This homemade General Tso’s chicken is crispy, saucy, and packed with sweet-spicy flavor. It’s just like your favorite takeout, only fresher and ready in under 30 minutes.

General Tso's chicken in a white bowl with chopsticks on the side.

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General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

Skip the Chinese takeout! This homemade General Tso’s chicken is crispy, saucy, and every bit as delicious as your favorite restaurant version. It’s quick to make, perfect for weeknights, and a great one to add to your list of copycat favorites like honey sesame chicken or sweet and sour chicken.

Juicy bites of chicken are coated in a glossy sauce with hints of ginger, a touch of heat, and rich savory flavor. Serve it over rice with broccoli and carrots for an easy, crowd-pleasing meal.

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“Wow! This fabulous recipe is a big hit in our house….it so DELICIOUS and easy! Definitely making this a regular in the meal rotation.”

Paula

Ingredient Notes

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Chicken: Boneless, skinless breasts or thighs work best, cut into bite-sized pieces.
  • Coating: Cornstarch, a light mix of seasonings, and beaten eggs to help create that crispy crust.
  • Sauce Base: Sugar for sweetness, vinegar for tang, and ketchup for that rich tomato depth in the General Tso sauce.
  • Flavor Boosters: Soy sauce, fresh or ground ginger, and a little heat from sriracha or red chili flakes.

How to Make General Tso’s Chicken

Start by getting the chicken ready. Cut it into bite-sized pieces, then toss it in a bag with cornstarch and seasonings until every piece is evenly coated. This coating is what gives it that crisp bite after cooking.

Cornstarch-coated chicken pieces being dipped into whisked egg before frying.

Heat some oil in a large skillet, then dip the chicken pieces into beaten eggs and quickly pan-fry them in batches. You’re not cooking them all the way through here, just enough to get a golden crust before finishing in the oven.

While the chicken is sizzling, whisk together the sauce ingredients. You’ll have a mix of tangy vinegar, sweet ketchup, savory soy sauce, fragrant ginger, and a bit of heat from sriracha or chili flakes.

Golden-brown fried chicken pieces fresh from the oven coated in General Tso’s sauce.

Arrange the seared chicken on a foil-lined baking sheet, pour the sauce over the top, and bake until the coating is crisp and the sauce has thickened and clings to each piece. Stir once halfway through so every bite gets coated.

Serve the chicken hot over rice with steamed vegetables for that perfect takeout-style meal at home.

Tender chicken pieces coated in sticky sweet-and-savory sauce, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.

Recipe Tips

  • Spice. This recipe does have a kick, so feel free to adjust the spice level depending on your preference. I like using sriracha for heat, but red pepper flakes work as well.
  • Space the chicken. Don’t overcrowd the frying pan! If you add too many pieces of meat at once, they will clump together and they won’t evenly cook.
  • Bake. You can skip frying the meat altogether and just bake it instead. To get it crispy in the oven, broil each side for a few minutes. It won’t get quite as crispy as frying, but still delicious and healthier.
  • Extra sauce. Double the sauce if you want extra dipping.
Crispy, saucy General Tso chicken served over white rice in a white bowl with chopsticks on the side.

Recreate Chinese takeout at home by serving this dish with crab rangoon, cream cheese wontons or homemade egg rolls!

More Asian Recipes

Crispy chicken coated in glossy General Tso’s sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds and green onions, served over steamed rice.

General Tso’s Chicken

4.97 from 54 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6
This homemade General Tso’s chicken is crispy, saucy, and packed with sweet-spicy flavor. It's just like your favorite takeout, only fresher and ready in under 30 minutes.
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Ingredients 

For the Chicken:

  • 1 ¼ pounds chicken (cut into bite size pieces)
  • ½ cup corn starch
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ cup canola oil
  • 2 large eggs (whisked)

General Tso Sauce:

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup rice vinegar (distilled vinegar will work too)
  • ⅓ cup ketchup
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
  • 1-2 teaspoons sriracha hot sauce (can sub with 1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes)

For serving: Cooked rice and broccoli and/or carrots

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Set aside.
  • Place the 1 1/4 pounds bite sized chicken pieces, 1/2 cup corn starch, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt in a large ziplock bag and shake until the chicken is evenly coated.
  • Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Whisk eggs, then dip the chicken in the egg mixture and place in the frying pan with a fork. Fry both sides of the chicken for about 2 minutes each and the move chicken to the baking sheet. 
  • In a medium size bowl, whisk together sauce including 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup rice vinegar, 1/3 cup ketchup, 1 Tablespoon soy sauce, 1 Tablespoon ginger, and 2 teaspoons sriracha. Next, pour the sauce over the chicken and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is crispy. Stir halfway. 
  • Serve with steamed rice and vegetables. Enjoy!

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 125mg, Sodium: 684mg, Potassium: 247mg, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 280IU, Vitamin C: 2.6mg, Calcium: 21mg, Iron: 1.2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

Is General Tso chicken spicy?

It has a mild kick from sriracha or chili flakes, but the sweetness in the sauce balances it out. You can easily adjust the heat level by adding more or less spice.

Can you make General Tso’s chicken ahead of time?

Yes! You can fry the chicken and mix the sauce up to a day ahead. Store them separately in the fridge, then combine and bake just before serving so it stays crispy.

What should I serve with General Tso’s chicken?

Steamed white rice is the classic choice, but it also pairs well with fried rice, lo mein, or a simple side of broccoli and carrots.

How do you store leftover General Tso’s chicken?

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4–5 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven for the crispiest texture, or warm in the microwave for convenience.