5 from 64 votes
General Tso Recipe
General Tso’s chicken features tender pieces of chicken breast cooked lightly then coated in a thick, tangy sauce made with soy, hoisin, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and a hint of chili. The sauce is thickened with cornstarch and finishes glossy with a sprinkle of green onions and sesame seeds. It delivers a balance of sweet, savory, and mildly spicy flavors over moist chicken, served best over rice.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings:
6
servings
Calories:
246 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Asian
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast cut into 1” pieces, boneless, skinless
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons soy sauce low-sodium
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 6 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon ginger minced
- ¼ teaspoon red chile puree
- 3 garlic minced, cloves
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water cold
- 1 green onion sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Add to a skillet over medium-high heat with the avocado oil.
- Cook, stirring until chicken is cooked through.
- In a small mixing bowl, make the sauce by combining brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, red chile puree, and garlic. Whisk until completely combined.
- Add the sauce to the chicken and turn the heat down to medium.
- In a separate small bowl, make the cornstarch slurry by whisking together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth.
- When the sauce begins to boil, pour in the cornstarch slurry. Mix simmering until the sauce thickens.
- Serve over rice topped with sliced green onion and sesame seeds.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Avoid overcooking the chicken; add the sauce when chicken is nearly done to maintain tenderness.
- To increase spiciness, add more chili puree, sriracha, or red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- The sauce is versatile and works well with shrimp or pork as alternatives to chicken.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
246kcal
(12%)
Carbohydrates
19g
(6%)
Protein
26g
(52%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Trans Fat
0.01g
(1%)
Cholesterol
73mg
(24%)
Sodium
1285mg
(54%)
Potassium
533mg
(11%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
12g
(24%)
Vitamin A
56IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
41mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 246
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 246kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 19g | 6% |
| Protein | 26g | 52% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 73mg | 24% |
| Sodium | 1285mg | 54% |
| Potassium | 533mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 12g | 24% |
| Vitamin A | 56IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 41mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.