General Tso's chicken recipe on a bed of white rice.
A delicious General Tso's chicken recipe that's super easy to make. Made with chicken breast, olive oil, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, red chili flakes, minced ginger, minced garlic, and garnished with sesame seeds and sweet peas.

Recipe updated: April 2nd, 2024

This homemade General Tso’s chicken recipe is amazing. Chunks of chicken smothered in soy sauce and hoisin sauce that is absolutely delicious. Unlike this easy General Tso chicken recipe using a Sun Bird seasoning packet, this recipe we are making today is made completely from scratch. Both of these recipes have great flavors, but in this homemade version, the flavor is just a little bit more intensive. You can also enjoy the benefit of knowing all of the ingredients in the recipe.

We serve General Tso chicken over a bed of cooked white rice, then sesame seeds and sweet peas (optional) are sprinkled on top. We also serve pepper steak, Korean-style ground beef, and spicy chicken stir-fry with frozen vegetables over a bed of white rice. So good!

General Tso's chicken recipe on a plate.

🍴 Key Ingredients

  • 4 to 5 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breast (cut into 1-inch cubes)
  • 1/3 cup of corn starch
  • 1/3 cup of olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons of minced ginger
  • 2 teaspoons of red chili flakes
  • 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds (for garnish)

Sauce Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons of rice vinegar (more to taste if needed)
  • 8 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 4 tablespoons of hoisin sauce
  • 1/3 cup of water
  • 8 tablespoons of granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons of corn starch
Ingredients for General Tso's chicken recipe.
Ingredients for General Tso’s chicken recipe.

👩‍🍳 How to Make General Tso’s Chicken

These step-by-step instructions are accompanied by detailed photos for enhanced clarity and guidance.

Step 1. Cut up the Chicken

On a cutting board or work surface, cut the chicken into bite size pieces, about 1-inch cubes, with a sharp kitchen knife. Each piece of cut chicken doesn’t have to be exactly the same size but should be close to it. Put the cut chicken cubes into a large mixing bowl.

Note: We love white meat, but if you like dark meat you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs.

Cut the chicken into one-inch bite-size cubes.
Cut the chicken into one-inch bite-size cubes.

Step 2. Coat the Chicken with Corn Starch

Add 1/3 cup of corn starch to the same large bowl the cubes of chicken are in, and fold the mixture until all the pieces of chicken are coated with corn starch. Set the chicken mixture aside for a minute.

Coat the chicken pieces with corn starch.
Coat the chicken pieces with corn starch.

Step 3. Put Olive Oil in the Frying Pan

Pour 1/3 cup of olive oil into a large skillet or deep skillet and heat the oil for just a minute or so on medium-high heat. If you don’t have olive oil in the kitchen, you can use your favorite vegetable oil.

Add olive oil to the frying pan.
Add olive oil to the frying pan.

Step 4. Add the Chicken to the Frying Pan

Place the coated chicken pieces we set aside earlier into the frying pan together with the olive oil.

Add the chicken pieces to the frying pan with the olive oil.
Add the chicken pieces to the frying pan with the olive oil.

Step 5. Fry the Chicken

Turn each piece of chicken over as it fries on medium-high heat. Keep turning and frying the chicken for about 30 minutes until all the chicken pieces are thoroughly cooked and a golden brown starts to appear.

Note: If medium-high heat is getting too hot, then turn the burner down and cook the chicken over medium heat.

Brown the chicken pieces in the frying pan.
Brown the chicken pieces in the frying pan.

Step 6. Make the Sauce Mixture

In a medium bowl, add 5 tablespoons of rice vinegar together with 8 tablespoons of soy sauce, 4 tablespoons of hoisin sauce, 1/3 cup of water, 8 tablespoons of granulated sugar, and 3 tablespoons of corn starch. Mix thoroughly with a spoon or a spatula, then set aside for just a minute.

Mix the rice vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, water, granulated sugar, and corn starch.
Mix the rice vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, water, granulated sugar, and corn starch.

Step 7. Sauté the Minced Garlic, Minced Ginger, and Red Chili Flakes

Remove the fried chicken pieces from the frying pan and put the pieces of chicken in a bowl for now while we make the sauce. You can also put the cooked chicken on a paper towel-lined plate if you prefer to do so. Any excess oil will be absorbed by the paper towels. But, leave about a tablespoon of olive oil in the frying pan for the sauce mixture.

Add 2 tablespoons of minced ginger, 2 teaspoons of chili flakes, and 2 tablespoons of minced garlic together with the olive oil that is left in the frying pan. Then, sauté it all together for about one minute or so.

Sauté the minced ginger, chili flakes, and minced garlic for about a minute.
Sauté the minced ginger, chili flakes, and minced garlic for about a minute.

Step 8. Add the Sauce

Pour the sauce we made earlier into the frying pan with the minced ginger, red chili flakes, and minced garlic. Heat the sauce for about 10 minutes, or until it just starts to bubble a slight bit and thicken.

Add the sauce to the minced ginger mixture.
Add the sauce to the minced ginger mixture.

Step 9. Mix the Sauce with the Chicken

Put the chicken back into the frying pan together with the sauce. Mix thoroughly until all the sauce is blended well with the chicken. Heat for about 5 more minutes, or just until hot enough to eat. Serve over white rice and sprinkle some sesame seeds and sweet peas (optional) on top.

General Tso's chicken recipe in the frying pan.
General Tso’s chicken recipe in the frying pan.

✨ Recipe Variations

  • Sprinkle just enough red pepper flakes on the top of your General Tso chicken for a little bit of spicy hot flavor.
  • Try adding some chopped green onions for added flavor.
  • Use golden brown sugar instead of granulated sugar for the sauce.
  • You can add some sesame oil to the sauce if you prefer to do so.
  • Instead of frying the chicken in a skillet, try deep-frying the chicken in hot oil.
General Tso's chicken recipe on a plate.
General Tso’s chicken recipe on a plate.

🙋 FAQs for General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

What do I do with Leftover General Tso’s Chicken?

Put any leftover General Tso chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days.

Do I Have to Use Chicken Breasts for this General Tso’s Chicken Recipe?

No, you don’t have to use chicken breasts for this recipe if you don’t like white meat. You can use any part of the chicken you like the best. Some of the other parts of a chicken will be thinner pieces to work with though, for example, the thighs or wings.

General Tso's chicken recipe on a plate.
General Tso’s chicken recipe on a plate.

💭 Final Thoughts

The next time you are craving Chinese food, why not try making a homemade version of this classic Chinese-American dish instead of driving to the local Chinese restaurant?

Or, instead of calling in for Chinese takeout, whip up this recipe for General Tso’s chicken in the comfort of your own kitchen. Not only is it an easy recipe to prepare, but its bold spicy flavors are sure to satisfy your cravings and leave you feeling satisfied!

General Tso's chicken recipe on a plate.
General Tso’s chicken recipe on a plate.

📄 Recipe Card

General Tso's chicken recipe on a bed of white rice.

General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

Avatar for FloFlo
A delicious General Tso's chicken recipe that's super easy to make. Made with chicken breast, olive oil, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, red chili flakes, minced ginger, minced garlic, and garnished with sesame seeds and sweet peas.
5 from 3 votes
Cost $10
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 47 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 2 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Chinese
Servings 6 Servings

🫕 Equipment

🧂 Ingredients
  

Sauce Ingredients

Garnish

👩‍🍳 Instructions
 

  • Cut the chicken into bite-size cubes (about 1 inch in size). Put the chicken pieces into a bowl.
  • Add the corn starch to the bowl with the chicken. Coat the chicken pieces with the corn starch.
  • Heat the olive oil in a skillet on medium-high for about 1 minute, then add the chicken pieces to the frying pan with the oil.
  • Cook the chicken on medium-high heat for about 30 minutes or until all of the sides are browned.
  • Remove the chicken from the frying pan and put it in a separate container. Set it aside for now, but leave about a tablespoon of oil in the pan.
  • Mix the sauce ingredients and set aside for now.
  • Add the minced ginger, minced garlic, and red chili flakes to the frying pan.
  • Sauté the minced ginger, minced garlic, and red chili flakes for about 1 minute on medium-high heat.
  • Add the sauce ingredients to the frying pan with the minced ginger, minced garlic, and red chili flakes. Cook the sauce for about 10 minutes or until it starts to bubble and thicken.
  • Put the chicken back into the frying pan with the sauce ingredients.
  • Heat for about 5 more minutes or just until hot enough to eat.
  • Serve over white rice and sprinkle with sesame seeds and sweet peas (optional).

*️⃣ Recipe Notes

  • You can use dark meat if you prefer.
  • Sprinkle red pepper flakes or chopped green onions on your plate of General Tso chicken for extra flavor.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Up close photo of General Tso's chicken recipe on a plate.

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5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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