Easy General Tso’s Chicken Recipe Highlights
I’m thrilled to finally share this AMAZING and Easy General Tso’s Chicken! Tender chicken breast pieces smothered in an amazing sweet and savory sauce with a little heat! This recipe is a lighter version of the iconic takeout dish! NO deep-frying is needed. This Easy General Tso’s Chicken recipe is teeming with bold flavors. It’s the opposite of your average ho-hum boring chicken dinner, and it’s way too easy to make and delicious not to put into dinner rotation pronto. Plus, aside from the obvious and most important reason (it’s absolutely tasty), this can be made completely in your Instant Pot! If you prefer to use your slow cooker or stovetop, I also included the instructions. Brown the chicken up and toss it with General Tso’s sauce, and you’re pretty much ready to go. So simple! And so, so yummy! I tested this recipe out a couple of times on my hubby, and he RAVED about it. He said that the flavor was five-star and better than any he had eaten in a restaurant. That’s a BIG win! I love being able to make better than takeout right at home! If you love takeout as much as I do, you need to check out my Quick & Easy Beef and Broccoli (Video) and Easy Instant Pot Orange Chicken recipes.
Chicken: I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can definitely also use chicken thighs. Oil: To brown the chicken. I use olive oil. You can also use canola, vegetable, or any other oil you prefer. For the General Tso’s sauce: You’ll need rice vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing wine), garlic, ginger, and cayenne pepper. If you want to add even more heat, you can also use chili paste. Cornstarch: To thicken the sauce at the end. To serve and garnish: sesame seeds, crushed red pepper, and sliced green onion. This is optional.
2 – Prepare The Sauce
Mix all the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined. Pour sauce over the chicken. Mix to coat.
1 – Sear The Chicken
Brown the chicken. I recommend doing it in batches so you don’t overcrowd the pot. Then transfer the chicken to a plate and repeat with any remaining chicken. Return browned chicken to the pot.
4 – Thicken The Sauce
Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until there are no lumps. Pour mixture over the chicken; mix to combine. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens. Serve chicken with rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, crushed red pepper, and sliced green onions, if desired. If you don’t have or find Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing wine), substitute it with dry sherry. Chicken breasts can be swapped for chicken thighs if you prefer. According to my testing of the Instant Pot’s slow cooker mode: NORMAL = LOW mode in a traditional slow cooker. MORE = HIGH mode in a traditional slow cooker. This General Tso’s chicken is so saucy that I love serving it with rice since it soaks up the sauce! Want to go with a more low-carb option? Serve with lettuce wraps or cauliflower rice instead.
Leftovers
This pressure cooker chicken recipe keeps great in the fridge for up to 4 to 5 days, in an airtight container. When you’re ready to enjoy it, heat it in the microwave until heated through.
Freezer
You can freeze this cooked General Tso’s chicken for another day! Simply transfer it to a freezer bag once it has cooled. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat when you’re ready to eat.
More Easy Dinner Recipes You’ll Love!
Instant Pot Cuban Pulled Pork Easy Instant Pot Stroganoff Meatballs Instant Pot Barbecue Ribs Instant Pot Mexican Pulled Pork Instant Pot Teriyaki Turkey Meatballs Easy Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli Instant Pot Hawaiian Pineapple Pork Easy Sticky Bourbon Chicken
Recipe Card 📖
You’ve asked, and I’ve answered! Read on for a handful of answers to the most frequently asked questions about eggless baking. This recipe was sponsored by Safeway in 2018. This recipe was originally published in May 2018. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information were added to the post in May 2023 to make it as helpful as possible!
