Fill your dinner plate with flavor with this easy, saucy, ultra-savory, just a bit tangy, and sweetGeneral Tso’s chicken recipe, perfect over rice with a bit of green onion and sesame seeds!

sticky general tso's chicken pieces over rice in a white bowl up close.

ThisGeneral Tso’s chicken Recipeis all the good flavors of a universal favoritetakeout dish, without wondering what’s in it or feeling too indulgent. After all,anything homemade is automatically a bit healthier in my book!And it’s not deep-fried like many traditional versions. This dish is one you’ll want to make week after week, it’s so tasty and addicting.The sauceis pretty much everything; I would drink it if it weren’t frowned upon.

Serve it over yourfavorite rice or other grain(quinoa would also work well to soak up all the saucy goodness). And don’t forget the green onion and sesame seeds on top! They’re not necessary but they add just a little more flavor and texture that makes this dish truly irresistible.The best part is how easy andfast it is to cook up. You just pan-fry the chicken, whisk up the sauce, combine them in your pan, and serve!

general tso's chicken with white rice in white bowl with chopsticks.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It combines sweet, savory, and spicy flavors that appeal to many taste preferences. Thecrispy chicken coated in a tangy saucestrikes a balance that’s so irresistible!
General Tso’s chicken can be varied in so many different ways.You can add noodles or rice, add some veggies, or change some ingredients in the sauce.Make it authentic to your tastes.
Make sure the oil is hot enough before frying the chicken to ensure crispiness andprevent the chicken from absorbing too much oil.

Recipe Ingredients

Chicken breast or thighs
Cornstarch
Olive oil —Other oils work too!
Green onions
Hoisin sauce
Ketchup
Rice vinegar
Soy sauce
Sesame oil
Brown sugar
Ginger —fresh or powdered
Garlic—fresh or powdered
Red chili paste —chili pepper flakes work too!

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make General Tso’s Chicken

chicken pieces dusted in flour in a white bowl.

top view of mixing bowl of general Tso sauce.

Step 1:Combine cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Dredge chicken pieces in cornstarch mixture.

Step 2:Make sauce by combining all sauce ingredients in a small mixing bowl and mixing well.

pan of sticky saucy general tso chicken pieces top view with a wooden spoon.

Step 3:Cook the chicken pieces in batches, using a few tablespoons of oil per batch. Cook each batch for about 6 minutes.

Step 4:Return chicken to skillet and pour in sauce. Stirring occasionally, cook over medium heat until thickened, about 3 minutes.

What does General Tso’s chicken taste like?

There are a bunch of yummy flavors at work in General Tso’s chicken, like garlic, ginger for a tangy bite, green onion, hoisin sauce and soy sauce for a salty element, red chili for a kick, brown sugar for a cut of sweetness, and more. Basically, it’s a big flavor and big-time delicious.

Is General Tso’s chicken spicy?

The good thing about this recipe is that you can make it as spicy (or not) as you like! Scale up or down the red chili paste or red pepper flakes depending on how hot you like it. I like it spicy, but my kids like it a bit milder, so you can also add chili flakes to your own bowl to give yours more heat.

Is General Tso’s chicken healthy?

This rendition is pretty healthy because it’s not deep-fried like the takeout kind or full of questionable ingredients. (I promise you can pronounce everything that goes into it! Well, except maybe “hoisin”—a weird word, but not bad for you!)

General Tso's Chicken with White Rice in white bowl on blue towel.

Expert Tips

Let the coated chicken rest for 10-15 minutesbefore frying to allow the coating to adhere well.
Fry the chicken in batches in hot oil (around 350-375°F or 175-190°C) until golden brown and crispy.Don’t overcrowd the pan, as this can lead to steaming instead of frying.
Pat the chicken dry with paper towels before coating to ensurea crispy exterior.