The Zesty General Tso’s Chicken Recipe You Can Master Today

Crafting an authentic general tsos chicken feels like unlocking a delicious culinary secret from the heart of Chinese-American cuisine.

Savory aromas will dance through your kitchen as you blend traditional flavors with modern cooking techniques.

Crispy, golden-brown chicken pieces promise a tantalizing experience that goes beyond ordinary takeout.

Layers of sweet, spicy, and tangy notes create a symphony of taste that surprises and delights.

Minimal ingredients and straightforward preparation make this recipe accessible for home cooks of all skill levels.

Simple pantry staples transform into an extraordinary meal that impresses without complicated steps.

You’ll want to gather your wok and ingredients, because this recipe is about to become your new weekend favorite.

Why General Tso’s Chicken Brings the Perfect Kick

• Savor Crispy Perfection: Each bite delivers a satisfying crunch with perfectly golden-brown chicken pieces that boast a light, crispy exterior thanks to the cornstarch coating.
• Craft Restaurant-Quality Flavor: Recreate the bold, tangy-sweet taste of your favorite takeout dish with a homemade sauce that combines soy sauce, hoisin, and chili paste for maximum flavor impact.
• Master Simple Cooking Techniques: Learn professional-level frying and sauce-making skills that transform ordinary chicken into a restaurant-worthy meal with just a few easy steps.
• Customize Heat and Spice: Adjust the chili paste and red pepper flakes to create a personalized spice level that suits your taste buds, making this recipe adaptable for everyone at the table.

What You Need for General Tso’s Chicken

• Chicken Thighs: Tender meat that provides a rich flavor and juicy texture for the classic Chinese-American dish.

• Cornstarch: Creates a light and crispy exterior for the chicken pieces during frying.

• Soy Sauce, Rice Vinegar, Hoisin Sauce, Sesame Oil, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Chili Paste: Combines to create a vibrant and glossy sauce with a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors.

• Garlic, Ginger: Adds depth and traditional Asian flavor to the sauce, releasing aromatic oils when sautéed.

• Vegetable Oil: Provides the medium for deep-frying the chicken to achieve a golden and crispy exterior.

• Green Onions, Sesame Seeds, Red Pepper Flakes: Adds visual appeal, texture, and an extra layer of flavor to the finished dish.

How to Make General Tso’s Chicken Step-by-Step

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Pieces

Slice chicken thighs into uniform bite-sized chunks for consistent cooking. Each piece should be roughly the same size to ensure even frying and perfect texture.

Step 2: Coat Chicken

Thoroughly coat chicken pieces with cornstarch, shaking off excess to create a light and crispy exterior. The cornstarch helps develop a golden, crunchy coating that will hold the delicious sauce.

Step 3: Mix Sauce

• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Hoisin sauce
• Sesame oil
• Sugar
• Corn syrup
• Chili paste

Whisk together until the sauce becomes smooth and glossy, creating a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors.

Step 4: Heat Cooking Oil

Pour vegetable oil into a deep skillet or wok, heating to 375°F. Use a cooking thermometer to ensure precise temperature for perfect frying.

Step 5: Fry Chicken Pieces

Carefully lower coated chicken into hot oil, working in batches to maintain oil temperature. This prevents overcrowding and ensures each piece gets crispy and golden.

Step 6: Cook Until Golden

Fry chicken for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally to achieve even browning. Watch for a beautiful golden color and crispy exterior.

Step 7: Drain Excess Oil

Remove chicken using a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain excess oil. This keeps the chicken crispy and not greasy.

Step 8: Sauté Aromatics

• Minced garlic
• Grated ginger

Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, releasing their intense flavors.

Step 9: Simmer Sauce

Pour prepared sauce into the skillet, allowing it to simmer and slightly thicken for 1-2 minutes. The sauce will become glossy and coat-ready.

Step 10: Combine Chicken and Sauce

Return fried chicken to the skillet, tossing gently to coat evenly with the glossy sauce. Every piece should be beautifully glazed.

Step 11: Add Spicy Kick

Sprinkle red pepper flakes over the chicken for an extra burst of heat and flavor.

Step 12: Garnish and Serve

• Chopped green onions
• Sesame seeds

Serve immediately while hot and crispy, enjoying the perfect balance of flavors and textures.

Tips for a Crispy and Saucy General Tso’s

• Master Even Frying: Use a deep-fry thermometer to maintain consistent 375°F oil temperature for perfectly crispy chicken pieces.
• Prevent Soggy Coating: Pat chicken dry before coating with cornstarch to ensure maximum crispiness and prevent moisture-induced sogginess.
• Control Spice Level: Adjust chili paste quantity to personalize heat intensity, making the dish mild or fiery according to your preference.
• Enhance Sauce Depth: Let sauce simmer slightly longer to develop richer, more concentrated flavors that deeply coat the chicken.
• Quick Meal Prep: Prepare sauce and chicken coating in advance to reduce cooking time and streamline the entire cooking process.

Flavorful Variations on General Tso’s Chicken

• Spicy Sriracha Variation: Swap chili paste with sriracha sauce for an intense, tangy heat kick. Add extra sriracha directly into the sauce for bolder flavor.
• Honey Garlic Remix: Replace sugar with honey and increase garlic quantity. Include roasted garlic cloves for deeper, caramelized undertones.
• Crispy Oven-Baked Option: Swap deep-frying with baking chicken on a wire rack at 425°F. Spray pieces with cooking oil to achieve golden crispiness without excess oil.
• Coconut Curry Fusion: Incorporate coconut milk into sauce and sprinkle mild curry powder. Garnish with toasted coconut flakes for tropical complexity.

Best Sides for General Tso’s Chicken

• Enhance Flavor Harmony: Pair General Tso's chicken with jasmine rice for a perfect starch complement that absorbs the tangy sauce beautifully.
• Elevate Wine Experience: Select a crisp Riesling or Gewürztraminer to balance the dish's spicy and sweet notes, cutting through the richness with its bright acidity.
• Cool Down Spice: Serve with a refreshing Asian-inspired cucumber salad dressed in rice vinegar and sesame oil to provide a light, cooling counterpoint to the chicken's intense flavors.
• Boost Beverage Enjoyment: Choose a cold Chinese beer like Tsingtao or a light lager to cleanse the palate and complement the dish's bold seasoning.

How to Store General Tso’s Without Losing Crunch

• Place leftover General Tso's chicken in an airtight container, sealing tightly to prevent moisture and odor absorption. Consume within 3-4 days for optimal flavor and texture.
• Wrap individual portions in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months, ensuring the chicken remains protected from freezer burn.
• Restore crispiness by warming chicken in a preheated oven at 375°F for 10-12 minutes. Avoid microwave reheating, which can make the coating soggy and compromise the chicken's crisp exterior.
• Store sauce separately from chicken to maintain its original texture.

General Tso’s Chicken FAQs Made Easy

• What makes the coating crispy?

Cornstarch creates a light, crisp exterior by absorbing moisture and forming a thin protective layer that crisps up beautifully when fried at high temperatures.

• How hot should the oil be for perfect frying?

Heat vegetable oil to 375°F to ensure a crispy golden exterior and prevent the chicken from becoming greasy or soggy.

• Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?

Chicken thighs work best because they’re more flavorful and tender, but chicken breast can be substituted if desired, though it may be slightly less juicy.

• Why fry in batches?

Frying in batches maintains consistent oil temperature and prevents overcrowding, which ensures each piece of chicken gets evenly crispy and golden brown.

Thunderous General Tsos Chicken Recipe

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4.8 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Savory General Tso’s Chicken brings Chinese-American cuisine to life with crispy, golden-brown bites glazed in a tangy-sweet sauce. Crisp chicken pieces nestled in rich flavors promise a restaurant-quality meal that satisfies cravings and delights you with each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1.5 lbs chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
• 1/4 cup cornstarch

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 3 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp corn syrup
• 2 tbsp chili paste

Aromatics and Garnish:

• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

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Instructions

1. Slice chicken thighs into bite-sized chunks, ensuring uniform pieces for even cooking.
2. Coat chicken pieces thoroughly with cornstarch, shaking off excess to create a light, crispy exterior.
3. Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, sugar, corn syrup, and chili paste in a bowl to create a vibrant, glossy sauce.
4. Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or wok to 375°F, preparing for rapid frying.
5. Carefully lower coated chicken pieces into hot oil, frying in batches to maintain oil temperature and prevent overcrowding.
6. Fry chicken for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy, turning occasionally for even browning.
7. Remove chicken with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
8. In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic and grated ginger for 30 seconds until fragrant, releasing their aromatic oils.
9. Pour prepared sauce into the skillet, allowing it to simmer and slightly thicken for 1-2 minutes.
10. Return fried chicken to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly with the glossy sauce.
11. Sprinkle red pepper flakes for an extra kick of heat.
12. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds before serving hot.

Notes

• Customize chicken cuts by using breast meat for a leaner option, maintaining the same crispy coating technique.
• Adjust spice levels easily by reducing or increasing chili paste according to personal heat tolerance.
• Ensure crispy texture by thoroughly drying chicken before cornstarch coating, preventing moisture from creating soggy results.
• Create a gluten-free version by substituting traditional soy sauce with tamari and using cornstarch-based thickening for the sauce.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 550
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 900 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg