Description
This homemade General Tso’s Chicken is crispy, tangy, and just the right amount of sweet and spicy. A takeout favorite made even better at home — perfectly fried chicken coated in a sticky, flavorful sauce that’s ready in under 40 minutes!
Ingredients
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 eggs, beaten
Vegetable oil, for frying
Sauce:
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tbsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp grated ginger
1–2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, toss chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and cornstarch until evenly coated.
2. Dip each chicken piece into the beaten eggs to coat.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
4. Fry the chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 4–5 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sugar, cornstarch, and chicken broth.
6. In a clean pan or wok, heat sesame oil over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
7. Pour the sauce mixture into the pan and cook until thickened, about 2–3 minutes.
8. Add the fried chicken pieces and toss until evenly coated with the sauce.
9. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
10. Serve hot with steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables.
Notes
For extra crispiness, double-fry the chicken before tossing in the sauce.
Adjust the heat level by adding more or fewer red pepper flakes.
Can substitute chicken breast for thighs if preferred — just don’t overcook to keep it juicy.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: general tso’s chicken, homemade takeout, crispy chicken, sweet and spicy sauce, Asian dinner