General Tso's Chicken

A black plate with white rice and pieces of glazed orange chicken, a classic of Chinese food, garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, with chopsticks and small bowls of sesame seeds and green onions nearby.

5 from 3 votes

This Homemade General Tso’s Chicken is crispy, sticky, and full of flavor! Made with golden fried chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce, it’s an easy Chinese takeout classic you can make at home in under 30 minutes.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Servings:

Author: Carrie Barnard

Cost: $11.46 Recipe, $1.91 per Serving

Ingredients

2 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (cut into bite size pieces, approximately 1 inches)
½ cup Cornstarch
2-3 cups Olive Oil for frying
1 teaspoon Fresh Minced Ginger or 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
3 cloves Garlic minced (or 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic)
½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
Sesame Seeds for garnish

For the Sauce:

½ cup Cold Water
¼ cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Hoisin Sauce
3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, whisk together ½ cup cold water, ¼ cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Set aside.
Toss 2 pounds chicken pieces in ½ cup cornstarch in batches until fully coated. Set aside.
Heat 2–3 cups olive oil in a deep skillet or saucepan to 375°F.
Fry the chicken in batches for 2–3 minutes, flipping halfway through, until browned and cooked through.
Remove the chicken to a paper towel-lined plate.
Carefully remove most of the oil from the pan, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Heat over medium-high heat.
Add 1 teaspoon minced ginger, 3 cloves minced garlic (or 1 tablespoon), and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
Whisk in the prepared sauce and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.
Cook for about 1 minute until the sauce thickens slightly.
Add the fried chicken back to the pan and toss to coat evenly.
Serve warm topped with sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Recipe Tips

Cooking Chicken - It's important to cook the chicken in batches so that it browns evenly. Check the oil temperature before each new batch is added as it will lower the temperature of the oil. Heat until it returns to 375 degrees F before adding the next batch of chicken.
Cooking Garlic and Ginger - You can use a new pan and add 1 tablespoon of oil to the new pan when sautéing the garlic and ginger instead of using the same pan as the chicken if you prefer.
Make Ahead - Fry chicken ahead of time, then toss in sauce right before serving.

Variations Ideas

Sweet Twist - Toss in pineapple chunks for a tangy flavor.
Extra Spicy - Add sriracha or extra chili paste.
Baked Version - Bake chicken at 400°F for 20–25 minutes instead of frying.
Air Fryer Method - Air fry at 375°F for 12–15 minutes, shaking halfway through.
Change Chicken - Chicken breast can be used instead of chicken thighs if you prefer.

Nutrition