Easy General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

When it comes to favorite menu items at any Asian restaurant, General Tso’s Chicken is sure to be at the top of the list. Crispy pieces of chicken coated in a sweet and slightly spicy sauce and served with tender bite size pieces of broccoli.

Whether you order it with steamed white rice or enjoy it with a side of fried rice, it is one dish that many people love. However, did you know that you can make it at home, and it’s a lot easier than you might think.

This is especially the case when you use popcorn chicken instead of preparing it from raw chicken breast or thighs. It is a great recipe to make when you are short on time or don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, especially on busy weeknights.

Why Use Popcorn Chicken?

Popcorn chicken is a fantastic shortcut in many Asian inspired recipes. I use it in my Easy Orange Chicken and Sweet and Sour Chicken recipes as well as in this recipe.

The chicken is pre-cooked and breaded, saving you the time it would normally take to cut, coat and cook raw chicken yourself.

In addition, popcorn chicken gets nice and crispy, which makes it perfect for soaking up the homemade General Tso’s sauce. You get all the great texture of crispy chicken without any of the extra prep work.

You can find popcorn chicken in the freezer section at most grocery stores. And sometimes you can even find it at the hot food counter in larger stores.

Regardless, just make sure it is cooked before adding it to the General Tso’s sauce.

General Tso’s Sauce

Even though we’re using a shortcut with popcorn chicken, the homemade General Tso’s sauce is still the main highlight. The sauce is made from simple pantry ingredients that you might already have if you enjoy cooking Asian-inspired dishes. It’s sweet, tangy, and has a little kick of heat that you can adjust based on your preference.

Here’s what you’ll need for the sauce:

• Soy Sauce: The base for most Asian dishes, soy sauce brings that umami flavor we all love. I always opt for low-sodium soy sauce so I can control the saltiness of the dish.
• Light Brown Sugar: This is what adds sweetness to the sauce. Feel free to adjust the amount depending on how sweet you like your sauce or use honey in place of the brown sugar.
• Rice Vinegar: This adds the tangy element that balances out the sweetness of the sauce.
• Chili Sauce: If you like a lot of heat in your sauce choose a hot and spicy chili sauce. However, for those who like a little milder General Tso’s Chicken use standard chili sauce that you find in the condiment aisle at the grocery store.
• Chicken Broth: Broth is added to make the sauce not only go further, but it also adds more flavor as well.
• Cornstarch: This is what thickens the sauce, giving it that perfect, glossy coating that sticks to every piece of chicken.

Adding a Kick to Your Sauce

The great thing about General Tso’s Chicken is that you can adjust the spiciness to your liking. If you enjoy a mild sauce, you can stick with a small amount of red pepper flakes.

But if you want more heat, add more red pepper flakes or even some dried red chiles while cooking the sauce. You could also spice it up at the table, letting each person add their own level of heat.

How to Cook the Dish

1. Cook the popcorn chicken: Follow the instructions on the bag for either baking or air frying. Aim for a crispy texture, so the chicken can hold up well when tossed in the sauce.
2. Make the sauce: While the chicken is cooking make the sauce by whisking together the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, chili sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch in a one cup liquid measuring cup. Then add it to a hot skillet and cook until it thickens, which should take just a couple of minutes.
3. Toss the chicken in the sauce: Once the sauce has thickened, add the cooked popcorn chicken to the skillet and toss it in the sauce until every piece is coated. This is also the time to add any vegetables you want to include, like steamed broccoli or bell peppers.

How to Serve General Tso’s Chicken

The best way to serve General Tso’s Chicken is with white rice or fried rice. The rice helps soak up all that delicious sauce. You can sprinkle the top of the chicken with some sesame seeds and sliced green onions for a bit of extra texture and flavor.

Storing Recommendations

Since this recipe is designed for two people, you can easily plate up a perfect portion without any leftovers. But if you do have extra sauce or chicken, it stores well in the fridge for a quick reheated lunch the next day.

Easy General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 servings popcorn chicken, cooked

General Tso’s Chicken Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon chili sauce
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  

For Serving (optional):

• cooked white or fried rice
• sliced green onions and/or sesame seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook the popcorn chicken in the oven or air fryer per package instructions.

While the chicken is cooking combine all of the sauce ingredients in a 1 cup liquid measuring cup and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Preheat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Whisk the sauce one final time and add the sauce to the skillet.

Bring the sauce to a simmer while whisking constantly. Simmer for 1 minute so that the sauce begins to thicken.

Add the chicken to the skillet and gently toss to coat. Cook for 2-3 minutes, tossing frequently so that the breading on the chicken is coated in the sauce.

Remove the skillet from the heat and serve immediately with cooked white or fried rice. Garnish with sesame seeds and/or diced green onions if desired.

As you can see in just a few simple steps, you can enjoy restaurant-quality General Tso’s Chicken in the comfort of your own home in only 15 minutes! So the next time you’re craving Chinese takeout, give this quick and easy recipe a try!

Enjoy! Mary

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