General Tso’s Chicken

General Tso Chicken – this is an easy homemade takeout recipe you can make in just minutes any night of the week.  A lighter version without deep fried chicken, but still so full of flavor with just a little kick. 

We love Asian food, but I don’t always love getting take out. It can be heavy, greasy, and not always that fresh.  But this recipe is light and healthier, but still all the same great flavors! The sauce has a little spice and all that great taste that you know and love from traditional general tso chicken. 

You can even serve with Egg Drop Soup to make it like a traditional Chinese take out meal!

What is General Tso Chicken

It is a dish that is often served at American Chinese restaurants. It is not a native Chinese dish, but something that was founded here in the states.  It is named after Zuo Zongtang, a Qing dynasty statesman, but that is the only real ties to China. It is traditionally made with breaded deep fried chicken in a rich sweet and spicy sauce that is served over rice. 

For this homemade recipe the chicken is coated in cornstarch before it is sauteed in oil. This gives it a little bit of crunch without the heavy breading or dealing with deep frying at home.

How to Make General Tso Chicken

1. Start by coating the chicken.  The chicken sits for about 20 minutes in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch and an egg white. This makes sure the chicken stays super tender and a little crispy on the outside.  The chicken soaks up all the flavor so it gets a ton of flavor throughout.
2. Next mix together the ingredients for the sauce.  Chicken broth, ginger, chili garlic sauce, sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, and garlic all get whisked together. 
3. In a large skillet you heat a little bit of oil over high heat to cook the chicken.  The chicken is cut into small pieces, so it only takes a few minutes for it to be browned and cooked through.  Remove from the pan and keep warm while you make the sauce.  
4. Pour the sauce mixture into the pan and cook for a few minutes until it is thick and glossy.  Add the chicken back to the pan and make sure everything is well coated.  
5. Serve the chicken over white rice. I like to garnish with green onions but you could use sesame seeds or just serve with the sauce.  

You can easily add any veggies you like to this recipe.  Mix in broccoli, bell peppers or even snow peas or a full meal.  

This General Tso Chicken recipe is such a great weeknight recipe. You can get it on the table in no time and so much better than any take out!  I love that you can add whatever veggies you have on hand, make it spicier or milder based on what you like and really just make it your own.  If you have chicken thighs or chicken breasts, this is a great twist on chicken night!  

Other great Asian Recipes To Try

• Cashew Chicken
• Chicken Lo Mein
• Chow Mein Noodles with Chicken
• Garlic Beef Noodle Bowls
• Ground Mongolian Beef
• Kung Pao Chicken
• Teriyaki Chicken
• Wonton Soup

Continue to Content

Yield: 4

General Tso's Chicken

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General Tso Chicken - this is an easy homemade takeout recipe you can make in just minutes any night of the week.  A lighter version without deep fried chicken, but still so full of flavor with just a little kick. 

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 egg white
• 5 Tbsp soy sauce, divided
• 5 Tbsp cornstarch, divided
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, , cut into bit sized pieces
• 2 Tbsp canola oil
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 tsp chili garlic sauce
• 1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp ginger, grated
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 3 cups cooked White Rice

Instructions

1. In a bowl combine sesame oil, egg white, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 4 Tbsp cornstarch. Whisk until smooth (make take a minute). Add the chicken, tossing to coat. Let sit for 20 minutes.
2. In a liquid measuring cup mix together chicken broth, ginger, chili garlic sauce, sugar, 4 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp cornstarch, and garlic. Whisk until combined. Set aside.
3. In a large skillet heat 2 Tbsp canola oil over high heat. Slowly add the chicken. Cook for about 3 minutes aside, until cooked through. Remove from pan, cover with foil, and set aside.
4. Add the soy sauce mixture to the pan, heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. It should start to chicken, and turn glossy. Add the chicken back to the pan. Stir until coated. Remove from heat. Serve over white rice, garnish with green onions.

Notes

Adapted from From Arepas to Zwetschgen

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 344Saturated Fat 1gCholesterol 74mgSodium 1388mgCarbohydrates 28gSugar 7gProtein 28g

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Erin S

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and I’m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

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