Description
Craving the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy takeout from your own kitchen? This easy General Tso’s chicken recipe uses a quick cornstarch coating on juicy chicken thighs for a crispy exterior. Serve this budget-friendly protein over steaming jasmine rice for a fast weeknight dinner that beats any restaurant version.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 5 thin slices ginger (peeled)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 green onion (finely chopped)
- 1/4 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 tbsp regular soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ cup cold water
Instructions
- Step: In a small bowl, whisk together the listed sauce ingredients and set aside.
- Step: Dice chicken thighs into 1½-inch cubes.
- Step: Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl, add cornstarch, and toss to coat evenly.
- Step: Heat vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in small batches until crispy and golden, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to drain.
- Step: Leave a thin layer of oil in the pan. Sauté ginger over medium-high heat. Pour in sauce and simmer for 30 seconds until thickened and glossy.
- Step: Toss the fried chicken quickly in the thickened sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not pat dry the chicken, as moisture helps the cornstarch stick. Fry in small batches to maintain oil temperature and prevent sogginess. Cool chicken on a wire rack rather than paper towels to keep the crust crunchy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Shallow Fried
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 332 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 1240 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.03 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 144 mg
Keywords: General Tso's Chicken, Chinese, Crispy Chicken, Quick Dinner, Easy Takeout