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A close up picture of General Tso Chicken on top of rice.
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5 from 3 votes

General Tso Chicken Recipe

General Tso Chicken is a take-out favorite. It’s everything comfort food should be, crispy, juicy, sweet, spicey, and savory.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: main dish
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: chicken, copycat recipe
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 722kcal
Cost: $10.00

Equipment

  • cutting board
  • measuring cups
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Measuring spoons
  • chef's knife
  • large deep pot
  • pie plate
  • mixing bowl
  • mixing spoon

Ingredients

CHICKEN:

  • 2 ½ - 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • 3 eggs beaten
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoon fresh ginger minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Vegetable oil for frying about 2-4 cups depending on the size of the pot
  • 1 Tablespoon oil for stir fry

SAUCE:

  • cup soy sauce
  • ¾ cup chicken broth
  • 3 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 ½ Tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon fresh ginger minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoon sesame oil
  • 3 Tablespoons cornstarch

FOR SERVING: (all optional)

  • Rice
  • Green onions sliced
  • Sesame seeds

Instructions

PREP CHICKEN:

  • Cut chicken thighs into 1-inch cubes.
  • In a shallow bowl or pie plate, beat eggs.
  • In another shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together flour and cornstarch.
  • Coat chicken pieces in egg.
  • Then coat chicken pieces with flour mixture.
  • Heat 3 inches of oil in a deep pot over medium-high heat.
  • While oil is heating, make the sauce.
  • Line a large plate with paper towels and set it aside.

MIX SAUCE:

  • Combine all sauce ingredients EXCEPT cornstarch in a small bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined.
  • Gradually sprinkle in cornstarch and whisk until thoroughly combined.

COOK CHICKEN:

  • Once the oil reaches 375 degrees F, cook chicken 8-10 pieces simultaneously, depending on the pan’s size, until golden brown.
  • Remove and place on a paper towel-line plate to drain.

COOK SAUCE:

  • After the chicken is all cooked, remove oil from the pan, and wipe down slightly.
  • Add 1 tablespoon oil and heat.
  • Add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
  • Stir in sauce and simmer 2-3 minutes or until thickened.

TO FINISH:

  • Add chicken into the sauce and stir to combine.
  • Serve immediately over rice, sliced green onions, and sesame seeds.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 722kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 86g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 477mg | Sodium: 1364mg | Potassium: 1148mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 269IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 5mg