Baked General Tso’s Chicken
Skip the takeout and make this easy baked General Tso’s chicken at home! It’s crispy, saucy, and perfectly sweet with just the right amount of heat, no deep fryer required.
Why This Recipe’s a Weeknight Win
All the Flavor You Crave: You’ll get the best crispy chicken coated in a glossy, sweet-and-spicy sauce, without frying! Baking keeps it lighter but still totally satisfying.
Meal-Prep Friendly: Make a big batch and enjoy leftovers all week. This chicken reheats beautifully, so lunch or dinner is always ready to go.
Perfect Pairings: Serve it with fried rice, stir-fried veggies, or crispy egg rolls for a full restaurant-style dinner right at home.
Baked General Tso’s Chicken Ingredients
Chicken: We love boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe, but boneless, skinless chicken thighs would also be delicious!
How to Make Baked General Tso’s Chicken
The magic of this General Tso Chicken recipe is in how simple it is. Taking a few extra minutes to brown the chicken first makes it golden, crispy, and even more irresistible. Toss it with the sauce, and you’ve got a dinner that tastes like takeout!
Cut Chicken and Coat in Egg: Preheat the oven to 350ºF, then spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and place in a large bowl. Crack the egg on top of the chicken and massage it in with your hand to coat the chicken.
Toss in Cornstarch: Transfer the chicken to a ziplock bag. Add the cornstarch, seal the bag and and toss to coat well.
Sear Chicken: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add oil. Working in batches, add the coated chicken and cook until browned. Brown the chicken on the outside only; you’ll finish cooking it later.
Transfer to Baking Dish: Place the chicken in the prepared baking dish.
Make the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, fresh garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes.
Bake: Pour the sauce over the chicken, then bake for 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes so that it is coated in the sauce. Garnish with green onions, then serve with rice or noodles and enjoy!
General Tso’s Chicken (Baked)
Ingredients
Chicken
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into one inch cubes1 large egg1 cup cornstarch¼ cup vegetable oil more if needed
Sauce
¾ cup hoisin sauce¼ cup soy sauce¾ cup brown sugar2 cloves minced garlic¼ cup rice wine vinegar2 teaspoons sesame oil½ teaspoon ground ginger1 teaspoon crushed red pepper more or less to likinggreen onions optional for garnish
Instructions
Notes
In the Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through.
In the Freezer: Transfer cooled chicken to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat on the stove or in the microwave until hot.