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Home » Recipes » Main Course

Easy General Tso’s Chicken

Stacey – January 12, 2021 – 34 Comments

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Bowl of Easy General Tso's Chicken over ramen Chances are even if you’ve never had General Tso’s Chicken, you’ve certainly seen it on your local Chinese takeout menu. I mean, I can’t say that I’ve ever seen a Chinese menu that didn’t have this dish on it in some iteration. 

With its sticky, savory, and sweet sauce and just a touch of spice, the dish is often compared to sesame or orange chicken, though I find that Genera Tso’s is generally more savory and frequently has a bit more spice than the others. It’s certainly a favorite and for good reason… it’s crazy delicious! 

Bowl of Easy General Tso's ChickenLet’s break this recipe down a bit…

While my observation is that most General Tso’s chicken is made with chicken thighs, I’m not a huge fan of thighs, so I use chicken breast. I feel like the flavor is a bit cleaner and it allows this super delicious sauce to be the star. That said, you can 100% use thigh meat, if that’s your preference.  

In this recipe, we coat the chicken with cornstarch. This not only allows the chicken to get crazy golden brown and crispy, the cornstarch also helps to thicken the sauce a bit. I even often add a little cornstarch to my dredge when I’m making good ol’ Southern fried chicken. 

Each of the ingredients in this recipe plays an important role in the flavor of the finished product, so I don’t recommend substitutions. While I realize there’s a chance you don’t have hoisin sauce in the pantry right now, it’s totally worth the purchase because it’s a big part of the flavor profile of this dish. Once I started using it in recipes, we almost always have it on hand now. It’s a great dip for things like chicken fingers and nuggets, is a superb glaze for meat, and adds some great flavor to nearly any Asian dish. One thing that I’ve found though is that hoisin sauce flavor can vary wildly between brands. I typically use Kikkoman or Lee Kum Kee. 

Forkfull of Easy General Tso's Chicken with ramen Another ingredient we need to point out is the rice vinegar – also known as rice wine vinegar. I’ll admit, I used to get confused by this all the time. Rice vinegar and rice wine vinegar are the same thing – just different names on the packaging. But “seasoned” rice wine vinegar has added sugar and salt, so it’s a little different. It will work in a pinch, but will change the flavor a bit. Then there’s rice wine. Which, while also made from fermented rice like rice vinegar, is something entirely different. It can’t be used interchangeably in this recipe. 

I opted to used ground ginger in this recipe because it’s something most folks always have on hand, but I love to use fresh ginger when I have it. I replace the 1/2 teaspoon of the ground ginger with 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger when I do. Hot tip: Fresh ginger stores incredibly well wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in a freezer zip-top bag and grates really well when frozen. 🙂 

Bowl of Easy General Tso's Chicken over ramen Most Chinese takeout places serve General Tso’s chicken with broccoli, but I really love it with the ramen noodles here. Truth be told, I love any noodle any time, but you could swap the ramen for broccoli, another vegetable, or even a combination of both. 

Bowl of Easy General Tso's Chicken over ramen
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5 from 8 votes

Recipe Card

Easy General Tso's Chicken

Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Chinese
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Author Stacey Little | Southern Bite

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3 breasts)
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 heaping teaspoons minced garlic (3 to 4 cloves)
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
  • 3 (3-ounce) packets ramen noodles (seasoning discarded)
  • sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and more soy sauce (optional)

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces. Place the corn starch in gallon zip-top bag. Add in the chicken, seal, and toss to coat.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together the hoisin, soy, brown sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
  • Prepare ramen noodles according to package directions (without using the seasoning packets). Drain and set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Shake off excess cornstarch and add the chicken to the hot oil. Cook the chicken pieces until they are browned on both sides and cooked through. Depending on the size of the pan, you may need to work in batches, being sure not to crowd the pan. Add additional oil if necessary. Remove the chicken from the skillet to a plate and set aside.
  • Add the sauce ingredients to the pan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for about 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Add additional crushed red pepper to your liking.
  • Return the chicken to the pan and coat in the sauce. Add the cooked ramen and toss to coat. Add additional soy sauce if desired. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions if desired. Serve immediately.
Bowl of Easy General Tso's Chicken over ramen
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Easy General Tso's Chicken over ramen 

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Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

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  1. Levonda

    December 31, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    I made General Tso’s Chicken tonight for New Year’s Eve, and it was outstanding! The sauce is perfection. My husband was a fan, so it will be going into my rotation. Tomorrow I will be trying your collard greens and black eyed peas recipes. I am so glad I discovered your site!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 4, 2023 at 9:56 am

      Thanks, Levonda! I’m so glad y’all enjoyed it! Welcome!

      Reply
  2. Becky

    October 9, 2022 at 7:33 pm

    My husband loves this recipe and asks for me to make it.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      October 11, 2022 at 8:32 am

      Definitely a regular request from my wife too!

      Reply
  3. Felicia Z

    June 20, 2022 at 7:26 pm

    So glad I found this recipe! What I really loved about this recipe is that I was able to make the lomein in the same pan. I make chicken for me and tofu for my husband so it really saved me a lot of time by not having to make a second dish and it is very delicious! You gotta try it! Definitely bookmarking this recipe, thank you!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 21, 2022 at 8:55 am

      So glad you loved it!

      Reply
  4. Cheeyl

    June 17, 2022 at 8:21 pm

    My teenager loved it ans called it a Do-over. High praise.
    Easy to make

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 21, 2022 at 9:15 am

      Glad you both liked it!

      Reply
  5. CAROL

    August 22, 2021 at 12:00 pm

    stacy do you have a recipe for hu nan chicken maybe a misspelled thank you ,,carol

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 23, 2021 at 8:37 am

      Unfortunately, I don’t.

      Reply
  6. Theresa

    August 3, 2021 at 2:03 pm

    I can’t wait to make this tonight!!! My all time favorite Chinese dish!! Question: I’m planning to serve with rice and I’d like to have broccoli as a side – how would I cook it? Thanks in advance!!’ I’ve learned so much from you, Stacey!!!!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 4, 2021 at 9:28 am

      I’d roast it or simply steam it – either way should be great. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Vicki

    May 3, 2021 at 6:37 am

    This looks so good! I know what I’ll be doing with the next package of chicken breasts I buy. And, so glad the recipe uses breasts and not thighs as my husband doesn’t care for them.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 6, 2021 at 1:06 pm

      Sure hope you enjoy it, Vicki!

      Reply
  8. Caroline O

    February 23, 2021 at 7:33 pm

    This was good. Super good. Too good. It’s my hubbie’s favorite Chinese entree! Now I can rival our local Chinese take out place. But, Stacey, are you going to take full responsibility for taking away my night off from cooking (when we would order said takeout) since I can make it myself – and better! – now? Harumph!

    Also, super glad to see your cookbook reprinted; the kids could not afford to buy me the $150 “black market” version online at Christmas!!! Ha!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      February 25, 2021 at 9:31 am

      Ha! Thanks, Caroline! I’m so glad to hear your husband enjoyed it, but hate it means extra work for you! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Sabrina

    January 21, 2021 at 8:56 pm

    Absolutely delicious! I fixed it with broccoli & served it with converted rice. The rice was so good. It didn’t clump together like your basic long grain rice. I will continue to use converted rice in all my recipes calling for rice. I HIGHLY recommend this recipe. No need for takeout when you cam make this at home. Thank you, Stacey, for sharing this!!! You are awesome!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 22, 2021 at 8:50 am

      Thank YOU! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  10. Becky

    January 18, 2021 at 7:27 pm

    Made this tonight. It was really good. My husband had two big helpings. I served broccoli on the side. I made it exactly by the recipe.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 19, 2021 at 9:28 am

      So glad to hear y’all enjoyed it!

      Reply
  11. Linnie

    January 18, 2021 at 8:23 am

    I made the General Tso’s Chicken and it was easy and very good. My husband was eating the nice crispy chicken pieces as I was taking them out of the pan. They were pretty tasty on their own. I served this with lo mein noodles and some cabbage and onion that is sautéed in bacon grease and has a bit of brown sugar, cider vinegar, chicken bouillon and Nature’s seasoning. I’ll be making this again. I love easy recipes. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 18, 2021 at 3:50 pm

      So glad y’all enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  12. Katrinka McCrory

    January 15, 2021 at 11:24 am

    Can you use something else for the noodles? Like Rice.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 15, 2021 at 11:25 am

      Of course! Rice, broccoli, other veggies, etc.

      Reply
  13. DB

    January 12, 2021 at 1:35 pm

    The Spruce Eats has a wonderful Chinese bbq sauce that uses hoisin sauce and has ingredients available to most cooks. https://www.thespruceeats.com/spareribs-with-hoisin-sauce-695215
    The “General” chicken recipe looks terrific. I shared your pineapple juice recipe with my sister and she nearly burst into tears (of joy). Thank you for your consistently beautiful site!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 12, 2021 at 1:41 pm

      Aww, thanks, DB! I’m so glad to hear that your sister enjoyed it! And thanks for the other tip, too!

      Reply
      • Carol

        January 13, 2021 at 6:10 pm

        What is the pineapple recipe ????

        Reply
        • Stacey

          January 14, 2021 at 9:04 am

          https://southernbite.com/pineapple-juice-cake/

          Reply
  14. Stacey English

    January 12, 2021 at 11:32 am

    Can’t wait to try this! And I agree on the chicken thighs.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 12, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      Sure hope you’ll enjoy it!

      Reply
  15. Jackie

    January 12, 2021 at 11:23 am

    This looks amazing!! I’m curious, any thoughts on cooking the chicken in an air fryer?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 12, 2021 at 12:46 pm

      I think the air fryer could be a perfect way to cook the chicken. I’d just recommend spritzing it with a little oil or cooking spray to make sure it crisps up nicely.

      Reply
    • Kim H

      June 27, 2022 at 5:30 pm

      This was delicious. Simple recipe for picky eaters.

      Reply
      • Stacey

        June 29, 2022 at 11:35 am

        So glad to hear you enjoyed it!

        Reply

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Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

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