General Tso Chicken Recipe: Crispy Sweet and Spicy Classic 2026

General Tso chicken is an irresistible Chinese-American dish that brings together sweet, salty, spicy and tangy flavors in every bite. The chicken is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in a glossy sauce that clings to every piece. This recipe shows you how to make it at home, step by step, in about 25 minutes.

The secret to this dish is cooking the chicken twice: first it is fried with a cornstarch coating to build a crunchy shell, then it is tossed in a caramelized sauce that gives it its signature shine and flavor. Although the traditional version uses chicken, there are many variations today. Some vegetarian restaurants make it with tofu instead of meat, and in other versions the chicken can be replaced with beef, pork or shrimp.

For this recipe we chose boneless chicken thighs, which turn out juicier and more flavorful than breasts, though you can also use breast if you prefer leaner meat. It is most commonly served with white rice to balance the intense sauce, and it is often paired with sautéed broccoli for a touch of freshness.

Ingredients for General Tso Chicken

This recipe makes 4 servings.

• 500 g boneless chicken thighs
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 100 ml soy sauce
• 1 egg
• 100 ml hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 100 g cornstarch
• Sunflower oil (for frying)
• A few sesame seeds (for the final garnish)
• 1 green scallion stalk (for the final garnish)

How to Make General Tso Chicken Step by Step

1. Cut the Chicken

Start by cutting 500 g of boneless chicken thighs into regular, bite-sized pieces, and place them in a bowl.

2. Add the Aromatics and Soy Sauce

Chop 3 garlic cloves and add them to the bowl with the chicken. Also add 1 teaspoon of chili flakes, 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, reserving the rest for the sauce.

3. Add the Egg and Marinate

Add 1 egg and mix well so the chicken absorbs all the flavors. Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

4. Prepare the Sauce

While the chicken rests in the refrigerator, prepare the sauce. In a bowl, mix 100 ml of hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Stir well until the sugar dissolves completely. Set aside.

5. Coat the Chicken in Cornstarch

Take the chicken out of the refrigerator and coat it in batches with 100 g of cornstarch, making sure each piece is well covered.

6. Fry the Chicken in Batches

Heat plenty of sunflower oil in a deep skillet or wok and fry the chicken in batches over high heat, until it is golden and crispy on the outside and fully cooked inside.

7. Drain on Paper Towels

Remove the chicken from the oil and place it on paper towels to remove the excess fat.

8. Return the Chicken and Add the Sauce

Once all the chicken is fried, return it to the skillet, this time without oil, and pour the reserved sauce over the top.

9. Cook with the Sauce and Garnish

Now cook the chicken over low heat for 1 or 2 minutes, stirring so the sauce coats every piece well. Finish this tasty chicken dish by sprinkling a few sesame seeds and 1 chopped scallion stalk over the top.

10. Serve with White Rice

Serve the General Tso chicken fresh from the pan, accompanied by white rice.

Tips for the Best General Tso Chicken

Choose the Right Cut of Chicken

Boneless chicken thighs are juicier and more flavorful than breasts, which makes them ideal for this dish. If you prefer leaner meat, you can use chicken breast instead, but keep an eye on the frying time so it does not dry out.

Fry in Batches for Maximum Crunch

Crowding the pan lowers the oil temperature and makes the chicken greasy instead of crispy. Fry in small batches over high heat, and drain each batch on paper towels before returning everything to the pan with the sauce.

Balance the Sauce and Serve Right Away

The sauce should be sweet, salty, spicy and tangy all at once, so taste it before pouring it over the chicken. Serve the dish as soon as it is coated, with white rice to balance the intense flavor and sautéed broccoli for a touch of freshness.

30 Home-Cooked Recipes I Keep Coming Back To

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a little bit of everything — cozy comfort plates, tried-and-true dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luxurious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only something fruity and soothing will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

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And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks alongside a full menu, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and flavor that really pops.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over — whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a favorite of mine when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled after the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture pays off, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and unfussy sounds right, I tend to go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine — among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, golden Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

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And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and completely gratifying without any gluten.

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