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Crispy General Tso Chicken Recipe

Anastasia Blogger Recipes Leave a Comment

I am sure there are days when you are craving for some delicious Chinese cuisine. Do not worry, I know exactly how you feel. But instead of ordering takeout from a random Chinese restaurant, why not make one on your own?

In this post, I will share with you an easy but tasty General Tso Chicken recipe! If you’ve ever found yourself craving the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors all in one bite, then you are in for a culinary treat.

In this article, I will guide you through the step-by-step process of creating this iconic Chinese-American dish right in your own kitchen. From crispy chicken pieces to the delicious, tangy sauce that coats them – it is time for you to satisfy your Chinese cuisine cravings without spending a dime on takeout! 

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How to make General Tso Crispy Chicken Recipe

You do not need any culinary experience to do this dish! I absolutely love this recipe because it is easy to make yet very tasty and tastes just like your favorite takeout. With that in mind, it is time to say goodbye to the delivery menu and hello to homemade General Tso Chicken!

Ingredients for sauce: 

  • 3 tbsp soy sauce – light or all-purpose 
  • 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp chilli paste , any 
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup chicken stock/broth, low sodium
  • 1 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch
  • 1 tsp sesame oil 

Ingredients for chicken:

  • 600g/ 1.4 lb chicken thighs, boneless skinless, cut into 2.5cm or 1-inch pieces 
  • 1 tsp ginger , finely grated
  • 1 tsp garlic ,finely grated
  • 1 cup cornflour or cornstarch
  • canola or vegetable oil for frying

Ingredients for stir fry sauce:

  • 2 tbsp oil 
  • 2 tsp ginger, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chilli flakes

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Directions:

For the first step, make the sauce marinade for the chicken. Mix the soy sauce, hoisin, vinegar, chili, and sesame oil.

Take 2 tablespoons of the Sauce-Marinade and mix it with the chicken. Add ginger and the garlic to chicken. Mix everything and marinate the chicken for 30 minutes.

After marinating, coat the chicken in cornflour in a bowl and toss to coat. Make sure the chicken pieces are separate from each other so they are fully coated.

Shake off the excess cornflour from the chicken. 

Add sugar and cornflour to the remaining Sauce-Marinade. Mix everything and then add the chicken stock. Mix everything. 

Cook the chicken using your preferred amount of oil. You can also deep fry the chicken. Cook chicken for about 3 minutes or until golden and crispy.

Place chicken on a plate. Drain or clean the oil from the used skillet using paper towels.

On the same skillet, it’s time to make the stir fry sauce. Sauté garlic, ginger, and chilli flakes until garlic is golden. Afterwards, add the sauce in.

Simmer the sauce for 2 minutes until the consistency thickens enough, then add the fried chicken. 

Quickly toss and coat chicken with sauce.

Transfer to a plate and add your favorite garnishing. Best served hot. 

More notes and tips for the best General Tso Chicken

This great recipe can easily be made by following the instructions I have provided. But if you need more tips and tricks in making this recipe to get the best result, then I have here more chef notes for the best General Tso Chicken: 

  • It is best to ensure the ingredients are all prepped and ready to go ahead of time before doing the recipe since General Tso Chicken comes together quickly, so having everything within reach helps your cooking process easier. 
  • If you want your pieces of chicken to be extra crispy, dip the marinated pieces in a mixture of cornstarch and egg not just once, but twice. Then toss the chicken to coat when cooking. This double coating enhances the crunchiness when fried.
  • I recommend frying the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan to ensure that each fried chicken piece gets golden and crispy. Drain the excess oil on paper towels after frying.
  •  If you want flavor for your chicken, your best chicken piece will be the chicken thighs. You can also use chicken breast but it may tend to be too dry for this recipe.
  • If you do not have time to prepare chicken, you can use chicken nuggets as well for a quick and easy general tso’s chicken recipe.
  • In this recipe, you will be using cornstarch to thicken the General Tso’s sauce. Mix the cornstarch with water before adding it to the sauce to prevent lumps. 
  • If you want to add that extra nutty flavor to your dish, you can add a touch of sesame oil at the end. 
  • For your garnishing, you can sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped green onions on top before serving.
  • Use a non stick pan when cooking as the coating can be a bit delicate along with the sticky sauce. 
  • You can also add your preferred spices to make a more spicy sauce. 

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What to serve with General Tso Chicken

This delicious recipe is perfect to be eaten on its own, but General Tso’s Chicken can also be paired with a bunch of other side dishes such as:

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How to store General Tso Chicken leftovers 

If you have any leftover remaining chicken, then do not worry because you do not need to throw them away immediately. There are different ways on how you can store General Tso’s Chicken:

  • Before storing, allow the remaining chicken to cool down at room temperature. Do not leave out too long for more than 2 hours to prevent bacterial growth. 
  • Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container or sealable plastic bags and then place them in the refrigerator. General Tso Chicken should remain good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. 
  • If you are looking into a more long-term storage, you can freeze the chicken for longer storage. Just make sure that the containers are suitable for freezing.
  • Reheat your General Tso Chicken in a microwave, oven, or stovetop. If the sauce becomes thick during storage, just add a splash of water or chicken broth while reheating. 

Recipe Card

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Easy and Tasty General Tso Chicken Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Are you a sucker for Chinese food? How about a good, authentic General Tso's Chicken? If so, then good news for you because you can now make your own instead of ordering takeout. Give this recipe a try! 

Ingredients

  • Ingredients for sauce: 
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce - light or all-purpose 
  • 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp chilli paste , any 
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup chicken stock/broth, low sodium
  • 1 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch
  • 1 tsp sesame oil 
  • Ingredients for chicken:
  • 600g/ 1.4 lb chicken thighs, boneless skinless, cut into 2.5cm or 1-inch pieces 
  • 1 tsp ginger , finely grated
  • 1 tsp garlic ,finely grated
  • 1 cup cornflour or cornstarch
  • canola or vegetable oil for frying
  • Ingredients for stir fry sauce:
  • 2 tbsp oil 
  • 2 tsp ginger, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chilli flakes

Instructions

    1. For the first step, make the sauce marinade for the chicken. Mix the soy sauce, hoisin, vinegar, chili, and sesame oil.
    2. Take 2 tablespoons of the Sauce-Marinade and mix it with the chicken. Add ginger and the garlic to chicken. Mix everything and marinate the chicken for 30 minutes.
    3. After marinating, coat the chicken in cornflour in a bowl and toss to coat. Make sure the chicken pieces are separate from each other so they are fully coated.
    4. Shake off the excess cornflour from the chicken. 
    5. Add sugar and cornflour to the remaining Sauce-Marinade. Mix everything and then add the chicken stock. Mix everything. 
    6. Cook the chicken using your preferred amount of oil. You can also deep fry the chicken. Cook chicken for about 3 minutes or until golden and crispy.
    7. Place chicken on a plate. Drain or clean the oil from the used skillet using paper towels.
    8. On the same skillet, it's time to make the stir fry sauce. Sauté garlic, ginger, and chilli flakes until garlic is golden. Afterwards, add the sauce in.
    9. Simmer the sauce for 2 minutes until the consistency thickens enough, then add the fried chicken. 
    10. Quickly toss and coat chicken with sauce.
    11. Transfer to a plate and add your favorite garnishing. Best served hot. 
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