What to serve with orange chicken

Asian recipes I find work so well with freshly boiled rice or egg fried rice. Making it an easy dinner using pantry staples from the grocery store.

What to serve with orange chicken besides rice

Besides rice you could also serve orange chicken with lo mein egg noodles, stir fried vermicelli noodles, stir fried vegetables, and brown rice.

Is orange chicken healthy

Air frying pieces of chicken instead of deep frying will reduce the amount of fat in the recipe which in turn lessens the calorific content compared to ordering the takeout version which can be quite greasy like other popular dishes such as general tso chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and sesame chicken. Also, small steps like lining a medium bowl with paper towels to place the crispy chicken pieces on top can help to train off excess oil. Swapping chicken thighs for chicken breast pieces will make the dish leaner and higher in protein.

How to make orange chicken without cornstarch

A great alternative to cornstarch which is also gluten free is Arrowroot flour. This can be a substitute for the chicken flour coating and also used as a thickening agent in the orange sauce.

Reheat orange chicken in the air fryer

The best way to reheat air fryer orange chicken is to place the leftover chicken and sauce into a small bowl or casserole dish which is oven/heat proof, add an ice cube on top, cover with foil and air fry for 5-6 minutes at 170°C / 340 °F. You can add additional time if you use a larger deep bowl rather than a shallow bowl. This technique of reheating will ensure the sauce does not spill into your air fryer and will keep the chicken moist throughout the reheating process.

Pf Chang’s Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Author: Catherine
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 Servings

Print Recipe

Description

Crispy, Sweet and Healthy Copycat Air Fryer Orange Chicken inspired by the PF Chang’s Asian Table restaurant! This easy recipe is so mouth-wateringly good! The combination of juicy chicken thighs coated in a sweet and TASTY orange peel sauce is soo DELICIOUS!!

Ingredients

Crispy air fried chicken

Boneless chicken thighs – 1 pound / 450g
Cornflour/ corn starch – 1 x Cup / 150g
Egg whites – 2 x eggs
Salt – 1 x teaspoon
Ground white pepper – 1 x teaspoon
Garlic Powder – 1 x tablespoon
Vegetable oil (in a spray bottle)

Orange sauce

Freshly squeezed orange juice – 1 x Cup / 240ml / or 3-4 Oranges
Orange Zest – 1 x teaspoon
Light Soy Sauce – 4 x tablespoons
Rice wine vinegar – 1 x tablespoon
Fresh garlic cloves – 2 x cloves minced
Fresh ginger 1 x teaspoon minced
Siracha sauce – 1 x teaspoon
Granulated white sugar – 1/3 cup / 66g
Sesame seed oil – 1 x teaspoon
Corn-starch/ cornflour – 1 x teaspoon (dissolved in 2-3 teaspoons of water to make a paste)

Instructions

Air fryer prep: Preheat the air fryer
Prepare chicken batter: Add the diced chicken thighs into a large bowl, pour in the egg whites, then mix. In a separate large bowl mix the dry ingredients together (cornflour, salt, white pepper, garlic powder).
Dredging the chicken: Pour the seasoned flour into a large food bag, slightly drain off the excess egg whites on the chicken, place into the food bag and seal. Shake the food bag continuously until each piece of chicken is coated. Use your hands to massage the chicken into the flour to ensure each piece is coated well.
Air fry: Brush or spray the air fryer basket with a light layer of oil. Shake off the excess flour from the chicken and then place into the air fryer. Spray or brush the top of the dredged chicken with oil before cooking. Air fry the chicken for 15 minutes at 170°C / 340 °F , turning the chicken pieces half way through the cooking process.
Making the orange sauce: Whilst the chicken is in the air fryer heat a pan to a medium level, add all the orange sauce ingredients listed into the pan, bring to the boil and then simmer for 6-8 minutes until the sauce is thick in consistency.
Final step: Mix together the cooked air fryer chicken pieces and orange sauce in a large serving bowl. Serve with rice or noodles and enjoy!

Notes

Do not overload the air fryer basket, cook in batches if you own a smaller air fryer model.

Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 15
Category: Lunch
Method: Air Frying
Cuisine: Asain

Keywords: orange chicken, air fryer chicken, chicken, sweet and sour

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PF Chang’s Dynamite Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe

July 19, 2020 10 Comments

Crispy, Crunchy and delicious Bang Bang shrimp inspired by the PF Chang’s Chinese restaurant! This easy video recipe is so mouth-wateringly good! The combination of juicy shrimp coated in a sweet and spicy dynamite Bang Bang sauce is so moreish!

Now who doesn’t love some crispy fried shrimp! Drenched in some sweet and savoury bang bang sauce!

When I visited P.F. Chang’s Asian Table restaurant in London I was blown away by the dynamite shrimp appetiser. Of course, I had to recreate this amazing dish at home with a copycat recipe!

P.F. Chang’s is an Asian restaurant concept founded on making food from scratch every day in every restaurant. P.F. Chang’s has 210+ U.S. restaurants, plus over 95 restaurants in more than 25 countries across the globe.

Need some more recipe inspiration? – Try out these AMAZING recipes too! 🙂

What is bang bang sauce

Bang bang sauce is a sweet tangy sauce that originates from the Szechuan region of China. It’s a simple sauce to make by just mixing mayonnaise, sweet chilli sauce, siracha and honey.

flatlay of the pf chang's dynamite sauce ingredients

pf chang's dynamite sauce in a bowl with a whisk

What is bang bang shrimp

Bang Bang Shrimp is an apitiser dish served in Asian and other restaurants such as the Cheesecake Factory and Bonefish Grill. It usually comprises of crispy battered shrimp, covered in a rich bang bang sauce.

pf chang's dynamite bang bang sauce ingredients

What is dynamite shrimp?

Dynamite shrimp is similar to bang bang shrimp, with fried shrimp mixed the bang bang mayonnaise and sweet chilli /siracha based sauce, but it has more of a kick of spice in flavour. The dish is a popular appetiser served in P.F Chang’s restaurants.

pf chang's Dynamite bang bangshrimp on a plate

How to fry shrimp with egg and flour

To make super crispy shrimp which still has a juicy centre, mix shrimp with some whisked eggs, then dredge in seasoned flour and fry for a few minutes. Follow the steps below to make the best crispy fried shrimp. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the full recipe card including exact measurements and cooking times;

Preparing your stations

Lightly flour a large plate or oven tray to place the shrimp on once covered in the egg and flour coating. This prevents the shrimp from sticking whilst waiting to batch fry.

Shrimp in Egg wash

Whisk some eggs in a bowl and pour in your raw shrimp. Stir until each shrimp piece is covered in the egg wash. You can season the egg wash for extra flavour, e.g. by adding fish sauce, salt, and pepper.

How do you make shrimp batter from scratch

Add plain all purpose flour & cornflour to a small bowl for dredging. Season the flour with salt, white pepper, garlic powder.

How to batter shrimp

To batter the shrimp use a tong to dip the egg washed prawns into the seasoned flour until fully coated in the dredge, then place onto the floured surface. Repeat until all the prawns are battered.

How to cook shrimp in a cast iron skillet

Pre heat a skillet to a medium heat. Add a thin layer of oil to the skillet and cook the shrimp in batches, for 2-3 minutes. Flip the shrimp over halfway through cooking so both sides get crispy. Once cooked place the shrimp on kitchen paper towels to drain off the excess oil, then transfer the shrimp into a large clean bowl.

shrimp in a bowl next to eggwash and a dish with fish sauce

How to make bang bang shrimp

Making homemade bang bang is so simple. Essentially the 3 steps to make the famous appetisers are; Frying crispy shrimp in a seasoned flour, make the mayonnaise spicy sweet and savoury bang bang sauce and then finally mix the shrimp with the sauce. Serve on a bed of green leafy salad and top with sliced green onions or chives.

pouring pf chang's dynamite sauce onto cooked battered shrimp

How to make pf chang’s dynamite shrimp

PF Chang’s dynamite shrimp recipe is very similar to bang bang shrimp but is slightly spicier. The restaurant uses a tempura batter for the shrimp and then lightly tosses with a sriracha aioli. The dynamite shrimp is famously served in a high ball glass lined with cabbage or salad leaves and topped with green onions.

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What to serve with PF Chang’s Bang Bang shrimp?

Bang Bang shrimp is so versatile that it can be served with many dishes and is not only limited to being an appetiser. Here are some serving suggestions.

Serve with steamed aromatic jasmine rise
Incorporate the shrimp into some stir fried noodles
Serve on top of a salad
Use the excess bang bang sauce is sandwiches and wraps

pf chang's Dynamite bang bangshrimp dipped in the sauce with chopsticks

Shrimp nutrition facts

So this dish is quite rich and tastes gorgeous! However, if you would like to make a lighter version or bespoke the recipe to suit your specialist diet, check out some of the pointers below;

How many calories are in bang bang shrimp

There are 391 calories in this bang bang shrimp recipe per serving. This will vary if you where to order the dish in a restaurant or have as take out, but will usually be higher in calories due to a deep fried method in commercial kitchens.

How many carbs are in bang bang shrimp

There are 35.5g of carbs per serving in this recipe. The main source of carbs comes from the flour coating on the shrimp. The shrimp is a high source of protein and has a low net carb amount. The mayonnaise within the bang bang sauce is also low in net carbs.

Is bang bang shrimp keto

Keto meals tend to be high in fat and low in net carbs. To make bang bang shrimp keto friendly, swap the all purpose plain flour for coconut flour to reduce the total carb amount in the dish. Each 1/4 cup of coconut flour contains 60 calories, 2.5 g of fat, 6 g of protein, 19 g of carbohydrates, 12 g of fiber, and 7 g of net carbs.

How to make bang bang shrimp in an air fryer

Rather than deep frying, a healthier lighter alternative is to cook the crispy shrimp in an air fryer. Follow the same method of dipping the shrimp into egg wash and then into seasoned flour. Place the coated shrimp into the air fryer basket, ensuring each piece is spaced out. Air fry for 5 minutes at 375°F / 190 °C and then mix with the bang bang sauce once cooked.

Recipe tips for making PF Chang’s dynamite bang bang shrimp

Use a rubber/plastic plated tong when handling the shrimp, this type of tongs helps to not pull away the batter coating from the shrimp when transferring them onto the prepped non stick d floured surface and skillet when ready to fry.
Do not overload the pan when frying as the shrimp batter will not be crispy. Fry the shrimp in batches
The left-over bang bang sauce can be used as a dipping sauce or kept refrigerated for another dish. It’s an amazing sauce to add to sandwiches or a great salad dressing. This sauce will keep for 1 week in the fridge.

Thank you so much for reading along. I hope you making my Homemade PF Chang’s Dynamite Bang Bang Shrimp.

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PF Chang’s Dynamite Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

Author: Catherine
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 2 x small appetizer size platefuls 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Crispy, Crunchy and delicious Bang Bang shrimp inspired by PF Chang’s Chinese restaurant! This easy video recipe is so mouth-wateringly good! The combination of juicy shrimp coated in a sweet and spicy dynamite Bang Bang sauce is so moreish!

Ingredients

Scale

Crispy Shrimp

Shrimp or King Prawns – 350g / 1 pound
Cornflour – 2 tablespoons
Plain Flour / All purpose flour – 200g / 1 ½ Cups
Garlic Powder 2 x teaspoonsSalt – 1 1/2 teaspoons
White Pepper – 1 teaspoon
Fish sauce – 2 x tablespoon
Egg – 1 x egg whisked
Vegetable oil for frying

Bang Bang Sauce

Mayonnaise x 220g / 1 x cup
Siracha – 100g / ½ Cup
Sweet chilli sauce – 100g / ½ Cups
Honey – 2 x tablespoons

Garnish

Finley chopped chives or green onions /spring onions
Green leafy salad leaves – 2x handfuls – rocket, arugula, spinach, baby leaf etc.

pf chang's dynamite sauce ingredients

Instructions

Bang Bang Sauce: To make the bang bang sauce add siracha sauce, mayonnaise, honey and sweet chilli sauce sauce to a medium size bowl. Stir with a whisk until the bang bang sauce is combined with all the ingredients
Preheat prep: Preheat a cast iron skillet or large frying pan to a medium heat.
Shrimp Marinade Prep: In a separate bowl with the raw shrimp, pour in the whisked egg and fish sauce. Lightly flour a large plate or oven tray. In a small bowl add flour, cornflour, salt, white pepper, garlic powder to a small bowl and mix.
Shrimp Batter: To batter the shrimp using a tong dip the egg washed shrimp into the seasoned flour until fully coated in the flour dredge, then place onto the floured surface. Repeat until all the shrimp pieces are battered.
Cooking the shrimp: Add a thin layer of oil to your skillet/pan, carefully place the shrimp inside, cook in batches for 2-3 minutes. Flip the shrimp over halfway through cooking so both sides are crispy. Once cooked place the shrimp on kitchen paper towels to drain off the excess oil, then transfer the into a large clean bowl.
Combine the shrimp and sauce: Pour in the bang bang sauce into the bowl of cooked shrimp, add as little or as much sauce as you like depending on your preference. The left-over sauce can be used as a dipping sauce or kept refrigerated for another dish.
How to serve: Serve the shrimp on a bed of leafy green salad leaves and garnish with some chopped chives.

Notes

Use a rubber/plastic plated tong when handling the shrimp, this type of tongs helps to not pull away the batter coating from the shrimp when transferring them onto the prepped non stick d floured surface and skillet when ready to fry.

Do not overload the pan when frying as the shrimp batter will not be crispy. Fry the shrimp in batches

The left-over bang bang sauce can be used as a dipping sauce or kept refrigerated for another dish. It’s an amazing sauce to add to sandwiches or a great salad dressing. This sauce will keep for 1 week in the fridge.

To cook the shrimp in an air fryer place the coated shrimp into the air fryer basket, ensuring each piece is spaced out. Air fry for 5 minutes at 375°F / 190 °C and then mix with bang bang sauce once cooked.

Prep Time: 14
Cook Time: 6
Category: Dinner
Method: Frying
Cuisine: Asian

Keywords: bang bang, shrimp, pf changs, dynamite shrimp, fried shrimp, dinner