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Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken 

This Air Fryer General Tso Chicken is an easy recipe for making classic Chinese takeout at home. The chicken is crispy and juicy, and the sauce has just the right amount of spice. Serve with a side of white rice for the perfect combination.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Marinating Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 488 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese , Asian-American Fusion

Ingredients

For the Chicken
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup cornstarch for coating
  • Olive oil or cooking spray
For the Sauce
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • ¼ cup chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 2-3 dried red chiles or ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch for slurry
  • 2 tablespoons water for slurry
For Garnish
  • 2 green onions sliced
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
For Serving
  • 2 cups cooked white rice optional

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cut the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into 1-2 inch pieces. In a medium bowl, combine the chicken with black pepper, salt, garlic powder, soy sauce, and a beaten egg. Mix well until the chicken is evenly coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid, then refrigerate the chicken for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ketchup, and chicken stock. Stir until the ingredients are fully incorporated, then set the bowl aside. This sauce base will be used later to coat the crispy chicken pieces.
  4. Once the chicken has finished marinating, remove it from the refrigerator. Working one piece at a time, coat the chicken thoroughly in cornstarch, ensuring each piece is evenly covered. Place the coated chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer. If necessary, work in batches to avoid overcrowding. Lightly spray the coated chicken with olive oil or cooking spray. Cook for 8 minutes, then flip the chicken pieces over and spray them again. Continue cooking for another 6-7 minutes until the chicken is golden brown and crispy, with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  5. In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, pour in the sauce base you prepared earlier and bring it to a gentle simmer. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water to create a slurry, then slowly whisk the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce. Continue whisking for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
  6. Transfer the chicken to a medium size bowl and pour the thickened sauce over the chicken. Gently toss the chicken pieces until they are thoroughly coated with the sauce. Make sure each piece gets a glossy layer of that sweet and spicy goodness. I recommend serving your General Tso's chicken over a bed of white or brown rice and garnishing it with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.

Notes

  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket: If you overcrowd the basket, parts of the chicken will not be as crispy. Therefore, keep in mind that you might need to cook the chicken in batches if your air fryer basket isn’t big enough. 
  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket: If you overcrowd the basket, parts of the chicken will not be as crispy. Therefore, keep in mind that you might need to cook the chicken in batches if your air fryer basket isn’t big enough. 
  • Keep the coating light: Shake off any excess cornstarch before putting the pieces of chicken into the air fryer. A lighter coating will also crisp up better.
  • Keep the coating light: Shake off any excess cornstarch before putting the pieces of chicken into the air fryer. A lighter coating will also crisp up better.
  • Be generous with the cooking spray: Don’t be shy with the cooking spray or oil. This helps the chicken get a beautiful color in the air fryer.
  • Be generous with the cooking spray: Don’t be shy with the cooking spray or oil. This helps the chicken get a beautiful color in the air fryer.

Nutrition Information

Calories 488kcal (24%) Carbohydrates 58g (19%) Protein 40g (80%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Trans Fat 0.03g Cholesterol 203mg (68%) Sodium 1869mg (78%) Potassium 611mg (17%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 16g (32%) Vitamin A 267IU (5%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 75mg (8%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 488

% Daily Value*

Calories 488kcal 24%
Carbohydrates 58g 19%
Protein 40g 80%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Trans Fat 0.03g 2%
Cholesterol 203mg 68%
Sodium 1869mg 78%
Potassium 611mg 13%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 16g 32%
Vitamin A 267IU 5%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 75mg 8%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.