Chinese General Tso’s Chicken
General Tso’s Chicken (also called General Tso Chicken) is one of the most popular Chinese recipes and most ordered chicken dish in Chinese restaurants in the United States.
It’s made of battered and deep-fried chicken in a sweet, savory, and spicy General Tso’s sauce. It’s served at Chinese restaurants, buffets, and as a popular Chinese takeout item.
Many don’t even dare to ask “How to make General Tso’s Chicken?” because they assume that it’s difficult. But the good news is that it’s very easy to make at home.
Who is General Tso?
This chicken originates from Hunan, China. There was a brave Chinese general by the name of General Tso (Zuo Zongtang 左宗棠) and he loved this chicken dish. However, this is largely a US or western reference.
Secret Ingredients:
The authentic recipe of General Tso’s chicken always calls for the following ingredients:
- Soy sauce. Use a good quality soy sauce.
- Dark soy sauce lends nice dark brown color to the dish.
- Chinese rice vinegar plays a vital role in lending the bold vinegary note to the sauce.
- Hoisin Sauce is the secret ingredient.
- Dried red chilies—an important ingredient in Hunan cooking, making the chicken and the sauce mildly spicy.
How Do You Make General Tso’s Chicken?
To make this chicken, you will need chicken meat – I prefer chicken breasts. Cut the chicken into cubes and coat the chicken generously with corn starch. Deep fry the chicken until they turn light to golden brown.
Next, stir fry the minced ginger, garlic, and dried chilies and pour the sauce and cook until the sauce thickens.
What Dishes to Serve with this Recipe?
For a wholesome Chinese meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
Menu and Meal Ideas
Shrimp Fried Rice
Hot and Sour Soup
Ginger Soy Bok Choy
Other Recipes You Might Like
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General Tso's Chicken Recipe
General Tso's chicken - the BEST and easiest General Tso's Chicken recipe ever. It's so delicious and much better and healthier than Chinese takeouts!
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 10 oz boneless skinless chicken meat (thigh or breast, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/2 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- Pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup corn starch
- Oil for deep frying
- 1 1/2 tablespoons oil
- 3 slices peeled ginger (finely minced)
- 1 clove garlic (finely minced)
- 4-5 dried red chiles (rinsed and seeded)
- 2 stalks scallion (white-part only, cut into 1-inch lengths)
Sauce:
- 2 1/2 - 3 tablespoons Chinese rice vinegar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Hoisin sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon Shaoxing Wine
- 1 scant tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
-
Marinate the chicken meat with the Shaoxing wine and salt for 15 minutes. Mix all the ingredients for the Sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
-
Coat the chicken generously with the 1/3 cup cornstarch. Heat up the oil for deep-frying. Deep fry the chicken until they turn light brown. Dish out with a strainer, draining the excess oil by laying the chicken on a dish lined with paper towels.
-
Heat up a wok with 1 1/2 tablespoons oil. Add the minced ginger, garlic, and dried chilies into the wok, stir-fry until you smell the spicy aroma of the chilies. Pour the sauce into the wok. When the sauce boils and thickens, add the chicken, stir to combine well with the sauce. Add the scallion and stir a few times, dish out and serve immediately.
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Darryl
I’d always heard about this American dish and was eager to try it when I went to the states a few years ago. I must have been unlucky because the take-out place I ordered from gave me something that was more like sweet & sour chicken… or is that what it’s supposed to be like? I guess there is a LOT of sugar in the recipe…
Rasa Malaysia
It’s different, this has a spicy and vinegary note. You should try this General Tso’s Chicken recipe.
Poms
General Tso’s Chicken? Seriously??
Rasa Malaysia
Seriously, yes!
Shaun
I have a weakness for two things:
1. Your garlic chicken
2. General Tso’s chicken
Definitely trying this tomorrow!!!
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Shaun, awww, you are so sweet. Thanks! I have more delicious recipes that you should have weakness for, lol.
Eddie Siy
Likewise. Tso chicken seems really good. Cooking it tomorrow
Rasa Malaysia
Awesome!
Diana Bahnert
I like everyone of these recipes. However,I have not tried them out yet. Will do so soon.Thank you for the recipes and the beautiful illustrations. 5 stars for the above reasons.
Rasa Malaysia
Aww thanks Diana. You need to try this recipe!
Doug Beeby
What are the quantities for the General Tso’s sauce.
Rasa Malaysia
The recipe is at the bottom of the page, please scroll down, the recipe card is shaded in pink.
Tom Wells
I am planning on trying your recipe tonight. Just curious if you have ever tried to cook the chicken in an air fryer rather than frying it first.
Rasa Malaysia
No air dryer, it won’t work well as the chicken is battered?
Bryce
What does 11/2 tablespoons mean?
Rasa Malaysia
It’s 1 1/2 meaning 1.5 tablespoons.