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Air fryer general tso's chicken in a bowl with white rice and chopsticks.
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Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken

Skip the deep fried Chinese takeout and make this healthier General Tso's Chicken at home in just 30 minutes using the air fryer! Crispy chicken bites are tossed in the most flavorful sweet and spicy sauce.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Chinese
Diet Kosher
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 265kcal
Cost $15

Ingredients

For the Air Fryer Chicken

  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (around 2 ¼ pounds)
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • nonstick spray

For the General Tso's Sauce

  • ¾ cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon gochujang chili paste less if you don't like a lot of spice
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 ½ teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger (about 1-inch piece)
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

For Serving

  • sesame seeds
  • sliced green onions
  • steamed broccoli

Instructions

  • Cube the chicken into 2-inch cubes. Don't cut them too small, as this will cause them to dry out in the air fryer.
  • Add cubed chicken to a large mixing bowl. Top with cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix together to fully coat all sides of the chicken.
  • Spray the air fryer basket or tray with nonstick spray. Add chicken in a single layer. Spray the tops of the chicken with more nonstick spray.
  • Air fry at 400 degrees F for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the outside of the chicken is golden brown and the inside reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Repeat until all of the chicken is cooked.
  • Meanwhile, combine all the sauce ingredients, besides the olive oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes, in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly until it is smooth and there are no clumps of cornstarch remaining. Set aside.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over low heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly so the garlic and ginger do not burn.
  • Pour in the sauce, increase the heat to medium, and simmer for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  • Add the chicken to the skillet and fully coat it in the thickened sauce.
  • Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve with a side of steamed broccoli and white or brown rice.

Notes

  1. Both hoisin sauce and gochujang can typically be found in the Asian foods aisle of your local grocery store. Hoisin is a thick brown sauce, often sold in a bottle, whereas gochujang is a bright red chili paste, often sold in a rectangular plastic container.
  2. Make sure you finely chop both the garlic and ginger. Grating them instead will cause them to stick and burn to the bottom of the skillet.
  3. To make general tso's chicken in the oven, follow the same instructions, making sure to spray the tops of the chicken with the nonstick spray. Then, bake the chicken on a sheet pan at 400 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes. While the chicken is in the oven, prepare the sauce. Once the chicken is done, either pour the sauce on top or place it in a bowl to coat.

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 650mg | Potassium: 489mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 86IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg