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General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 148 reviews

A classic Chinese-American dish featuring crispy fried chicken cubes coated in a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy General Tso’s sauce. Perfectly balanced flavors of garlic, ginger, and a hint of heat make this recipe a family favorite that pairs wonderfully with steamed rice.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

  • 3–4 chicken breasts, cut into cubes
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil

Sauce

  • 2/3 cup hoisin sauce
  • 1/3 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sauce: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch. Set this mixture aside to let the flavors meld.
  2. Mix dry coating: In a large ziplock bag, combine the flour, 3/4 cup cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. Seal and shake the bag thoroughly to mix the coating ingredients evenly.
  3. Coat the chicken in egg whites: In a medium mixing bowl, add the cubed chicken breasts and beaten egg whites. Toss well to ensure each piece is coated.
  4. Coat chicken with dry mix: Using a slotted spoon, scoop the egg white coated chicken and let excess drip off. Drop the chicken pieces into the ziplock bag containing the flour and cornstarch mixture. Seal and shake to coat the chicken evenly.
  5. Heat oil for frying: Warm a large skillet over medium-high heat and pour in 1/2 cup of vegetable oil. Heat until shimmering and hot enough for frying.
  6. Fry the chicken: In batches, add the coated chicken pieces to the hot oil, avoiding overcrowding. Fry until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 4-6 minutes per batch. Remove chicken pieces with a slotted spoon and place them on a sheet pan lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
  7. Prepare the sauce in skillet: Once all chicken is fried, carefully wipe out the skillet with a paper towel to remove excess oil. Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to thicken and become glossy.
  8. Combine chicken and sauce: Add the fried chicken back into the skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat every piece evenly with the thickened sauce.
  9. Serve: Serve the saucy General Tso’s Chicken immediately over white or brown rice. Garnish with sliced green onions if desired for freshness and color.

Notes

  • For even crispier chicken, double-coat the pieces by repeating the egg white and flour/cornstarch coating step.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level or substitute with fresh chili for more heat.
  • Use low sodium soy sauce to control the saltiness of the dish.
  • The dish is best served immediately to maintain the crispiness of the chicken.
  • Garnish with toasted sesame seeds or steamed broccoli for added texture and nutrition.

Keywords: General Tso's Chicken, Crispy Fried Chicken, Chinese Chicken Recipe, Sweet and Spicy Chicken, Hoisin Sauce Chicken

Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/general-tsos-chicken-recipe/