General Tso’s Chicken is a flavorful and crispy dish that brings the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and spicy to your dinner table. Tender pieces of chicken are coated in a light batter and fried to golden perfection.
What is General Tso’s Chicken?
General Tso’s Chicken is a dish that typically features battered and deep-fried chicken pieces tossed in a rich, flavorful sauce made with ingredients like soy sauce, ginger, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and sometimes hoisin sauce. Named after a Chinese military leader, this dish has become a staple of Chinese-American cuisine. It strikes a balance between sweet, salty, and tangy, with a slight kick of spice from dried red chilies.
While the exact origins of General Tso’s Chicken are debated, it has certainly earned its place in the hearts of food lovers all over the world. Its popularity in Western countries can be attributed to its mouthwatering flavors, satisfying texture, and ability to pair well with a variety of side dishes.
General Tso Chicken Calories
A typical serving of General Tso’s chicken may include up to 1,300 kilocalories, 3,200 milligrams of sodium, 11 grams of saturated fat and as well as it exceeds 300 mg of cholesterol. One serving will typically be about 100 grams (approximately 4 oz. ) of chicken thigh meat which contains 20-30 grams of protein, over 15% of the recommended B6, greater than 30% of the daily recommended niacin needs and phosphorus and zinc needs.
General Tso’s Chicken can also be cooked with chicken breasts but you know what chicken thighs are something different, juicier and it tastes very different from breasts.
But yes, if you are eating this dish on a regular basis then I strongly recommend using Chicken breast, lean protein, low cholesterol, no fat, and many other health benefits. The more Darker the meat the more it will be in fat content.
General Tso’s Chicken VS Orange Chicken
Both are stir fry dishes in which the chicken is golden browned and then coated with a sweet-savory sauce. Orange chicken is more on a sweeter side and has orange juice in it, whereas in Tso’ chicken, the flavor mainly comes from soy sauce and it is little spicy because of chili flakes.
Recipe Variations
- I am using chicken breasts, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead.
- Hoisin sauce is a must! Don’t skip it, it brings extra flavor to this dish.
- Add a tablespoon or two of dark brown sugar or a tablespoon of honey to the sauce if you like it more sweet.
- To make it spicier, add more dried red chilies while stir frying the chicken.
- Though it is not an orange chicken recipe, you can still add a little orange zest to brighten up the dish.
How to Serve General Tso’s Chicken
General Tso’s Chicken is a versatile dish that pairs well with a variety of side dishes. Here are some popular options for serving:
- Steamed White Rice: The classic pairing. The fluffy rice helps balance the rich flavors of the chicken.
- Fried Rice: For a more decadent side, serve it alongside fried rice, which complements the texture of the crispy chicken.
- Vegetables: Steamed or stir-fried vegetables, like broccoli, bell peppers, or bok choy, provide freshness and color to the meal.
How to Store General Tso’s Chicken
If you have leftovers (although that’s rare!), store the chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The sauce may cause the chicken to lose some of its crispiness, but you can reheat it in a hot pan or in the oven to restore some of the crunch. For best results, store the chicken and sauce separately and combine them when reheating.
Recipe FAQs
1. Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs?
Yes, chicken breasts can be used, but chicken thighs are recommended for their juicier and more flavorful texture.
2. Is General Tso’s Chicken spicy?
General Tso’s Chicken has a mild to moderate level of spiciness, depending on how many dried chilies you add. You can adjust the spice level to your taste.
3. Can I make General Tso’s Chicken ahead of time?
You can prepare the chicken and sauce in advance and store them separately in the fridge. When ready to serve, fry the chicken and combine it with the sauce.
4. What can I substitute for hoisin sauce?
If you don’t have hoisin sauce, you can substitute it with a mixture of soy sauce, peanut butter, and a bit of honey for sweetness.
5. Can I make General Tso’s Chicken gluten-free?
Yes! Use gluten-free soy sauce and cornstarch instead of flour to make this recipe gluten-free. You can also use gluten-free tamari sauce as a soy sauce alternative.
Try my other popular Chinese chicken recipes:
How to Make General Tso’s Chicken?
General Tso's Chicken (Under 20 minutes)
General Tso’s Chicken is a flavorful and crispy dish that brings the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and spicy to your dinner table. Tender pieces of chicken are coated in a light batter and fried to golden perfection.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces (or chicken thighs)
- 1 large egg white
- ¼ cup soy sauce, low sodium, divided
- 1 cup chicken broth, reduced sodium
- ¼ cup cornstarch, divided
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 fresh minced ginger (1-inch piece)
- 3 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce, plus more for serving
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, plus 1 teaspoon
- 2 medium scallions, chopped (greens and whites separated)
- Toasted sesame seeds, for garnishing
Instructions
- Take a bowl, add the chicken, egg white, soy sauce (2 tbsp) and cornstarch (3 tbsp). Combine all together and set aside.
- Heat a pan or pot over medium heat. Add sesame oil (1 tsp), once little hot, add garlic, ginger, and scallion whites. Stir fry for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, sriracha, hoisin and the remaining soy sauce (2 tbsp) and whisk well.
- Add the remaining cornstarch (1 tbsp) and whisk the sauce for about 2 minutes or until thickens. Once thickened, reduce heat to low and keep warm.
- Heat a non-stick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add sesame oil (1/2 tbsp) and add the chicken and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side or until browned on the edges cooked through. Set aside on a plate with a paper lined towel.
- Cook the second batch of the chicken with the remaining oil.
- Once done cooking all the chicken, return the chicken back to the skillet, add the sauce and toss until well coated.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and scallion greens.
- Done! Serve immediately with extra sriracha, if desired.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
4Amount Per Serving Calories 352Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 143mgSodium 1045mgCarbohydrates 17gFiber 2gSugar 4gProtein 41g
dinnerbytes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although dinnerbytes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
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Conclusion
General Tso’s Chicken is a flavorful, crispy, and satisfying dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions. By following this recipe and experimenting with different variations, you can create your own perfect version of this Chinese-American classic. Whether you serve it with rice, vegetables, or as part of a larger meal, this dish is sure to delight your taste buds!
