General Tso's chicken is a combination of delightfully crispy wok-fried chicken pieces and a delicious sauce that tastes out of this world! Not only is it easy to make, but it is so quick that you'll have it on your table before you could get takeout! Serve it over rice with some steamed vegetables for a family dinner that everyone can agree on!
Homemade General Tso's Chicken Recipe
In the mood for takeout but not the price tag? This is your answer! General Tso’s Chicken is my go-to choice when getting takeout at my local Chinese restaurant!
Now, I’ve created a recipe that has the same rich, cornstarch-breaded chicken with that sweet and savory sauce that will have you licking it off your fingers. Salty soy, sweet hoisin sauce, brown sugar, and spicy garlic and red pepper flakes will satisfy all of your Chinese food cravings!
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Throw some steamed broccoli on the side, and you’ll have a dinner that everyone loves in just 25 minutes. The only thing missing is the fortune cookies!
🌎 Origin
This dish was created by Chef Peng Chang-Kuei in Taiwan in the 1950s. As the former Chinese president’s chef, he fled to Taiwan along with many other leaders of the losing side after the Chinese civil war.
Later, he was preparing a meal for a diplomatic envoy in Taiwan and wanted to make something special. So Chef Peng Chang-Kuei named the new dish after a well-known and revered war hero from his hometown in China.
Its popularity came much later, in the 1970s. The chef moved to New York and often hosted former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. It was one of Kissinger’s favorites, and the press often mentioned it.
While the recipe has changed a bit over the years, I still love it. Ironically, you’re unlikely to find General Tso’s Chicken in China. While people in the US and Taiwan are crazy about it, the Chinese were never really into it.
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe!
- It’s fast! In just 40 minutes, you can have a delicious entree with an umami flavor explosion!
- It’s simple! No long list of ingredients here! You probably have most of these in your house on a daily basis!
- It’s versatile! You can put your own spin on this dish by adding your favorite meat, grilled vegetables, or even extra spices!
🥘 General Tso's Chicken Ingredients
If you don’t usually cook Asian cuisine, there are a few unique ingredients you won’t likely have. Rice vinegar and hoisin sauce can be found at most grocery stores in the International or Asian section and can be used for many dishes within various Asian cuisines.
Chicken
- Chicken breasts - 1 pound of chicken thighs. Make sure they’re boneless and skinless and cut them up into 1-inch cubes. The cubes should be bite-sized and approximately the same size so that they cook quickly and evenly.
- Cornstarch - ¼ cup of cornstarch. This is the trick for getting a light, golden-brown crust!
- Oil - Some oil for frying. You’ll want something with a high smoke point for frying, like canola oil.
General Tso's Sauce
- Soy Sauce - 4 tablespoons of soy sauce. You want the soy sauce to balance the sweetness of all the sauce ingredients. Aminos and tamari are other great options for anyone trying to reduce salt, soy, or gluten.
- Rice Vinegar - 4 tablespoons of rice vinegar. It may not smell pleasant, but it’s a staple in many Asian cuisines. Its trademark flavor is part of what makes the sauce so tasty!
- Hoisin Sauce - 4 tablespoons of hoisin sauce. The sweet and salty combo of this thick sauce makes it a flavorful must-have in my pantry!
- Brown Sugar - 4 tablespoons of brown sugar. I'm using light brown sugar. You can also use dark brown sugar in a pinch or if you'd like to try the added richness of the higher molasses content.
- Chicken Broth - ¼ cup of chicken broth. Make your own homemade chicken stock or use your favorite stock or broth.
- Ginger Paste - 1 tablespoon of ginger paste. Another amazing ingredient that adds its unique flavor to Asian cooking - and one of my favorites!
- Garlic Powder - 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. Garlic makes everything better! You can use fresh garlic (and ginger) just be sure to saute them briefly before adding the rest of the sauce to the heated oil.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes - 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to give it a little spice! It's just the right amount of kick without being too 'hot'!
- Cornstarch - 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to thicken it up!
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make General Tso's Chicken
This is a quick meal. Just fry the chicken, mix the sauce, and put it all together to have a tasty homemade General Tso's chicken dinner on the table in no time! You will need a couple of mixing bowls, a whisk, and a large skillet.
This recipe will make 4 servings, but you can easily stretch it out by adding some rice and veggies!
- Make the sauce. Whisk 4 tablespoons each of soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and brown sugar, as well as 1 tablespoon of ginger paste and ¼ cup of chicken broth together in a bowl. Set aside.
- Then, bread the chicken. Add ¼ cup cornstarch to a small bowl. Toss the chicken pieces in the cornstarch until they’re fully coated. Leave them in the bowl for now.
- Fry. Turn your burner up to medium-high heat. Heat up the oil you’re going to use to fry in a large skillet. Fry a few pieces of the breaded chicken at a time. When they are done, they will be golden, crispy, and thoroughly cooked. Set aside to drain.
- Remove the oil. When the last piece of chicken is done, remove all but about 1 tablespoon of oil from the skillet.
- Heat the sauce and combine. Pour the bowl with the whisked sauce ingredients into the skillet and bring it to a low boil. Continue cooking the sauce at this heat until it thickens, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add chicken. When the sauce has thickened, return the chicken pieces to the pan. Toss to coat the crispy fried chicken thoroughly before serving.
- Serve. Take the skillet off the heat and pour the mix over some rice to serve. Garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
This makes an excellent, family-friendly dinner! You could serve it over rice, or add some fried rice to your dinner. Maybe start off with some great Chinese appetizers like cream cheese wontons, shrimp rangoons, or crab rangoons! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- You can just as easily fry the chicken in an air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Do make sure to coat the air fryer basket with non-aerosolized cooking spray before adding the chicken.
- Place fried chicken pieces onto a wire cooling rack to prevent them from getting soggy.
- To kick up the spice, add more red pepper flakes or toss in a teaspoon or two of chili paste. Even slicing up fresh chilies and adding them to the mix will be fantastic.
- If a sweeter sauce is more your thing, amp up the brown sugar. Simply sprinkle in some extra according to your tastes while the sauce is being heated up. The heat will help dissolve the granules.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
You can keep this for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Any longer than that, and you run the risk of bacteria. As always, if something smells off you should discard any refrigerated portion.
Leftover breaded and sauced chicken can be frozen. *It is best, if possible, to freeze the fried chicken pieces and sauce separately. Use airtight freezer storage containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
It will be good for up to 6 months when properly stored. However, this dish is best reheated and served within 3-4 months of freezing.
Reheating General Tso's Chicken
I’m a big fan of cold, leftover Chinese food for breakfast. But it’s not for everyone. The best way to reheat this dish is to use the oven. It will keep things crispy and as close to tasting fresh as possible.
Put any leftover portions into an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil. Cook at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated to your satisfaction. Remove the foil for the last few minutes to crisp things up without drying everything out.
As always, you can use the microwave in a pinch, but it will affect the texture of the chicken. Heat your desired portion for 1 minute, then continue with additional 30-second increments until warmed through.
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❓ FAQ
Not quite. Both have breaded, fried chicken and a sweet-tasting sauce. But while General Tso's chicken is chili and hoisin-based, Orange Chicken is orange-based. Both are delicious, and when you’re done with this recipe, try my Orange Chicken!
Probably. Many different sources argue details, but a common account says his real name was General Tso Tsung-t’ang. Read the origin section above for more history.
Both! It is a sweet and spicy sauce. However, you can easily customize it to make it lean to the sweeter end of the spectrum or the spicier. For a spicier sauce, add extra red pepper flakes. If you want it to be sweeter, add in some more brown sugar!
🐔 More Chicken Recipes To Try
- Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken - You'll be ready to enjoy this tender and flavorful dish in only 15 minutes!
- Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks - These flavorful drumsticks are quick, easy, and a perfect protein for any night of the week!
- Fried Chicken - A classic in the South, this homemade fried chicken is so much better than anything you'll find in a restaurant!
- Baked Huli Huli Chicken - The sweet Hawaiian sauce is what makes this chicken dish so spectacular!
- Instant Pot Crack Chicken - Enjoy all of the flavors from chicken, bacon, and ranch in this easy-to-make dish!
- Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry - Chicken and veggies are tossed in a homemade teriyaki sauce for a quick and delicious dinner!
📋 Recipe
General Tso's Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken thighs (boneless skinless, cut into 1 inch pieces)
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- oil for frying
General Tso's Sauce
- 4 tablespoon soy sauce (low sodium)
- 4 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 4 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 4 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine all the sauce ingredients, whisk to combine. Set aside.4 tablespoon soy sauce, 4 tablespoon rice vinegar, 4 tablespoon hoisin sauce, 4 tablespoon brown sugar, ¼ cup chicken broth, 1 tablespoon ginger paste, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- In a mixing bowl add the cornstarch. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat the chicken. Leave in the bowl for now.1 lb chicken thighs, ¼ cup cornstarch
- In a large skillet, heat frying oil over medium high heat. Working in batches fry the chicken till golden, crispy, and cooked through. Set aside to drain.oil for frying
- When the chicken is finished cooking, remove all but about 1 tablespoon of oil from the pan.
- Add the sauce ingredients and bring to a low boil. Continue to cook stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens. Add the chicken pieces and stir.
- Remove from heat, serve over rice, and enjoy!
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- You can just as easily fry the chicken in an air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Do make sure to coat the air fryer basket with non-aerosolized cooking spray before adding the chicken.
- Place fried chicken pieces onto a wire cooling rack to prevent them from getting soggy.
- To kick up the spice, add more red pepper flakes or toss in a teaspoon or two of chili paste. Even slicing up fresh chilies and adding them to the mix will be fantastic.
- If a sweeter sauce is more your thing, amp up the brown sugar. Simply sprinkle in some extra according to your tastes while the sauce is being heated up. The heat will help dissolve the granules.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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