4.9 from 58 votes
Instant Pot General Tso Chicken
Instant Pot General Tso Chicken uses chicken drumsticks pressure cooked with a fragrant blend of garlic, ginger, dried red chili, and green onions, then shredded and coated in a thickened, tangy-sweet soy sauce. The dish has tender chicken pieces with a glossy, flavorful sauce inspired by classic General Tso flavors.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings:
4
- 6
Calories:
302 kcal
Course:
Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
Ingredients
- 8 - 10 (~2 pounds) chicken drumstick
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) peanut oil
- 10 dried red chili Chinese
- 3 garlic minced, cloves
- 1 - 2 talks green onion , green part finely chopped for garnish; white part cut into 1.5 inch pieces
- 1 (10g) ginger roughly chopped, slice
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) honey (optional)
General Tso Sauce:
- 1/4 cup (63ml) dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) Shaoxing wine
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) Chinese black vinegar or distilled white vinegar
- 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) sesame oil
Thickener:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water cold
Serve:
- 16 - 20 pieces lettuce
- hoisin sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Garlic and Ginger: Heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot: press Sauté button). While the pressure cooker is heating, pour in 1 tbsp (15ml) peanut oil. Add 10 dried Chinese red chili, minced garlic, white part of green onions, and chopped ginger in the pressure cooker, then allow them to slowly release their fragrance. Sauté for roughly 3 minutes.
- Pressure Cook Chicken: Add General Tso Sauce mixture and chicken in Instant Pot. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 12 minutes + 12 minutes Natural Release. Release the remaining pressure, then open the lid carefully.
- Shred Chicken: Place chicken in a large mixing bowl. Remove chicken skin if desired. Shred chicken with a fork. Remove the bones.
- Thicken General Tso Sauce: Remove the Chinese red chili. Heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot: press Sauté button), and bring the sauce back to a boil. Taste the sauce and add in roughly 1 tbsp (15ml) of honey to sweeten the sauce if desired. Mix 2 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir the mixture into the sauce one third at a time until desired thickness. Place the shredded chicken back in the sauce and mix well.
- Serve: Place shredded chicken on lettuce. Garnish with finely chopped green onions. You may also serve this Instant Pot General Tso Chicken Lettuce Wrap with Hoisin Sauce on the side. Enjoy~ :)
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Consider rating the recipe in the comments section if you try it to share your experience.
Nutrition Information
Calories
302kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
25g
(8%)
Protein
19g
(38%)
Fat
12g
(18%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Cholesterol
93mg
(31%)
Sodium
302mg
(13%)
Potassium
453mg
(10%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
18g
(36%)
Vitamin A
880IU
(18%)
Vitamin C
5.1mg
(6%)
Calcium
40mg
(4%)
Iron
1.3mg
(7%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 - 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 302
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 302kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 25g | 8% |
| Protein | 19g | 38% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 93mg | 31% |
| Sodium | 302mg | 13% |
| Potassium | 453mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 18g | 36% |
| Vitamin A | 880IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 5.1mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 40mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1.3mg | 7% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.