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General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

4.1 from 55 reviews

General Tso’s Chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish featuring crispy fried chicken pieces coated in a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce. This recipe combines a flavorful breading with a rich sauce made from soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and chili flakes for a delightful balance of tastes, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or entertaining guests.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Breading

  • 4 chicken breasts, cubed
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or cornstarch)
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp garlic salt

Sauce

  • 1 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup white distilled vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 6 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp red chili pepper flakes (optional)

For Frying

  • 3/4 cup oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Cube the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour (or cornstarch), paprika, and garlic salt. Coat each chicken piece thoroughly in this breading mixture to ensure a crispy exterior when fried.
  2. Fry the Chicken: Heat 3/4 cup of oil in a deep skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding, cooking each batch until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
  3. Make the Sauce: In a separate saucepan, combine sugar, water, white distilled vinegar, salt, soy sauce, and red chili pepper flakes if using. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
  4. Simmer the Sauce and Chicken: Add the fried chicken pieces to the boiling sauce. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for approximately 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken well.
  5. Serve: Once the sauce has thickened and the chicken is well coated, remove from heat. Serve the General Tso’s Chicken hot, ideally with steamed rice or vegetables.

Notes

  • For a gluten-free version, use cornstarch instead of all-purpose flour and ensure soy sauce is gluten-free.
  • Adjust the red chili pepper flakes to control the heat level to your preference.
  • Make sure to fry the chicken in batches to maintain oil temperature and achieve crispiness.
  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in a skillet for best texture.

Keywords: General Tso's Chicken, fried chicken, Chinese-American recipe, sweet and spicy chicken, crispy chicken, dinner recipe