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Skip the oven — here's exactly how to cook Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken in the air fryer for crispier results in 10 minutes. Plus the sauce-thawing trick the package doesn't tell you

Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken in the Air Fryer

5 from 1 vote
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 2 Servings

Description

The fastest, crispiest way to cook a bag of Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken — straight from frozen, 10 minutes in the air fryer at 400°F. Tastes more like takeout than the oven version and ready in half the time.

Ingredients 

  • 22 ounces Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken, frozen
  • 2 cups Cooked white or jasmine rice, for serving (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
  • 2 sliced green onions, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3-4 minutes. Place the sealed sauce pouch in a bowl of hot tap water to thaw.
  • Arrange the frozen chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with space between each piece. Cook in 2 batches if needed.
  • Cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, shaking the basket once at the 5-minute mark.
  • Confirm doneness — chicken should be deep golden-brown with internal temp of 165°F. Add 1-2 more minutes if pale.
  • Transfer the chicken to a large bowl. Cut the corner of the thawed sauce pouch and pour the sauce over the chicken.
  • Toss gently until every piece is glazed.
  • Serve immediately over rice with sesame seeds and green onions.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Cooking Spray
  • Parchment Paper, optional

Notes

Notes

  • Single layer is non-negotiable. Crowded chicken steams instead of crisping. Two batches is better than one crowded batch.
  • Sauce in a bowl, not the basket. Sauce burns and ruins the breading if it goes back in the air fryer.
  • Sauce only when ready to eat. The breading goes soft within minutes after saucing.
  • For dual-basket air fryers, split between baskets — same time, same temp.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 570kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 71gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 200mgSodium: 365mgPotassium: 1247mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 213IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg