General Tso’s Chicken is a popular American-Chinese dish known for its sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor. This easy-to-make recipe offers crispy, breaded chicken coated in a flavorful sauce made from simple pantry ingredients. Whether you’re craving takeout or want to make something homemade, this recipe delivers the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, making it better than any restaurant version!

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Breading

• 4 chicken breasts, cubed

• 1 cup all-purpose flour (or cornstarch)

• 1 tsp paprika

• 2 tsp garlic salt

For the Sauce

• 1 1/4 cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup white distilled vinegar

• 1 tsp salt

• 6 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp red chili pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare the Chicken: Coat the chicken pieces in the flour mixture (flour, paprika, and garlic salt) and fry them in 3/4 cup of oil until golden and crispy. Cook in batches to ensure even cooking.

2. Make the Sauce: In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, vinegar, soy sauce, and red chili flakes (if using). Bring the mixture to a boil and then simmer for 12 minutes or until the sauce thickens.

3. Combine Chicken and Sauce: Once the chicken is fried, pour the sauce over the crispy chicken. Stir and cook for a few more minutes to allow the sauce to coat the chicken well.

4. Serve: Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds if desired. Serve with steamed rice or vegetables.

Nutrients (Per Serving)

• Calories: 321 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 44g

• Protein: 27g

• Fat: 3g

• Saturated Fat: 1g

• Cholesterol: 72mg

• Sodium: 1760mg

• Potassium: 470mg

• Fiber: 1g

• Sugar: 32g

• Vitamin A: 176 IU

• Vitamin C: 1mg

• Calcium: 13mg

• Iron: 2mg

The Crispy Chicken: The Foundation of the Dish

At the heart of General Tso’s Chicken is the crispy chicken. The chicken pieces are coated in a simple breading mixture made from all-purpose flour, paprika, and garlic salt. This breading ensures that the chicken develops a golden-brown, crispy crust when fried, while the inside remains juicy and tender.

• All-purpose flour is used as the base for the breading, helping the chicken to crisp up while also absorbing some of the sauce’s flavors once combined.

• Paprika not only adds a bit of color to the breading but also provides a mild smoky flavor that enhances the overall taste of the dish.

• Garlic salt adds an extra savory kick, complementing the sweetness and spice of the sauce.

By frying the breaded chicken in hot oil until golden and crispy, you ensure that the exterior gets a satisfying crunch, which contrasts beautifully with the sweet and spicy sauce.

The Sweet and Spicy Sauce: A Flavor Explosion

What makes General Tso’s Chicken truly stand out is its signature sauce, which is a combination of sweet, tangy, and spicy elements. The sauce is simple to prepare with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, yet the result is a flavor-packed coating that perfectly complements the crispy chicken.

• Sugar provides the sweetness that is characteristic of the dish. It helps balance the vinegar’s acidity and the soy sauce’s saltiness, giving the sauce its signature balance.

• Water is used to dissolve the sugar and combine all the ingredients, creating the right consistency for the sauce to coat the chicken.

• White distilled vinegar adds the tangy, acidic note that cuts through the richness of the sugar, creating a bright contrast to the sweetness.

• Soy sauce introduces that rich, umami depth, helping to ground the sauce and making it more savory.

• Red chili pepper flakes (optional) provide the heat in the sauce, adding an element of spice that balances out the sweetness. Depending on your heat tolerance, you can adjust the amount of chili flakes to achieve the desired spice level.

Once the sauce is made, simmering it for 12 minutes allows the ingredients to blend together, creating a thick, glossy sauce that perfectly coats the crispy chicken.

Bringing It All Together: Combining the Chicken and Sauce

The key to perfect General Tso’s Chicken lies in the final step of combining the fried chicken with the sauce. Once the chicken has been fried to perfection, you pour the thickened sauce over the crispy pieces and toss everything together. The hot sauce immediately begins to coat each piece of chicken, transforming it from crispy to a sticky, glazed delight that is bursting with flavor.

Allow the chicken and sauce to cook together for a few more minutes. This final cooking step helps the sauce penetrate the chicken while maintaining the crunchiness of the breaded coating. The result is crispy, sticky, and perfectly coated chicken that is the hallmark of a great General Tso’s dish.

Serving Suggestions: The Perfect Pairings

General Tso’s Chicken is typically served with a side of steamed rice to soak up the extra sauce, but there are a variety of other sides that can complement this dish perfectly. Here are a few suggestions:

• Steamed rice: A classic pairing that helps balance the richness of the chicken and absorb the delicious sauce.

• Vegetables: Consider serving the chicken with a side of stir-fried vegetables, like broccoli, carrots, or bell peppers, to add freshness and color to the plate.

• Chinese-style noodles: If you’re craving a carb-heavy meal, serve the chicken alongside some pan-fried or steamed noodles for a satisfying, filling dish.

• Cucumber salad: A crisp cucumber salad with a tangy dressing can provide a refreshing contrast to the rich and sweet chicken.

Conclusion

General Tso’s Chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that delivers the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors. The crispy, breaded chicken combined with the sticky, flavorful sauce makes for a crowd-pleasing meal that is better than any restaurant version. Whether you’re craving takeout or want to impress your family with a homemade dinner, this recipe is sure to satisfy. Serve it with steamed rice and your favorite vegetable sides for a complete meal that will leave everyone asking for seconds!

Whether you’re craving something familiar from your favorite takeout spot or want to make a homemade version, this recipe offers a simple yet effective way to create restaurant-quality General Tso’s Chicken at home. The crispy chicken, coated in a sweet-and-sour sauce, is truly irresistible and makes for a perfect meal when paired with steamed rice or vegetables.