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Flavour Quest Recipes

🥡 Better-Than-Takeout General Tso's Chicken

Skip the takeout! This Better Than Takeout General Tso's Chicken is crispy, sweet, spicy, and coated in a rich homemade sauce that's ready in about 30 minutes.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Vegetable oil for frying
Sauce
  • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • ¼ cup rice vinegar
  • â…“ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes adjust to taste
Garnish
  • Green onions
  • Sesame seeds

Method
 

Prepare the chicken
  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels, then cut them into evenly sized bite-sized pieces. Season lightly with salt and black pepper.
Coat the chicken
  1. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Add the chicken and toss until every piece is coated.
  2. Place the cornstarch in a separate shallow bowl. Working in batches, coat each piece of chicken thoroughly in the cornstarch and shake off any excess.
Make the sauce
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together:
  2. Soy sauce
  3. Rice vinegar
  4. Brown sugar
  5. Honey
  6. Hoisin sauce
  7. Sesame oil
  8. Minced garlic
  9. Grated ginger
  10. Red pepper flakes
  11. Water
  12. Cornstarch
  13. Whisk until the cornstarch is fully dissolved, then set the sauce aside.
Fry the chicken
  1. Pour about 1½ inches of vegetable oil into a deep skillet or heavy-bottomed pot. Heat the oil to approximately 350°F.
  2. Working in batches, fry the chicken for 4–6 minutes, turning occasionally, until deeply golden, crispy, and fully cooked. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
  3. Transfer the cooked chicken to a wire rack or a paper-towel-lined plate. Avoid overcrowding the skillet, as this lowers the oil temperature and prevents the chicken from becoming crispy.
Cook the sauce
  1. Carefully discard the frying oil or use a separate large skillet. Add the prepared sauce to the clean skillet and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
  2. Cook for 2–4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce becomes glossy and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Coat the chicken
  1. Add the crispy chicken to the skillet and toss quickly until every piece is evenly coated in the General Tso’s sauce.
  2. Do not leave the chicken in the sauce for too long, or the coating may begin to soften.
Garnish and serve
  1. Remove from the heat and garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately while the chicken is hot and crispy.