5.0 from 168 votes
Quick & Easy General Tso Chicken
Crispy juicy chicken coated in a sweet and savory sauce with a spicy kick! This quick and easy General Tso Chicken recipe is ready in 25 minutes saving you money on Chinese takeout! I also share how to air fry the chicken in the below Notes section. Note: this recipe has been recently improved and updated to modify the sauce ingredient amount.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 3
Calories: 332 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs or chicken breast
- ¼ cup cornstarch or potato starch
- 5 thin slices ginger peeled
- ½ green onion finely chopped
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- ¼ teaspoon sesame seeds optional garnish
Sauce
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 tablespoon Regular soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar/white vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or red chili flakes (add double the quantity if you prefer spicier)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or potato starch
- ½ cup water cold
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients as listed above and set aside.
- Dice chicken thighs into 1.5-inch pieces. Do not pat chicken thighs dry, some moisture is needed for the next step.
- Transfer chicken pieces into a large bowl and add cornstarch. Toss to coat the chicken in the starch evenly.
- Heat vegetable oil on medium-high heat in a large pan. Carefully lower coated chicken into oil and quickly spread apart. Fry chicken in small batches until golden brown on both sides, about 5-7 minutes. Avoid stir frying the chicken and let it sit in the pan to form a crust. To air fry the chicken, see Notes section below for instructions.
- Remove and transfer fried chicken to a paper towel-lined plate or a wire rack for excess oil to drip off. Remove excess oil from pan.
- On medium-high heat, add ginger followed by the sauce. Let it come to a boil to thicken and reduce.
- Toss in fried chicken and mix with the sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds (optional). Enjoy!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- How to Air Fry the Chicken
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with vegetable oil.
- Transfer the coated chicken into your air fryer basket in a single layer, giving each piece enough space. You may need to air fry in two batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Spray enough oil over chicken. Air fry at 400 degrees F for 12-14 minutes until crispy and brown, no flipping required.
Nutrition Information
Calories
332kcal
(17%)
Carbohydrates
29g
(10%)
Protein
32g
(64%)
Fat
9g
(14%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
Trans Fat
0.03g
Cholesterol
144mg
(48%)
Sodium
1240mg
(52%)
Potassium
466mg
(13%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
14g
(28%)
Vitamin A
156IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
39mg
(4%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 3Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 332
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 332kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 32g | 64% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.03g | 2% |
| Cholesterol | 144mg | 48% |
| Sodium | 1240mg | 52% |
| Potassium | 466mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 156IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 39mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.