General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

Make restaurant-quality General Tso’s Chicken at home with this easy recipe. Crispy fried chicken is coated in a sweet and tangy sauce, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special takeout-inspired meal. Pair it with steamed broccoli or rice for a complete dish. Learn how to make this classic Chinese-American favorite with simple ingredients and customizable spice levels.

How to Make General Tso’s Chicken

1. Prepare the Chicken: Start by cutting the chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes. Coat them in a breading mix of flour (or cornstarch), paprika, and garlic salt.
2. Fry the Chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and fry the breaded chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy. Once cooked, set aside on paper towels to drain excess oil.
3. Make the Sauce: In a saucepan, combine sugar, water, vinegar, soy sauce, and optional red chili flakes. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 12 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
4. Combine: Add the fried chicken to the sauce, coating each piece well. Simmer for an additional 5-7 minutes, allowing the chicken to absorb the sauce’s flavors.
5. Serve: Serve your General Tso’s Chicken with rice and steamed broccoli for a complete meal.

Q&A for General Tso’s Chicken

Q: Can I make General Tso’s Chicken spicy?
A: Yes! Add 1 teaspoon of red chili pepper flakes or fresh ginger to increase the spice level. You can also adjust it based on your taste preference.

Q: Can I bake General Tso’s Chicken instead of frying?
A: Absolutely. After breading and briefly frying the chicken, transfer it to a baking dish, pour the sauce over, and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.

Q: How do I make the chicken extra tender?
A: For tender chicken, add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of vinegar to the cubed chicken. Let it sit for 10 minutes before breading and frying.

Q: Can this recipe be made in a crockpot?
A: Yes! After frying the chicken, transfer it to a crockpot, pour the sauce over, and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

General Tso’s Chicken

This classic Chinese-American dish features crispy fried chicken coated in a deliciously sweet and tangy sauce. Perfect for family dinners or special occasions, it’s a simple yet flavorful meal you can easily make at home. Pair with rice and broccoli for a complete restaurant-style dish.

General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

Recipe by 50Krecipes

0.0 from 0 votes

Make restaurant-quality General Tso’s Chicken at home with this easy recipe. Crispy fried chicken is coated in a sweet and tangy sauce, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special takeout-inspired meal. Pair it with steamed broccoli or rice for a complete dish. Learn how to make this classic Chinese-American favorite with simple ingredients and customizable spice levels.

Course: MainCuisine: Chinese, American

Servings

Adjust servings

+

–

8

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Ingredients

• Ingredients:

• For the Breading:

• Chicken breasts, cubed (4 pieces)

• All-purpose flour (or cornstarch) (1 cup)

• Paprika (1 teaspoon)

• Garlic salt (2 teaspoons)

• For the Sauce:

• Sugar (1¼ cups)

• Water (1 cup)

• White distilled vinegar (1 cup)

• Salt (1 teaspoon)

• Soy sauce (6 tablespoons)

• Red chili pepper flakes (1 teaspoon, optional)

Directions

• Prepare the Chicken:
• Cube the chicken breasts and coat each piece evenly in the breading mixture of flour (or cornstarch), paprika, and garlic salt.
• Fry the Chicken:
• Heat ¾ cup of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy. Once cooked, remove and set aside on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
• Make the Sauce:
• In a separate pot, combine sugar, water, vinegar, salt, soy sauce, and red chili pepper flakes (if using). Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let it cook uncovered for about 12 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
• Combine and Serve:
• Add the fried chicken to the simmering sauce and stir until all pieces are evenly coated. Simmer for an additional 5-7 minutes to allow the sauce to fully absorb into the chicken.

Notes

• Meat Tenderizer Tip: To tenderize the chicken, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of vinegar, and let the chicken sit for 10 minutes before proceeding with the recipe.
  Crockpot Instructions: After frying, transfer the chicken to a crockpot. Pour the sauce over and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
  Oven-Baked Instructions: Place the fried chicken in a baking dish, pour the sauce over, and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.
  Steamed Broccoli Tip: While simmering the sauce, place a colander of broccoli florets on top of the pot. In just 7 minutes, you’ll have perfectly steamed broccoli to serve on the side.
  Spice It Up: For a spicier version, add 1 teaspoon of red chili flakes. You can also enhance the flavors with fresh ginger or garlic.