After practice
Crispy orange chicken bowls that beat the takeout line on a tired Tuesday.
Someone is begging for orange chicken and the takeout place is twenty minutes each way.
The air fryer crisps the coated chicken in twelve minutes while you microwave broccoli and warm the sauce, and the bowls taste like the real thing.
Ingredients
after-practice orange chicken bowls starts with the groceries below, plus a realistic 12 minutes to finish (plus earlier prep) window.
- 1.5 lb boneless chicken thighs, cut in 1-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 cup orange marmalade
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- cooking spray
How to Make It
Make after-practice orange chicken bowls with the serving spot in mind, whether dinner lands at home or away.
- Toss the chicken with cornstarch. Spray the air fryer basket and add the chicken in one layer.
- Air fry at 400F for 12 minutes, shaking halfway, until the chicken reaches 165F and the edges crisp.
- While it cooks, steam the broccoli in the microwave 3 minutes.
- Whisk the marmalade, soy sauce, vinegar, and ginger in a bowl, then microwave 45 seconds until pourable.
- Toss the hot chicken in the sauce and serve over rice with the broccoli.
Do the Slow Part Early
Cut the chicken and cook the rice before practice so the air fryer does the rest.
- Cut and cornstarch-coat the chicken, then chill it covered
- Cook the rice in the morning
- Whisk the orange sauce ahead and keep it in a jar
Store and Reheat
Store the chicken and rice apart so the rice does not go gummy.
- Microwave the chicken 90 seconds, then toss with warm sauce
- Reheat rice with a splash of water, covered, 2 minutes
- Keeps 3 days in the fridge
- Serve with: edamame, sliced cucumber, mandarin oranges
Make It Fit Tonight
Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land
Use chicken breast
Works the same; check at 10 minutes so it does not dry out.
Make it spicy
Add a teaspoon of sriracha to the sauce for the grown-ups.
Swap to a sheet pan
No air fryer? Roast at 425F for 18 minutes instead.
Add sesame
Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and scallions on top.
Pack tomorrow's lunch
Chicken, rice, and broccoli pack into one container.
Plan The Next Step
Save your weeknight favorites
Use the planner to keep crowd-pleasers like this on the calendar so takeout cravings have an answer at home.