If you ask me what my favorite menu item to order when I head to my local Asian restaurant, without hesitation I would tell you that it is General Tso’s Chicken. Lightly breaded chicken tossed in a slightly sweet and spicy Asian sauce and served with tender broccoli and cooked white rice.
It is my go to meal no matter what Asian restaurant that I end up at. However, now that I have learned to make it at home, I rarely order it when we go out. That is because I can make this dish exactly how I like it right in my own kitchen.
Although this meal isn’t naturally spicy, you can easily make it to the spice level that you like by adding more crushed red pepper flakes or by adding dry red chiles to the sauce as it cooks. Or simply add the extra heat when you go to serve it.
Either way you are going to love how easy it is to make and adapt this recipe to your liking. Not to mention, you can have it made and ready to eat in only 20 minutes.
That alone makes it the perfect meal to make on a busy weeknight. But it is also a great recipe to make at the spur of the moment when the craving for Chinese food hits you.
With a few basic ingredients that are commonly found in Chinese cuisine, you will have dinner on the table in no time, and with very little effort!
What Type of Chicken To Use
When it comes to what type of chicken to use to make the best General Tso’s chicken the answer is clear. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs not only provides the most flavor but is the most tender chicken when cooked correctly.
Just be sure to trim the excessive fat off of the chicken and discard. Then cut the chicken into small, bite size pieces that are approximately 1⁄2-1 inch in size. This will allow you to eat your meal without the need for a knife.
However, if you are looking for a slightly healthier meal, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe instead. Just be sure to cut the meat in similar size pieces so that they all cook at the same rate.
General Tso’s Chicken Sauce
To gain that classic sauce flavor that you have come to love you will need 5 basic ingredients that are commonly found in Chinese cuisine. If you have made my Island Noodles or Cashew Chicken recipe you will most likely already have these ingredients on hand.
Soy Sauce – The base of nearly all sauces used in Asian cuisine. As always I prefer to use low-sodium soy sauce so that the salt content can be controlled.
Rice Vinegar – If you make just about any Chinese inspired recipe, you will be familiar with rice vinegar. Not only does the vinegar provide great flavor, it also tenderizes the meat.
Hoisin Sauce – Hoisin sauce is a thick, dark, and flavorful sauce that is made from a combination of fermented soybeans, sugar and spices. Although it is most often served as a condiment, it can also be included in marinades or stir-fry sauces. You can find it in the Asian aisle at the grocery and sometimes in the general condiment aisle at larger grocery stores.
Light Brown Sugar – The sweetness of General Tso’s sauce comes from the addition of light brown sugar. If you like a sweeter sauce, use the full amount listed. However, you can choose to use less if you prefer.
Cornstarch – In order for the sauce to thicken and coat the chicken pieces perfectly, cornstarch is used in two different ways. First, the chicken pieces are coated in cornstarch before they are pan-seared. Then more cornstarch is added to the sauce itself so that it becomes nice and thick, almost instantly.
Optional Vegetable Additions
Depending on what restaurant you purchase your General Tso’s chicken there may be a variety of vegetables included in the dish. However, the most common vegetable included is broccoli.
Feel free to steam broccoli until it is just fork tender. Then toss it in the sauce when you add the cooked chicken to the wok or skillet.
You can also include chunks of onion, bell peppers and/or mushrooms to the mix if you prefer. The choice is totally up to you.
How To Serve General Tso’s Chicken
When it comes to serving suggestions, I like to keep it plain and simple. Serve the chicken with plain white rice or alongside fried rice.
Then sprinkle the top with sesame seeds and diced green onions. That is all you need to enjoy this delicious and filling meal! However, if you have a couple of extra fortune cookies on hand, it is a great way to end the meal!
General Tso’s Chicken Recipe For Two
*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
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 1⁄2-1 inch pieces
- 1⁄4 cup cornstarch
- 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
- 1 TBSP minced ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1⁄4 tsp. red pepper flakes, more to taste
- 1⁄2 tsp. sesame seeds, (optional for garnish)
General Tso’s Sauce Ingredients
- 1⁄4 cup cold water
- 2 1⁄2 TBSP soy sauce, low-sodium
- 1 1⁄2 TBSP rice vinegar
- 3⁄4 TBSP hoisin sauce
- 2 TBSP light brown sugar, packed
- 3⁄4 TBSP cornstarch
INSTRUCTIONS
Cut the chicken into 1⁄2-1 inch cubes and add to a large resealable plastic bag. Add the cornstarch to the bag, seal, and shake until the chicken is coated. Set aside.
In a one cup liquid measuring cup, combine all of the sauce ingredients and whisk to combine. Set aside.
Preheat a non-stick skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add the extra virgin olive oil.
Once hot, remove the chicken from the bag, shaking off any excess, and add the chicken pieces to the skillet. If your skillet is not large enough to fit all the pieces, work in batches and add oil as needed. Cook until the chicken is golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Use tongs to remove the chicken from the skillet and place in a medium sized, shallow bowl.
Decrease the heat to medium-low. In the same skillet that you cooked the chicken add the garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 30 seconds – 1 minute or until fragrant.
Whisk the General Tso’s Chicken 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 (and any residual liquid in the bowl) to the skillet and gently toss to coat. Let the chicken reheat, tossing frequently for 2-3 minutes. *If you are adding cooked vegetables to the mix, add them now and toss to coat.
Remove the skillet from the heat and serve immediately with cooked white or fried rice.
Garnish with sesame seeds if desired.
Enjoy! Mary
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General Tso's Chicken For Two
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Tender and juicy chicken tossed in a classic homemade General Tso's sauce and served with rice. An easy, 15 minute recipe designed for two!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 1⁄2-1 inch pieces
- 1⁄4 cup cornstarch
- 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
- 1 TBSP minced ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1⁄4 tsp. red pepper flakes, more to taste
- 1⁄2 tsp. sesame seeds, (optional for garnish)
General Tso's Sauce
- 1⁄4 cup cold water
- 2 1⁄2 TBSP soy sauce, low-sodium
- 1 1⁄2 TBSP rice vinegar
- 3⁄4 TBSP hoisin sauce
- 2 TBSP light brown sugar, packed
- 3⁄4 TBSP cornstarch
For Serving (optional)
- cooked white or fried rice
- sliced green onions and/or sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into 1⁄2-1 inch cubes and add to a large resealable plastic bag. Add the cornstarch to the bag, seal and shake until the chicken is coated. Set aside.
- In a one cup liquid measuring cup, combine all of the sauce ingredients and whisk to combine. Set aside.
- Preheat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add the extra virgin olive oil.
- Once hot, remove the chicken from the bag, shaking off any excess and add the chicken pieces to the skillet. If your skillet is not large enough to fit all the pieces, work in batches and add oil as needed. Cook until the chicken is golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Use tongs to remove the chicken from the skillet and place in a medium size, shallow bowl.
- Decrease the heat to medium-low. In the same skillet that you cooked the chicken add the garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 30 seconds - 1 minute or until fragrant.
- 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 (and any residual liquid in the bowl) to the skillet and gently toss to coat. Let the chicken reheat, tossing frequently for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and serve immediately with cooked white or fried rice.
- Garnish with sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- If you want to serve broccoli with the General Tso's Chicken, steam the broccoli while the chicken is cooking. Microwave 1 cup of frozen broccoli per package directions and add to the skillet at the same time that you add the chicken back into the sauce.
Recipe provided by iCookfortwo.com
Nutrition Information
Yield 4
Amount Per ServingCalories 322Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 138mgSodium 572mgCarbohydrates 17gFiber 0gSugar 6gProtein 29g
Nutritional Information is to be used as a general guideline only . Nutritional calculations will vary from the types and brands of the products used. *Nutrition guideline for actual recipe and not serving suggested items.
