General Tso’s Chicken 

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My General Tso’s Chicken is crispy, golden fried chicken in a tangy-sweet and slightly spicy sauce. It’s a takeout favorite you can easily make at home for a delicious dinner that’s always a crowd-pleaser!

For a while, I thought I could only get the best General Tso’s chicken from my favorite Chinese restaurant. But after perfecting this recipe, I’ve been making often and loving every bite. The crispy chicken and bold, flavorful sauce are a winning combination I crave often, and I’m thrilled to share it with you!

Love Chinese cuisine? You should try my Orange Chicken and Pan Fried Pork Dumplings.

Why I love this recipe

I love how crispy the chicken turns out every time I make it. Making it at home always feels so much fresher and more satisfying than ordering takeout. I also love the sauce as it has the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors that I can never get enough of.

Ingredients

For the chicken

For the sauce

Step by step

1. Add the chicken, soy sauce, ground ginger, and garlic powder to a bowl. Mix to combine and let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
2. In a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper.
3. Add the egg whites to the chicken mixture and mix to combine.
4. Working a couple of pieces at a time, transfer the chicken to the flour mixture to fully coat. Set aside and repeat.
5. In a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Drop a small amount of batter into the oil to check if it sizzles, if it sizzles it is ready for frying.

1. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, fry the chicken until crispy and golden brown and cook for about 4 minutes. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
2. In a separate saucepan, combine the rice vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, chicken broth, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
3. In a small bowl, prepare a cornstarch slurry by whisking the cold water and cornstarch together. Whisk the slurry into the sauce and continue whisking until thickened about 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Toss the chicken in the sauce to coat. Garnish with green onions and serve with rice if desired.

Variations

While this recipe is delicious just as it is, you can always change it up a bit! This is a great recipe to use boneless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. Or, if you want to make it vegetarian, crispy fried tofu is a fantastic substitute for chicken.

You can also add some vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, or carrots to the sauce to make it a more complete meal.

Serving suggestions

For the perfect meal, serve General Tso’s chicken with a side of rice and a simple side of roasted vegetables to balance out the richness of the dish.

For the complete Chinese takeout-at-home experience, add crispy egg rolls or pork dumplings on the side.

Storage

While General Tso’s chicken is best enjoyed right away so the chicken stays crispy, you can reheat leftovers as well. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat, reheat it in the microwave.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

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