Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken
User Reviews
4.7
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
10 mins
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Total Time
25 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
312 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Asian
Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken
Description
Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken starts with marinating chicken thigh pieces in soy sauce, then coating them in cornstarch to form a light crust. Cooking them in an air fryer at 400°F for 8-10 minutes crisps the exterior while keeping the inside juicy without excess oil. The sauce is prepared separately by sautéing ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes in oil, then adding soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, chicken stock, brown sugar, and toasted sesame oil. This mixture simmers briefly before thickening with a cornstarch slurry.
Once the chicken is cooked, it’s combined with the sauce and garnished with sliced scallions and sesame seeds. The dish offers a balance of savory, sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy flavors alongside tender, crispy chicken pieces. This version reduces frying oil while maintaining the iconic characteristics of General Tso’s Chicken.
Serve this with steamed rice or vegetables to complete a meal. The recipe includes substitutions for gluten-free ingredients and alternative cooking methods like stovetop sautéing or oven baking. Leftovers can be refrigerated for several days or frozen for longer storage.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds chicken thighs boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces, about 8 thighs
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce reduced sodium, or tamari if gluten free
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
Sauce
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil or other neutral-flavored oil
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon garlic
- ⅛-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce reduced sodium, or tamari if gluten free
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce can use gluten-free hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- ¾ cup chicken stock reduced sodium
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil toasted
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 scallion sliced
- sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Mix the chicken with 2 teaspoons soy sauce and let it sit for a few minutes to marinate. Then, toss the chicken and cornstarch together in a large zip topped plastic bag until the chicken pieces are fully coated.
- Spray or brush the air fryer rack with oil and arrange the chicken pieces on the rack in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pan (you may have to cook the chicken in batches). Cook 8-10 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Shake the basket halfway through. Remove the chicken and place on a plate. Cook the remaining chicken.
- To make the sauce, heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the soy sauce, Hoisin sauce, chicken stock, vinegar, brown sugar, and sesame oil and simmer 2-3 minutes. Mix the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water and add it to the saucepan. Simmer another minute or two until thickened. Remove from heat.
- Remove chicken from the air fryer and toss with the sauce. Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds. Serve with brown rice.
Notes
- Use tamari and gluten-free hoisin sauce to keep this dish gluten free.
- If you don't have an air fryer, cook the chicken in a skillet with olive oil or bake on a sheet pan at 400°F until cooked through.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 312 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 312kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 18g | 6% |
| Protein | 35g | 70% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 162mg | 54% |
| Sodium | 717mg | 30% |
| Potassium | 517mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 119IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 32mg | 3% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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