General Tso’s Chicken

Whether you call it General Tao or General Tso’s Chicken, you’re going to want this sweet, tangy, and spicy recipe! Battered chicken thighs are lightly fried in oil and tossed in a sticky sauce made with soy sauce, chili peppers, garlic, and ginger. It’s quick and easy to make and is better and healthier for you than any Chinese food restaurant.

Can I see some hands from all of my General Tso’s Chicken lovers out there?!

As soon as I sit down at an Asian food restaurant the internal debate ensues.

“Let’s go for something light, and healthier for you! Like the Lemon Pepper Chicken.”

But then the other part of me chimes in, “But that sweet and crispy General Tso’s chicken is SO good, and you can’t get this at home!!”

I normally cave in and order the deep-fried goodness, appeasing my taste buds but disappointing my tummy.

After way too many of these instances, I finally decided that it was time to make my own HEALTHIER version of General Tso’s chicken at home.

And ya’ll… it is EVERYTHING and more than you’ve ever hoped for!

You still get that lovely crunch from lightly (not deep!) frying battered chicken thighs…

The perfect balance of a sweet and tangy sauce without it being laden with sugar…

And that batter? It can easily be made gluten-free with a simple flour swap.

Serve it over a bed of Instant Pot White Rice with a side of steamed broccoli or asparagus and you’ve got a delicious AND healthy Chinese restaurant quality dinner at home!

Ingredients

• Chicken. Thighs are the best cut for this recipe, they’re juicy and have tons of flavor. You can also use chicken breasts. Make sure to cut the meat into bite-sized pieces.
• Cornstarch. This is the secret to getting the chicken ultra crispy when frying! Tapioca starch is another good option.
• Flour. A mix of starch and flour complete the batter. A gluten-free 1-to-1 blend may be substituted.
• Oil. Normally the type of oil is not a big deal, but since you are cooking at a relatively high heat you want an oil with a higher smoke point. Avocado oil is preferred, but safflower, grapeseed, canola or even peanut oil will work as well.
• General Tso’s Sauce. You can use a store-bought kind, but it’s SO much better to make at home! Take a look below for more information on the ingredients you’ll need.

General Tso’s Sauce

This recipe is much like a homemade Teriyaki Sauce, except it use a special ingredient – hoisin sauce! Here are all of the ingredients you will need:

• Soy sauce. You can either use a gluten-free type or Tamari. If needed, find reduced sodium.
• Hoisin sauce. This fermented soybean paste is the main ingredient, but miso paste is sometimes used instead. Many also contain peanut butter and molasses. Gluten-free brands do exist, if needed.
• Sugar. Brown sugar gives a nice rich flavor. You can also substitute with regular sugar, coconut sugar, honey, or pure maple syrup.
• Rice vinegar. For the most authentic taste, rice vinegar in needed. However, regular white wine vinegar can stand in as well.
• Ginger and garlic. Use fresh for the best flavor. You can likely find ginger paste in the produce section of your grocery store.
• Sriracha sauce. A must have for a spicy kick in the sauce.
• Cornstarch. This helps to thicken it up, and a little bit goes a long way. Make sure you whisk up a starch slurry before mixing it in.

How to Make General Tso’s Chicken

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep Ahead: Whisk together sauce ingredients, but don’t cook yet. Cut the chicken, but wait to coat in the flour and starch.
• To Store: This will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
• To Freeze: It may lose a little of its crispness, but you can freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3-4 months.
• To Reheat: Add back to a skillet until heated through.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already dairy-free as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

• Gluten-Free. Use a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend, and find gluten-free soy sauce and hoisin sauce.
• Refined Sugar-Free. Swap out the brown sugar for coconut sugar, honey or pure maple syrup.
• Lower Sodium. Choose a reduced sodium soy sauce.

FAQs

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Thighs are best. This cut of chicken is juiciest and has the best flavor.
• Cook until golden. You want a really good crispy coating on the chicken.
• Hoisin is a must. A key ingredient to give the General Tso’s sauce a unique flavor.
• Whisk it good. The sauce thickens up quickly, so make sure to keep a close eye on it.
• Spice it up. Add even more sriracha sauce for a spicier dish.
• Switch it up. Try making this General Tso’s Shrimp instead!

Make it a Meal

Now that you have the main dish, here are some sides to go along with this General Tso’s chicken recipe:

• Instant Pot White Rice Recipe
• Air Fryer Asparagus
• Roasted Broccoli with Garlic
• Instant Pot Quinoa
• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
• Garlic Roasted Asparagus

5 from 8 votes

Print Comment

• Pin It

General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

Whether you call it General Tao or General Tso's Chicken, you're going to want this sweet, tangy, and spicy recipe! It's quick and easy to make and is better and healthier for you than any Chinese food restaurant.

Course Dinner, main dish

Cuisine Asian

Keyword 30-minute meal, Asian, gluten free, spicy

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 321 kcal

London Brazil

Ingredients

Battered Chicken:

• 1 ½ lbs. chicken thighs boneless and skinless
• ¼ cup cornstarch or tapioca starch
• ¼ cup flour or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend*
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• 3-4 Tbsp. oil avocado

General Tso’s Sauce:

• ⅓ cup soy sauce or Tamari
• ¼ cup hoisin sauce
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 3 Tbsp. rice vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp. ginger paste or minced
• 3 cloves garlic crushed
• 1-2 tsp. Sriracha sauce optional

Serving:

• White rice cooked
• Green onions chopped
• Toasted sesame seeds optional

Instructions

1. Trim any excess fat from the chicken thighs and cut into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch.
2. Whisk together cornstarch, flour, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken thigh pieces and toss until all are completely coated.
3. Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a large stainless-steel skillet or wok over medium to medium-high heat. Wait for the oil to sizzle and add in half of the coated chicken pieces. Cook for 7-8 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove the cooked chicken and let drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining chicken.
4. Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. After chicken is removed from the skillet, pour in sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should reduce by almost half during this time.
5. Once reduced, add in cooked chicken and continue cooking over medium-low heat for another 2-3 minutes.
6. Serve General Tso’s Chicken over a bed of white rice with green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Chicken breasts may also be used instead of thighs.
Gluten-free flour, soy sauce and hoisin sauce may be substituted.

• To Store: This will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
• To Freeze: It may lose a little of its crispness, but you can freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3-4 months.

Nutrition Facts

General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 321 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 3g

Monounsaturated Fat 6g

Cholesterol 108mg36%

Sodium 1192mg52%

Potassium 352mg10%

Carbohydrates 27g9%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A 30IU1%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 33mg3%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.