General Tsos Chicken (Printable version)

Crispy chicken in sweet, tangy sauce with Chinese flavors served over rice.

# What You Need:

→ For the Chicken

01 - 1.3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1 tbsp soy sauce
04 - 1 tsp sesame oil
05 - 1/4 tsp white pepper
06 - 1 cup cornstarch
07 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
08 - Vegetable oil, for deep-frying

→ For the Sauce

09 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
10 - 3 tbsp soy sauce
11 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
12 - 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
13 - 3 tbsp sugar
14 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
15 - 1 tbsp water for slurry
16 - 2 tsp sesame oil
17 - 1 tbsp Chinese Shaoxing wine (optional)

→ Stir-fry & Garnish

18 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
19 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
20 - 2 tsp fresh ginger, grated
21 - 6-8 dried red chilies (or 1-2 tsp chili flakes, to taste)
22 - 2 spring onions, sliced
23 - Steamed white rice, for serving
24 - Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk eggs with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, and white pepper. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat thoroughly.
02 - In a shallow bowl, mix cornstarch and flour. Dredge each chicken piece in the mixture, shaking off excess coating.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan or wok to 350°F. Fry chicken in batches until golden and crispy, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a wire rack or paper towels to drain.
04 - In a small bowl, combine chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and Shaoxing wine (if using). Mix cornstarch with 1 tbsp water to make a slurry, then stir into the sauce mixture.
05 - In a clean wok or large skillet, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil over medium heat. Add dried chilies, garlic, and ginger. Stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
06 - Pour in the sauce and cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens and becomes glossy, about 2-3 minutes.
07 - Add the fried chicken pieces and toss until evenly coated in the sauce.
08 - Serve immediately over steamed rice, topped with spring onions and toasted sesame seeds.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce hits that impossible balance between sugar and vinegar that makes you keep reaching for another piece
  • Chicken thighs stay juicy through the frying process so every bite is tender, never dry
  • You get that restaurant quality crunch at home without any fancy equipment or hard to find ingredients
02 -
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when frying or the oil temperature drops and the coating turns soggy
  • The sauce thickens fast once it hits the heat, so have everything ready before you start cooking
  • Frying at the right temperature matters more than exact timing so use a thermometer if you have one
03 -
  • White pepper has a different heat profile than black pepper and tastes more authentic in Chinese cooking
  • A wire cooling rack is worth using instead of paper towels so air circulates around all sides of the chicken
  • Shaoxing wine adds depth you cannot quite replicate, but dry sherry works in a pinch
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