Best 7 General Tsos Chicken Restaurant Quality Recipes

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Tantalize your taste buds with General Tso's Chicken, a beloved Chinese dish that has captivated palates worldwide. This culinary masterpiece is an orchestra of flavors, textures, and aromas that will leave you craving for more. The chicken is coated in a crispy batter, then wok-fried and smothered in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce. Served piping hot, General Tso's Chicken is a symphony of flavors that will transport you to the bustling streets of China. Whether you prefer your chicken with a mild or fiery kick, this recipe offers variations to suit every palate. Dive into the authentic restaurant-quality version, or try the air fryer or slow cooker alternatives for a healthier twist. With step-by-step instructions and a treasure trove of cooking tips, this recipe is your passport to culinary greatness.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN RECIPE



General Tso's Chicken Recipe image

General Tso's Chicken is a Chinese takeout go-to. Make it all in one dish in the comfort of your home for a sweet and spicy treat!

Provided by Natalya Drozhzhin

Categories     Easy

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 lb chicken thighs (cut into 1-inch pieces)
1/2 cup corn starch
1/4 cup oil (for frying)
2 tbsp minced ginger
1 tsp red chili flakes
4 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp sesame seeds (optional for garnish)
6 tbsp rice vinegar
6 tbsp soy sauce
4 tbsp hoisin sauce
1/2 cup water
6 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch

Steps:

  • Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes. Toss each piece with cornstarch. Set aside.
  • In a separate dish, combine all the ingredients for your sauce together.
  • Preheat a non-stick skillet with oil. Cook each chicken piece until all the sides are golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan. Leave about 1 tbsp of oil in the pan for cooking.
  • Add the garlic, ginger and pepper flakes. Sautee for about 30 seconds.
  • Add the sauce to the skillet and bring it to a simmer then add the chicken and toss to coat. Serve right away!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 413 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Protein 20 g, Fat 26 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Cholesterol 111 mg, Sodium 977 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 11 g, ServingSize 1 serving

GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN



General Tso's Chicken image

There's been a lot of rumor about the origins of this dish; I'll let others fight it out and just focus on its deliciousness! I think that the human palate is drawn to the combination of savory, sour, sweet, salty and spicy. I think that's why we all love this dish. There's a huge difference between the popular sambal oelek and Chinese chili garlic sauce. Sambal is very easy to find but it's twice as hot as chili garlic. So, if you are using sambal, use half the amount.

Provided by Jet Tila

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 1/2 cups (335 grams) broccoli florets
1 1/2 quarts (1.8 liters) vegetable oil, plus 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) for stir-frying
2 pounds (900 grams) boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch (3-centimeter) dice
1 1/2 cups (335 grams) tempura flour, plus 1 cup (223 grams) for dredging
1 cup (240 milliliters) cold water
1/2 onion, cut into large dice
10 to 12 whole dried Thai chiles
1/2 tablespoon (8 grams) minced ginger root
1/2 tablespoon (5 grams) chopped garlic
1/2 cup (90 milliliters) oyster sauce
1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) chili garlic sauce
1/2 cup (95 grams) sugar
6 tablespoons (90 milliliters) white vinegar
2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) soy sauce
1 tablespoon (7 grams) cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) water
1 drop red food coloring (optional)
3 scallions, sliced on the bias

Steps:

  • For the chicken: Place your broccoli florets in a medium bowl and add 2 tablespoons water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 2 minutes, until tender. Drain and set aside until ready to use.
  • Heat the oil in a 4-quart (3.8-liter) Dutch oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) using a frying thermometer. Rinse the chicken in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Mix 1 1/2 cups (335 grams) of the tempura flour and 1 cup (240 milliliters) water into a thick batter. It should look like thick pancake batter. Dredge the chicken cubes in the 1 cup (223 grams) of tempura flour and then coat them in the batter. Fry them in two batches until golden brown and crispy, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain the chicken on paper towels or a rack.
  • Heat a wok or large skillet to high and add 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of oil. When you see the first wisps of white smoke, stir in the fried chicken, onion, chiles, broccoli, and 1/3 of the ginger and garlic and cook them for about 30 seconds.
  • For the sauce: While the chicken cooks, add the oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, chili garlic sauce, sugar, white vinegar, soy sauce, cornstarch slurry, red food coloring if using, 1/3 cup water and the remaining chopped ginger and garlic into a 1-quart (946-millileter) saucepan and bring the heat up to medium. Whisk gently as it comes to a simmer. Allow it to simmer and keep whisking it for about 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat and reserve it.
  • Stir in the sauce and allow it to coat the chicken and simmer. Cook it, folding all the ingredients until they are well coated, about 2 minutes. Garnish with the scallions.

EASY GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN



Easy General Tso's Chicken image

Get the recipe for a fast version of the iconic takeout dish, which takes only 22 minutes.

Provided by Rhoda Boone

Categories     22-Minute Meals     Chicken     Takeout at Home     Honey     Green Bean     Soy Sauce     Ginger     Chile Pepper     Dinner     Quick & Easy

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 pound green beans, trimmed
7 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, breasts, or a mix, patted dry, cut into 1" chunks
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 large garlic clove, finely grated
3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon finely grated ginger
6 (or more) dried whole red chiles, such as chiles de árbol
1 scallion, thinly sliced
Cooked rice (for serving)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss green beans with 1 Tbsp. oil, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, tossing once halfway through, until crisp-tender and blackened in spots, 12-15 minutes.
  • Whisk cornstarch, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a large bowl. Heat 3 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over high. Add chicken to cornstarch mixture and toss to coat. Cook half of chicken, turning occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and a light brown crust forms, 5-7 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, mix honey, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, Sriracha, tomato paste, ginger, 3 Tbsp. water, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl.
  • Transfer chicken to a plate. Heat remaining 3 Tbsp. oil in skillet over high. Cook remaining chicken 5 minutes, then add chiles (you can add a few more depending on your heat preference) and cook, stirring and making sure chiles make contact with bottom of pan, until chicken is cooked through and chiles have toasted and puffed, about 1 minute more. Stir in honey mixture. Return first batch of chicken to skillet, toss to coat, and cook until sauce is reduced and thickened, about 2 minutes.
  • Divide chicken and green beans among plates. Top with scallions. Serve with rice alongside.

GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN (RESTAURANT QUALITY)



General Tso's Chicken (Restaurant Quality) image

I can't wait to make this version of General Tso's Chicken. A detailed write-up and the recipe I found in the February/March 2008 publication of "Cooks Country" magazine. Note: In step 4, the fried chicken pieces can be held in 200 degree oven for up to 30 minutes before being added to the sauce (if held any longer, they will lose their crispness). If the sauce is too thick in step 5, whisk in 1 tablespoon of water before adding the crispy chicken. Note #2: Please note that the time's I've enter are guesstimations only and the marinading time is not included.

Provided by Happy Hippie

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 45m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup white vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 cups water
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1-1/2 pounds cut into 1-inch pieces)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons gingerroot, freshly grated
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups cornstarch
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups vegetable oil

Steps:

  • For the marinade and sauce: Whisk hoisin, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, cornstarchand water in bowl.
  • Combine 6 tablespoons hoisin mixture and chicken in zipper-lock bag; refrigerate 30 minutes.
  • Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
  • Cook garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Add 2 cups hoisin mixture and simmer, whisking constantly, until dark brown and thickened, about 2 minute.
  • Cover and keep sauce warm.
  • For coating and frying: Whisk egg whites in shallow dish until foamy.
  • Combine cornstarch, flour, baking soda, and remaining hoisin mixture in second shallow dish until mixture resembles course meal.
  • remove chicken from marinade and pat dry with aper towels.
  • Toss half of the chicken with egg whites until well coated, then dredge chicken in cornstarch mixture, pressing to adhere.
  • Transfer coated chicken to plate and repeat with remaining chicken.
  • Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until oil registers 350 degrees.
  • Fry half of the chicken until golden brown, about 3 minutes, turning each piece halfway through cooking.
  • Transfer chicken to paper towel-lined plate.
  • Return oil to 350 degrees and repeat with remaining chicken.
  • To serve: Warm sauce over medium-low heat until simmering, about 1 minute.
  • Add crispy chicken and toss to coat.
  • Serving over rice or noodles would be awesome!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2480.6, Fat 224.3, SaturatedFat 29.3, Cholesterol 69.4, Sodium 1554.5, Carbohydrate 85.7, Fiber 2.1, Sugar 18.8, Protein 34.4

GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN



General Tso's Chicken image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 25m

Yield 1 to 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Oil, for frying
1 pound chicken thighs
1/2 cup cornstarch
3 teaspoons soy sauce
3 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes

Steps:

  • Bring oil to between 350 and 375 degrees F. Cut chicken into chunks, then mix together with cornstarch. Fry in oil.
  • For the sauce: Mix together soy sauce, sugar, hoisin, vinegar, cornstarch, garlic, ginger, chili flakes and 1/2 cup water. Toss fried chicken in sauce, then serve.

GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN



General Tso's chicken image

A favourite dish in Chinese restaurants, try making your own General Tso's chicken. It looks complicated but get all the components ready and it's quite easy

Provided by Diana Henry

Categories     Dinner, Main course, Supper

Time 40m

Yield Serves 4 along with other dishes

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 egg white
½ tbsp potato flour
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
2 tbsp Shaohsing wine or medium sherry
500g boneless chicken thighs , cut into 4cm pieces
50g cornflour
50g plain flour
1 tbsp tomato purée
2 tsp potato flour
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
2 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsp Chinese rice vinegar
1 tbsp caster sugar
2 tbsp Shaohsing wine or medium sherry
6 Sichuan long dried chillies (if you can't get hold of these, 1 tsp chilli flakes works well)
1 tbsp groundnut oil
1 inch piece of ginger , peeled and very finely chopped
2 cloves garlic , finely chopped
1l groundnut oil
3 spring onions , finely chopped
3 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Steps:

  • For the chicken, mix the egg white with the potato flour in a bowl, then add the soy sauce, Shaohsing wine (or sherry) and the chicken. Turn the chicken over to coat it.
  • For the sauce, mix together the tomato purée, 2-3 tbsp water, potato flour, soy sauces, rice vinegar, sugar and Shaohsing wine and set this aside. Snip the chillies into 5cm lengths, discarding the seeds.
  • Heat the oil in a wok and cook the garlic, ginger and chillies over a medium heat until they're aromatic and beginning to soften, but not brown.
  • Mix the cornflour and plain flour for the coating with salt and pepper and tip into a broad shallow bowl. Working with one piece of chicken at a time, dip it in the flour mix and set the pieces onto a tray.
  • Pour enough oil into a deep pan to come 8cm up the sides. Heat until it reaches 200C (if you drop in a test piece of chicken, it should sizzle straight away). Carefully add half the chicken pieces and fry until they're crisp and golden - agitating the pieces to make sure they don't stick together - about 4 mins. Lift the pieces out with a slotted spoon onto a double layer of kitchen paper. Repeat with the rest of the chicken.
  • Heat the wok, add the sauce mixture to the garlic, ginger and chillies in there and cook, stirring, until the mixture bubbles and thickens. Add the chicken and half the spring onions and warm everything through. Serve with the sesame seeds and the rest of the spring onions scattered on top. This doesn't give you huge servings so it's best to offer another dish with it, as well as boiled rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 430 calories, Fat 18 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 34 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 30 grams protein, Sodium 3.1 milligram of sodium

MEAN GUY'S GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN



Mean Guy's General Tso's Chicken image

This is an adoptee. I have made it many many times and want to be able to help people out when they make it! One of the best I've ever had. Takes some time, but oh so worth it. Good eats ;-)

Provided by Kirstin in the Couv

Categories     Chicken

Time 40m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 lb chicken thigh, boned and cubed
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup cornstarch, plus
2 teaspoons cornstarch
5 dried chili pods
1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons rice wine
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons soy sauce

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, thoroughly blend the 1/2 cup of cornstarch and the eggs; add the chicken and toss to coat.
  • If the mixture is too thick, add some vegetable oil to separate the pieces.
  • In a small bowl, prepare the sauce mixture by combining the 2 tsp cornstarch with the wine, vinegar, sugar and soy sauce.
  • First-Stage Frying: Heat 1-2 inches of peanut oil in a wok to medium-high heat (350-400).
  • Fry the chicken in small batches, just long enough to cook the chicken through.
  • Remove the chicken to absorbent paper and allow to stand (this step can be performed well in advance, along with the sauce mixture, with both refrigerated).
  • Second-Stage Frying: Leave a tablespoon or two of the oil in the wok.
  • Add the pepper pods to the oil and stir-fry briefly, awakening the aroma but not burning them.
  • Return the chicken to the wok and stir-fry until the pieces are crispy brown.
  • The General's Favorite Sauce: Add the sauce-mixture to the wok, tossing over the heat until the sauce caramelizes into a glaze (1-2 minutes).
  • Serve immediately.
  • Serves 4, along with steamed broccoli and rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 414, Fat 20.9, SaturatedFat 6, Cholesterol 235, Sodium 895.6, Carbohydrate 26.6, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 9.8, Protein 25.9

Tips:

  • Use a large skillet or wok. This will help to ensure that the chicken cooks evenly and doesn't overcrowd the pan.
  • Make sure the chicken is cut into small, uniform pieces. This will help it to cook quickly and evenly.
  • Use a light coating of cornstarch on the chicken. This will help to create a crispy exterior.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when frying the chicken. This will cause the chicken to steam instead of fry.
  • Fry the chicken in batches if necessary. This will help to ensure that all of the chicken is cooked properly.
  • Use a high-quality sweet and sour sauce. This is the key to making a delicious General Tso's chicken.
  • Serve the chicken immediately after it's cooked. This will ensure that the chicken is hot and crispy.

Conclusion:

General Tso's chicken is a delicious and popular Chinese dish that can be easily made at home. By following these tips, you can make a restaurant-quality General Tso's chicken that your family and friends will love. Remember, the secret to a great General Tso's chicken is in the sauce. Be sure to use a high-quality sweet and sour sauce, and adjust the amount of heat to your liking. You can also add other vegetables to the dish, such as broccoli, carrots, or bell peppers.

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