Description
General Tso’s Chicken is a classic takeout favorite featuring crispy fried chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. This homemade version is easy to make and delivers restaurant-quality flavors with ingredients like soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and hoisin. Perfect for a quick dinner, this dish is better than takeout!
Ingredients
2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup cornstarch
2 large eggs, beaten
Vegetable oil, for frying
1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil (for sauce)
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
½ cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
½ cup sugar
¼ cup water
1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening)
Green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Toss chicken pieces in beaten eggs and coat them evenly with cornstarch.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat and fry the chicken pieces until golden and crispy, about 5-6 minutes per batch. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Make the Sauce: Heat oil in a small saucepan and sauté minced garlic and ginger for 30 seconds. Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sugar, and water. Bring to a simmer.
- Thicken the Sauce: Mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Slowly add the slurry to the sauce and stir until thickened.
- Coat the Chicken: Toss the fried chicken in the thickened sauce until fully coated.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot over rice or with steamed vegetables.
Notes
For an extra crispy texture, double-fry the chicken by frying it a second time for 1-2 minutes.
You can bake or air-fry the chicken for a healthier version.
Add red chili flakes or sriracha to the sauce for a spicier kick.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 servings
- Calories: 450 kcal per serving