Print

Crispy General Tso’s Chicken Recipe Easy Takeout Style Dinner

Crispy General Tso’s Chicken - featured image
Print Recipe

This homemade General Tso’s Chicken features ultra-crispy, double-dipped chicken pieces tossed in a glossy, sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce. It’s a crowd-pleasing, takeout-style dinner that comes together in under 45 minutes—perfect for family meals or gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Vegetable oil, for frying (canola or peanut oil also work well)
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup chicken stock or water
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil (toasted)
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
  • Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
  • Steamed broccoli or snap peas (for serving, optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and cut into 1-inch pieces. Set aside.
  2. In a bowl, whisk eggs. In a separate bowl, combine cornstarch, flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  3. Dip each chicken piece into the egg, then dredge thoroughly in the cornstarch mixture. For extra crunch, repeat the dip and dredge process. Place breaded pieces on a plate.
  4. Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet or wok (about 1 inch deep). Heat over medium-high until shimmering (350°F).
  5. Fry the chicken in batches, turning with tongs until golden brown and crispy—about 4-5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined tray to drain.
  6. While the last batch fries, whisk together soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, chicken stock, hoisin sauce, cornstarch, and tomato paste in a bowl.
  7. In a clean skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Sauté until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
  8. Pour in the sauce mixture. Stir constantly until it thickens and bubbles—about 2-3 minutes. Finish with sesame oil.
  9. Add all fried chicken pieces to the pan with the sauce. Toss gently until well coated.
  10. Transfer to a serving dish. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot with steamed rice and broccoli or snap peas.

Notes

Double-dip the chicken for maximum crunch. Fry in batches to keep the oil hot and the chicken crispy. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and tamari instead of soy sauce. Toss chicken in sauce quickly and serve immediately for best texture. Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or air fryer to restore crispiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: General Tso's Chicken, crispy chicken, takeout style, Chinese food, easy dinner, weeknight meal, fried chicken, sweet and spicy sauce

Find it online: https://hungermind.com/crispy-general-tsos-chicken-recipe-easy-takeout-style-dinner/