General Tso’s Chicken Recipe is sweet, sticky and a little spicy. It is one of the most loved Chinese takeout dishes. The chicken is crispy outside and tender inside.
The sauce is bold and glossy with garlic and chili. You can easily make General Tso’s Chicken Recipe at home with simple steps.
It tastes even better than takeout when fresh and hot. Try this General Tso’s Chicken Recipe for family dinners or weekend cravings.
My Experience With This Recipe
I first tried General Tso’s Chicken at a small takeout place. The flavor surprised me right away. It was sweet, tangy, spicy and very comforting. Later I wanted that same taste at home.
After some tries, I made my own version. The chicken fried crispy and stayed juicy inside. The sauce coated every piece perfectly. My family finished the whole pan fast. Now this recipe is one of my favorite homemade meals.
Recipe Card info
- Recipe Name: General Tso’s Chicken
- Servings: 4
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Course: Main Course
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
- Calories: 580 kcal per serving
Equipment List
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Deep skillet or wok
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Frying pan
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Paper towels
- Tongs or spatula
Ingredients You Need for General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
For the chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, cubed
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Oil for frying, about 3 cups
For the sauce
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/3 cup sugar or honey
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or water
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
For garnish
- Red chili flakes or dried chilies
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken pieces
Cut chicken thighs into bite-size cubes. Pat dry with paper towels to remove moisture so coating sticks well and fries crispy. - Coat the chicken
Mix flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper in bowl. Toss chicken in mixture until all pieces are coated fully and evenly. - Heat the oil
Pour oil into deep skillet or wok. Heat over medium-high until bubbles form around chopstick or spoon handle tip. - Fry the chicken
Add coated chicken carefully in batches. Fry until golden and crispy. Remove and place on paper towels to drain excess oil. - Mix the sauce base
In bowl combine soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, broth and hoisin sauce. Stir well until sugar dissolves and sauce looks smooth. - Cook aromatics
In clean pan heat little oil. Add garlic and ginger. Stir just until fragrant. Do not burn or sauce will taste bitter. - Thicken the sauce
Pour prepared sauce mixture into pan. Simmer gently. Add cornstarch slurry and stir until sauce becomes thick and glossy. - Combine chicken and sauce
Add fried chicken pieces into pan with sauce. Toss well so each piece is coated. Sauce should cling to crispy surface. - Add heat
Sprinkle dried chilies or chili flakes. Adjust spice to your liking. Stir a minute more so flavors blend together fully. - Garnish and serve
Top with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles for the best experience and taste.
Recipe Tips
- Use chicken thighs for juicy texture
- Do not overcrowd oil while frying
- Keep oil medium hot for even color
- Adjust chili level to your taste
- Add orange zest for citrus note
- Serve immediately for best crispness
Nutrition Information
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 580 kcal |
| Protein | 34 g |
| Carbohydrates | 55 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
Serving Suggestions
General Tso’s Chicken tastes best hot and fresh. The sauce is sticky and full of flavor and the chicken stays crispy. Serve it with steamed jasmine rice for a classic meal.
You can also pair it with fried rice or noodles. A side of broccoli, snap peas or bok choy adds freshness. Lime wedges give a bright touch. This dish works great for family dinners, potlucks or weekend takeout-style nights at home.
Best Sides To Serve With
- Steamed white rice
- Egg fried rice
- Garlic noodles
- Vegetable stir fry
- Steamed broccoli
- Spring rolls
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. The sauce may thicken in the fridge, which is normal. Reheat in a pan or air fryer to bring back crisp texture.
You can also reheat in the microwave, but the coating may soften. If the sauce gets too thick, add a spoon of water while reheating. Do not freeze sauced chicken because texture changes.
General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken thighs cubed
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Oil for frying about 3 cups
For the sauce
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/3 cup sugar or honey
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or water
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
For garnish
- Red chili flakes or dried chilies
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
Prepare the chicken pieces
- Cut chicken thighs into bite-size cubes. Pat dry with paper towels to remove moisture so coating sticks well and fries crispy.
Coat the chicken
- Mix flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper in bowl. Toss chicken in mixture until all pieces are coated fully and evenly.
Heat the oil
- Pour oil into deep skillet or wok. Heat over medium-high until bubbles form around chopstick or spoon handle tip.
Fry the chicken
- Add coated chicken carefully in batches. Fry until golden and crispy. Remove and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
Mix the sauce base
- In bowl combine soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, broth and hoisin sauce. Stir well until sugar dissolves and sauce looks smooth.
Cook aromatics
- In clean pan heat little oil. Add garlic and ginger. Stir just until fragrant. Do not burn or sauce will taste bitter.
Thicken the sauce
- Pour prepared sauce mixture into pan. Simmer gently. Add cornstarch slurry and stir until sauce becomes thick and glossy.
Combine chicken and sauce
- Add fried chicken pieces into pan with sauce. Toss well so each piece is coated. Sauce should cling to crispy surface.
Add heat
- Sprinkle dried chilies or chili flakes. Adjust spice to your liking. Stir a minute more so flavors blend together fully.
Garnish and serve
- Top with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles for the best experience and taste.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for juicy texture
- Do not overcrowd oil while frying
- Keep oil medium hot for even color
- Adjust chili level to your taste
- Add orange zest for citrus note
- Serve immediately for best crispness
FAQs about General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
1. Is General Tso’s Chicken very spicy?
It is usually mildly spicy with sweet and tangy flavor. You control heat by adding more or less chili flakes. Many people enjoy it mildly hot because the sugar and vinegar balance the spice nicely without burning taste buds.
2. Can I bake the chicken instead of frying it?
Yes, you can bake it for a lighter version. Coat chicken lightly in oil and bake until crispy. Texture will be less crunchy than deep fried chicken. However, the sauce still gives amazing flavor and sticky shine, so the dish remains very tasty.
3. Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?
Yes, chicken breast works fine. Cut into equal pieces for even cooking. Be careful not to overcook because breast meat dries faster than thighs. Many people still enjoy it since the sauce keeps the meat moist and flavorful.
4. What makes General Tso’s Chicken different from orange chicken?
General Tso’s Chicken tastes spicier and less citrusy. Orange chicken has stronger orange flavor and sweeter sauce. Both are crispy fried chicken dishes, but spices and sauce style are different. Many people love both and cook them on different days.
Conclusion
General Tso’s Chicken Recipe is sweet, spicy, crispy and deeply comforting. Now you know how to make General Tso’s Chicken at home step by step. The ingredients for General Tso’s Chicken are simple and easy to find.
This dish brings restaurant flavor right into your kitchen. Serve it to friends or family and enjoy happy smiles. Try this recipe soon and enjoy every sticky, saucy, crunchy bite.
Sara Collins is a food blogger at TastyDive. She shares simple and family-friendly recipes made with everyday ingredients. Her mission is to help home cooks enjoy tasty meals without stress.
