This Homemade General Tso Chicken is a sweet and slightly spicy, healthier lightened up, version that is cooked in just one pan instead of breaded and deep fried.
Make this easy Chinese take-out in the comfort of your own home in just 25 minutes. This small batch recipe for two makes a great lunch, dinner, or romantic date night meal.
Traditional basic ingredients include
- Sauce consisting of soy sauce, rice wine, rice wine vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, dried whole red chili peppers, and garlic
- Batter or breading using egg and cornstarch
- Broccoli, cubed dark meat chicken
A typical restaurant serving of General Tso's chicken may include up to 1,300 calories. This version has only 735 calories per serving.
For information on the origins of this dish check out A Brief History of General Tso’s Chicken.
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How to make General Tso's Chicken
Prepare the rice according to the package directions.
Dice the chicken into bite-sized cubes and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Chop the green onion into small slices.
In a frying pan or wok over medium heat, cook the chicken in 1 teaspoon cooking oil, for about 5 minutes. Click for a large frying pan or a wok.
Move the chicken to a plate and set aside.
Add 1 teaspoon cooking oil to the wok or large skillet. Stir in the green onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook and stir for 1 or 2 minutes. Optionally you can add chopped broccoli and diced onion during this step. Cook until tender and crisp.
Add the sugar, ginger, chicken broth, vinegar, soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon cooking oil and bring to a boil. Cook for about 3 minutes.
Dissolve the cornstarch in the water and stir into the boiling sauce.
Return to a boil and cook until the sauce thickens and is no longer cloudy from the cornstarch, about 1 minute.
Stir the chicken into the boiling sauce. Reduce the heat to low and cook for a few minutes until the chicken is heated through.
Serve over the prepared rice.
You may also enjoy
- Chinese Chicken Ramen Salad
- Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
- Chicken Pasta with Zucchini
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
Homemade General Tso Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked rice
For the Chicken:
- ½ pound boneless chicken
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 teaspoons cooking oil (divided)
For the Sauce:
- 1 green onion (plus more for garnish – optional)
- 2 teaspoon jarred minced garlic
- ⅛ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¾ teaspoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Prepare the rice according to the package directions.
- Dice the chicken into bite sized cubes and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- Chop the green onion into small slices.
- In a frying pan or wok over medium heat, cook the chicken in 1 teaspoon cooking oil, about 5 minutes.
- Move the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Add 1 teaspoon cooking oil to the wok or large skillet. Stir in the green onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook and stir for 1 or 2 minutes.
- Add the sugar, ginger, chicken broth, vinegar, soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon cooking oil and bring to a boil. Cook for about 3 minutes.
- Dissolve the cornstarch in the water and stir into the boiling sauce.
- Return to a boil and cook until the sauce thickens and is no longer cloudy from the cornstarch, about 1 minute.
- Stir the chicken into the boiling sauce. Reduce the heat to low and cook for a few minutes until the chicken is heated through.
- Serve over the prepared rice.
Video
Notes
- Optionally you can add chopped broccoli and diced onion. Add them in at the same time as the green onion and cook until tender-crisp.
Nutrition
Hi and welcome. I’m Zona and I have a passion for recipes. I share recipes, tips, tricks, and resources to help you cook for two. Eat, drink, and enjoy!
