How to Make General Tso’s Chicken – A Sweet, Spicy Chinese-American Favourite

General Tso’s Chicken is a beloved Chinese-American dish famous for its crispy fried chicken pieces tossed in a bold, sticky, sweet-and-spicy sauce. Though not traditionally Chinese, it has become a firm favourite in takeaways around the world – and now you can make it at home with this easy recipe using everyday ingredients.

Whether you're craving a comforting fakeaway or looking to impress guests, General Tso’s Chicken is a crowd-pleaser that’s perfect served with fluffy white rice or stir-fried noodles.

---

🛒 Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

For the chicken:

2 boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks

1 egg

1 tbsp soy sauce

½ tsp white pepper

4 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)

Vegetable oil, for deep-frying

For the sauce:

2 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp rice vinegar (or white wine vinegar)

2 tbsp hoisin sauce

3 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp tomato ketchup

100ml water

1 tsp cornflour mixed with 1 tbsp cold water (to thicken)

For stir-frying:

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp fresh ginger, grated

3–4 dried red chillies (or ½ tsp chilli flakes) – optional

1 spring onion, sliced (for garnish)

1 tbsp vegetable oil

---

👨‍🍳 Method

1. Marinate and coat the chicken

Place the chicken pieces in a bowl. Add soy sauce, white pepper, and a beaten egg. Mix well. Gradually add cornflour until the chicken is evenly coated in a thick batter-like mixture. Let it sit for 10 minutes.

2. Prepare the sauce

In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, hoisin sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and water. Set aside. This tangy and sweet sauce is the heart of the dish.

3. Deep-fry the chicken

Heat a generous amount of vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Once hot (about 180°C), fry the chicken in batches until golden and crispy (around 4–5 minutes). Drain on kitchen paper. For extra crunch, you can double-fry each batch for another 1–2 minutes after cooling.

4. Make the stir-fry base

In a clean wok or frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Add minced garlic, ginger, and dried chillies (if using). Stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.

5. Add the sauce

Pour the sauce mixture into the wok and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the cornflour slurry and cook for a minute or two until the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze.

6. Combine with chicken

Add the crispy chicken to the sauce and toss well until each piece is evenly coated. Stir through half the spring onions and remove from heat.

---

🍚 Serving Suggestions

Serve General Tso’s Chicken hot, garnished with the remaining spring onions and optionally sesame seeds. Ideal pairings include:

Steamed jasmine or basmati rice

Egg-fried rice

Stir-fried vegetables or Chinese broccoli

Noodles with soy sauce and garlic

---

🥢 Tips and Variations

Control the spice: Adjust chilli quantity based on your heat preference. For mild versions, skip the dried chillies altogether.

Go vegetarian: Swap chicken for tofu, mushrooms, or cauliflower. Use the same batter and sauce technique.

Get extra crispy: Always fry in small batches and let oil reheat in between to maintain the right temperature.

Don’t overcrowd the wok: When stir-frying the sauce and chicken, make sure there’s enough space to keep everything crisp.

---

📝 Final Thoughts

General Tso’s Chicken offers that perfect balance of crispy, saucy, sweet, and spicy in every bite. Making it at home is surprisingly simple and allows you to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste.

Whether you're recreating your favourite takeaway, hosting a themed dinner night, or just experimenting with new recipes, this version of General Tso’s Chicken is sure to become a household favourite.

--- write ✍️ by foodie Parmod.

 General Tso’s Chicken recipe UK, how to make crispy chicken stir-fry, Chinese fakeaway recipes, sweet and spicy chicken recipe, easy Chinese chicken dish