Published May 19, 2019 Updated Sep 01, 2024
Chinese General Tso’s Chicken
General Tso’s Chicken (also called General Tso Chicken) is one of the most popular Chinese recipes and most ordered chicken dish in Chinese restaurants in the United States. It’s made of battered and deep-fried chicken in a sweet, savory, and spicy General Tso’s sauce. It’s served at Chinese restaurants, buffets, and as a popular Chinese takeout item. Many don’t even dare to ask “How to make General Tso’s Chicken?” because they assume that it’s difficult. But the good news is that it’s very easy to make at home.
Who Is General Tso
There was was a brave Chinese general by the name of General Tso (Zuo Zongtang 左宗棠) but the dish was invented by another chef. Learn more about the history and origin of the dish.
Secret Ingredients
The authentic recipe of General Tso’s chicken always calls for the following ingredients:
Soy sauce. Use a good quality soy sauce. Dark soy sauce lends nice dark brown color to the dish. Chinese rice vinegar plays a vital role in lending the bold vinegary note to the sauce. Hoisin Sauce is the secret ingredient. Dried red chilies—an important ingredient in Hunan cooking, making the chicken and the sauce mildly spicy.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make General Tso’s Chicken
To make this chicken, you will need chicken meat – I prefer chicken breasts. Cut the chicken into cubes and coat the chicken generously with corn starch. Deep fry the chicken until they turn light to golden brown. Next, stir fry the minced ginger, garlic, and dried chilies and pour the sauce and cook until the sauce thickens.
What To Serve With This Recipe
For a wholesome Chinese meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
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