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Savory General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 54 reviews

This Savory General Tso’s Chicken recipe features crispy fried chicken pieces tossed in a flavorful and slightly spicy sauce made with hoisin, soy, garlic, and ginger. It’s a delicious, comforting dish perfect served over steamed rice for a classic takeout-style meal at home.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch (or rice flour for gluten-free)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 large egg whites, whipped
  • 2 cups vegetable or canola oil, for frying

Sauce

  • 1/2 cup hoisin sauce (or mix of soy sauce and sugar)
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar (or granulated sugar)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger (or fresh ginger)
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons water (to mix with cornstarch)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season them with salt and pepper to taste. This prepares the chicken for coating and frying.
  2. Coat Chicken: In a bowl, combine the cornstarch and all-purpose flour. Whip the egg whites until slightly frothy, then dip each chicken piece into the egg whites, ensuring they are fully coated. Next, dredge the chicken pieces in the flour mixture to achieve an even coating.
  3. Heat Oil: Pour the vegetable or canola oil into a deep pan and heat it to 350°F (175°C). You can test the temperature by dropping a pinch of the flour mixture into the oil—if it sizzles and rises to the surface quickly, the oil is ready.
  4. Fry Chicken: Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook them until they are golden brown and crispy, approximately 5 to 7 minutes per batch. Once fried, remove the chicken and drain excess oil on paper towels.
  5. Make Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine the hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, light brown sugar, minced garlic, ground ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
  6. Thicken Sauce: Pour the sauce mixture into a saucepan and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl to create a slurry. Slowly add this slurry to the simmering sauce, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  7. Combine: Add the fried chicken pieces into the thickened sauce and toss well to coat each piece evenly. Serve the General Tso’s Chicken immediately over steamed rice for a satisfying meal.

Notes

  • You can substitute chicken breasts with boneless thigh meat for a juicier result.
  • For gluten-free, use rice flour and tamari instead of all-purpose flour and soy sauce.
  • Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
  • Ensure oil temperature stays consistent during frying to avoid greasy chicken.
  • Leftover chicken can be reheated in a skillet to maintain crispiness.

Keywords: General Tso's Chicken, crispy chicken, savory Chinese recipe, fried chicken with sauce, homemade General Tso's, Asian dinner

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