0 from 24 votes
Better-Than-Takeout General Tso's Chicken
This homemade version of the Chinese-American classic features crispy chicken pieces coated in a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 471 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger root
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup dry sherry or dry white wine
- 14 ounces chicken broth
Meat
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 8 small dried red chilies stems and seeds removed
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 2 quarts vegetable oil
- 2 cups Sliced scallions optional
- Rice, fried or steamed
Instructions
General Tso's Sauce
- Put everything in a quart jar with a lid and shake it up, then put in the fridge. Just shake it up again when you are ready to use it.
Cup of Yum
Meat Preparation
- Meat In a large bowl, mix together the chicken, soy sauce, and hot peppers. Stir in the egg. Add the cornstarch and mix until all the chicken pieces are well coated. (It will look awful at this point.)
- Heat the deep-frying oil to 350 degrees F in a large pot. Cover a large platter with a few layers of paper towels. Set aside the chiles. Deep-fry 7 or 8 chicken pieces at a time until crispy. Drain on paper towels.
- Repeat until all the chicken chunks are fried. Place 1 tablespoon oil in a wok and heat until very hot. Add the scallions and chiles and stir-fry for about 30 seconds.
- Shake the sauce to recombine, then pour it into the wok. Cook until thick. If it gets too thick, add water until it’s the right consistency. Add the chicken to the sauce and cook until everything is hot and bubbly. Serve with fried or steamed rice. Note This does not reheat well, so eat in one sitting.
Nutrition Information
Calories
471kcal
(24%)
Carbohydrates
45g
(15%)
Protein
39g
(78%)
Fat
13g
(20%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Cholesterol
129mg
(43%)
Sodium
1609mg
(67%)
Potassium
815mg
(23%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
20g
(40%)
Vitamin A
595IU
(12%)
Vitamin C
10.7mg
(12%)
Calcium
37mg
(4%)
Iron
1.9mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 471
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 471kcal | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 45g | 15% |
| Protein | 39g | 78% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 129mg | 43% |
| Sodium | 1609mg | 67% |
| Potassium | 815mg | 17% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 20g | 40% |
| Vitamin A | 595IU | 12% |
| Vitamin C | 10.7mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 37mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1.9mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.