General Tao Chicken

4.4
(419)

This General Tao chicken tastes the same as the one served in Chinese restaurants, without the deep frying. Serve on steamed jasmine or basmati rice.

Close-up of General Tso's chicken on a plate with rice, garnished with sesame seeds.
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Prep Time:
25 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
50 mins
Servings:
6
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces

  • ¼ cup cornstarch

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • ½ cup vegetable oil

Sauce:

  • ½ cup chopped green onion

  • 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger root

  • 4 teaspoons sesame oil

  • ½ cup water

  • ½ cup white sugar

  • ¼ cup distilled white vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • ¼ cup oyster sauce

  • ¼ cup ketchup

Directions

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients including chicken, ginger, green onions, and sauces arranged on a table.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Coat chicken pieces with cornstarch in a bowl; set aside. Beat eggs, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl until combined. Stir in flour and baking powder until no large lumps remain. Mix in chicken pieces until evenly coated.

    Marinated chicken pieces in a bowl, ready for cooking.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Cook chicken in hot oil until golden brown and no longer pink on the inside, about 12 minutes. Set chicken aside; keep warm.

    Fried chicken pieces draining on a paper towel next to frying pan.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Make sauce: Reduce heat to medium-high; add green onion, ginger, and sesame oil to the skillet. Cook and stir until onion is limp and ginger begins to brown, about 1 minute. Pour in water, sugar, and vinegar; bring to a boil

    Cooking green onions and ginger in a saucepan with sauces for General Tso's chicken.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Dissolve cornstarch in soy sauce in a small bowl and stir into vinegar mixture along with oyster sauce and ketchup. Cook until sauce has thickened and is no longer cloudy. Stir in chicken; simmer until heated through.

    Fried chicken in saucepan mixed with General Tso's sauce.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

749 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

522 Calories
27g Fat
35g Carbs
35g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 522
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 27g 34%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 148mg 49%
Sodium 1055mg 46%
Total Carbohydrate 35g 13%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 35g 70%
Vitamin C 3mg 4%
Calcium 82mg 6%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 375mg 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.