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
- 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.
- Next mix together the ingredients for the sauce. Chicken broth, ginger, chili garlic sauce, sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, and garlic all get whisked together.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 344Saturated Fat 1gCholesterol 74mgSodium 1388mgCarbohydrates 28gSugar 7gProtein 28g
I created a fun group on Facebook, and I would love for you to join us! It’s a place where you can share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, and see what’s new at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so that you never miss a new recipe)! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to join HERE.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS recipes YOU make!
Connect with Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts!
Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
- No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake - July 1, 2022
- Fire Roasted Salsa - June 29, 2022
- Red, White and Blue Jello Shots - June 28, 2022
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
MMMM, my hubs would love if I made this for him at home! Darn, now I have a recipe I guess I just have to do it. Looks good!!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
This looks so mouthwatering, Erin! Love that you adapted this delicious dish to make at home. I can’t wait to try it!
Shelley C says
Oh my gosh, brilliant choice – I LOVE General Tso’s Chicken, and I also, like you, love trying to make at home versions of my takeout favorites. Your chicken looks delicious – I will absolutely be trying this!!
SeattleDee says
Yum! better than ordering takeout or even dining out. Your version sounds delicious and so do-able.
German Mama says
This looks delicious. Great choice for SRC!
Adventuresindinner says
Great choice! This is one of my favourite takeout dishes but I always feel so guilty when I mow down on it. C: Much nicer.
colleen @ Secrets from the Cookie Princess says
Take out at home always makes me feel accomplished. Great job
Jeanie says
Pinned!
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories) says
My niece is constantly asking for General Tso’s Chicken! I made a light version one time and while she ate it and enjoyed it, she didn’t feel it was quite right. So happy to find yours today!
Hezzi-D says
This has to be my all time favorite Chinese meal. I can’t wait to make it!
Ramona says
I love stir fries and this one is one of my favorites. 🙂 Looks delicious. 🙂
Tracey says
Love this! I already have two general tso’s chicken recipes, but I’m firmly of the opinion that you can never have too many 🙂
Miz Helen says
What a fabulous dish with beautiful flavors. Great selection for the SRC.
Miz Helen
maria @ close to home says
what a great SRC recipe, I have been looking for new stir fry recipes to try and I know I love this at the restaurants so I am sure it will be great
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
My husband always orders this when we order Chinese so I am happy to have a recipe so I can make it at home for him!
Judee @ Gluten Free A-Z says
I am a vegetarian and we go to a restaurant that makes General Tso tofu. It’s my favorite. I’m excited to have the recipe for the sauce. I can make it myself. Great choice
Emily @ Life on Food says
This is our go to meal at Chinese restaurants. This looks great. Asian cooking is always a weekend adventure for me but it never disappoints.
Amy says
Hi there! I am making this right now for dinner tonight. I do have a question though. In the directions, it says to add garlic into the soy sauce mixture but there is no garlic in the ingredient list. Also, the soy sauce recipe calls for 1/4 cup of soy sauce, but out of the 4 TBS that equal 1/4 cup it looks like I have used 1 TBS already in the chicken mixture, so that should only be 3 TBS left to add to the soy sauce mixture. I promise I am not being picky or mean, but just want to let you know that there are a few confusions in the recipe. I am going to go ahead and make it as listed this time though because all your recipes that I have made have always been awesome!!!!!! Thanks! 🙂
Erin says
Amy,
Thanks for the comment. Ok, I just googled tablespoons and got conflicting answers. I always thought 3 Tbls = 1/4 of a cup. Some answers did say 3 but some said 4. I will update the recipe with just Tbls so it is less confusing. As for the garlic, sorry completely forgot to add that in. That was my addition to the original recipe. If you don’t use it, it will still be good.
Amy says
Hi again, Erin! Thanks for the response and even without the garlic, the recipe was delicious!!!!!!! I really did not have any doubt about that! Even my super picky 9 year old daughter loved it!!! 🙂
Erin says
So glad you liked it! Thanks for the comments, I love hearing from readers!
Allison says
Adding this to the dinner rotation list – it is so tasty! Thanks for sharing.
amanda says
This is my go to take out order – so happy to have a recipe that I can make at home now!
Lora says
A great recipe to enjoy any night of the week! Kids always ask for it!!
Bailey @ best chicken in melbourne says
Wow. this is an awesome chicken recipe. It looks so saucy and delicious. I really can’t wait to try this.
Sara Welch says
I love when I can make take out recipes from home; adding this to my dinner line up for the week, indeed!
Tisha says
I’m always looking for a good chinese food home recipe! Can’t wait to try this for dinner!