Savor the flavors of Instant Pot General Tso Chicken! Recipe This quick and delicious dish features tender crispy chicken and a sweet-spicy sauce, all made in a snap with your Instant Pot. Enjoy Chinese food at home, it's better than fried chicken!
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Why This Recipe Works
This general tso's chicken recipe is a game-changer for busy weeknights. Not only is this amazing recipe incredibly easy to make, but the results are absolutely delicious. Here's why you'll love this dish:
- Quick And Convenient: With just 30 minutes of cooking time, the cooked chicken is perfect for those nights when you don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.
- Healthier Option: This great recipe uses lean chicken breasts and minimizes the use of oil, making it a healthier alternative to traditional Chinese takeout.
- Made To Taste: You can adjust the seasoning and sauce to your liking, making it easier to cook chicken that everyone will love.
📋 Ingredients
- Chicken Breast: Cubed chicken pieces are the main element for this tasty dish.
- Eggs (Beaten): Act as a binding agent for the flour and cornflour, creating a golden, crispy coating on the chicken when cooked.
- Flour and Corn Flour: Work together to create a perfectly light and crispy batter for the chicken, which adds a delightful crunch to every bite.
- Vegetable Oil: Used for sautéing, it ensures the chicken cooks evenly while also helping to infuse the flavors of the other aromatic ingredients.
- Fresh Ginger and Minced Garlic: Are key flavor boosters, adding a zesty, spicy kick that's fundamental to the dish's distinct Asian profile.
- Red Chili Flakes: Give the dish its signature heat, adding a spicy punch that contrasts wonderfully with the sweet and tangy sauce.
- Rice Wine Vinegar: Introduces a tangy twist, balancing out the sweetness and saltiness in the dish for that perfect sweet-and-sour note.
- Dark Soy Sauce: A staple in Asian cuisine, soy sauce lends a deep, savory, umami flavor that enhances the taste of the dish.
- Hoisin Sauce: This sweet and slightly spicy sauce adds depth and complexity to the flavor profile, making the dish even more delicious.
- Water or Chicken Broth: Used to thin out the sauce, ensuring that all the flavors are distributed evenly throughout the dish.
- Brown Sugar: Brings a lovely caramel-like sweetness, balancing out the heat from the chili flakes and the tanginess from the vinegar.
Cornstarch Slurry
- Cornstarch: Corn starch is a thickening agent that helps give the General Tso's sauce its signature glossy, rich texture.
- Water: Is mixed with the cornstarch to make a slurry, which is then added to the sauce to thicken it.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Sesame Oil: We use vegetable oil, however feel free to use olive oil or sesame oil if that's what you have in the pantry.
- Chicken Thighs: We use Chicken breast in this recipe but feel free to switch for boneless skinless chicken thighs.
🔪 How to Make Instant Pot General Tso Chicken
Step One: Start by cutting the chicken into 3-4 inch chunks.
Step Two: In a small bowl add your flour and corn flour mix to combine.
Step Three: In another small bowl add your beaten eggs.
Step Four: Take your chicken 5-6 pieces at a time, dip them in the egg mixture
first then into the flour mixture. Place on a baking pan top with parchment paper and set to the side. Repeat the steps until all the chicken has been coated.
Step Five: Press Sauté on your Instant Pot and click on high. Wait for the Instant Pot to read HOT.
Step Six: Add the oil to the Instant Pot, wait one minute for the oil to heat up, and add the chicken. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, turning your chicken over to ensure even cooking. Continue until it just starts to get golden.There's no deep to deep fry, just saute until golden brown.
Step Seven: Add the rest of the ingredients to the Instant pot: garlic and ginger, red pepper flakes, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar and water. Stir well to combine.
Step Eight: Close the lid, select the Poultry function, and adjust the time to 5 minutes. Then use a 10-minute Natural Release.
Step Nine: Turn off the heat, open the lid, and gently stir to combine.
Step Ten: Select Sauté on the Instant Pot and add your cornstarch Slurry. Cook for 5 minutes.
Step Eleven: Turn your Instant Pot off, and let the General Tso Chicken stand for 5-7 minutes before serving. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion.
Making the Cornstarch Slurry
In a small bowl combine the Cornstarch with the water, whisk until all combined with no lumps.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Brown the Chicken: Before pressure cooking, use the sauté function of your Instant Pot to brown the chicken pieces. This step adds depth to the flavor and gives the chicken a more appealing texture. Ensure the chicken is in a single layer and turn it to brown evenly on all sides.
- Deglaze the Pot: After browning the chicken, pour in a small amount of broth or water to deglaze the pot. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom. This prevents the “Burn” error and incorporates those caramelized flavors into your sauce.
- Balance the Sweet and Spicy: General Tso's chicken is known for its balance of sweetness and heat. Adjust the amounts of sugar and chili flakes or hot sauce according to your taste preferences. Taste and adjust the sauce before adding the chicken back to the pot, ensuring a perfect balance of flavors.
💭 FAQs
Here are a few ideas to get creative with your leftovers:
Make a wrap: Simply wrap the leftover chicken, rice, and vegetables in a tortilla for an easy and delicious lunch option.
Stir-fry: Chop up the leftover chicken and veggies and stir-fry them with some noodles or rice for a quick and tasty meal.
Use as a topping: Add the leftover General Tso chicken to your favorite pizza or flatbread for a unique and flavorful twist.
We use water in this recipe. You can add a splash of chicken stock or broth in place of the water, however this may give the recipe a stronger flavor.
Let Tso Chicken cool down completely before transferring it into an airtight container. Refrigerate for 3-4 days for optimal freshness and flavor.
Tso Chicken can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with General Tso Chicken:
While the Instant Pot General Tso recipe is delicious on its own, it's even better when served with some tasty sides. Here are a few ideas to pair with this dish:
- White or Brown Rice: A classic and simple option that pairs well with the flavorful sauce of the chicken. You could also add the chicken to fried rice too.
- Vegetables: Stir in some steamed broccoli, bell peppers, or snap peas to add some extra nutrients and texture to the dish. You can also serve them on the side for a more well-rounded meal.
- Noodles: If you're craving something other than rice, try pairing this dish with some noodles like lo mein or chow mein for a delicious twist.
- Salad: For a lighter option, serve this General Tso chicken over a bed of greens or alongside a simple salad.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot General Tso Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds Chicken Breasts cut into 2-3 inch chunks
- 2-3 Eggs beaten
- 1 cup Flour
- 1 cup Corn Flour
- ¼ cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 tbsp. Minced Ginger
- 1 tbsp. Minced Garlic
- ½ teaspoon Red Chili Flakes
- 6 tbsp. Rice Vinegar
- 6 tbsp. Soy Sauce
- 6 tsp. Hoisin Sauce
- ⅓ cup Water
- 3 tbsp. Brown Sugar
Cornstarch Slurry
- 2 tbsp. Cornstarch
- 3 tbsp. Water
Instructions
- Start by cutting the chicken into 3-4 inch chunks. In a small bowl add your flour and corn flour mix to combine.
- In another small bowl add your beaten eggs. Take your chicken 5-6 pieces at a time, dip them in the egg mixture first then into the flour mixture.
- Place on a baking pan top with parchment paper and set to the side. Repeat steps until all chicken has been coated.
- Press Sauté on your Instant Pot-> click on "high". Wait for the Instant Pot to read "hot".
- Add the oil to the Instant Pot, wait one minute for the oil to heat up and add the chicken. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, turn your chicken over to ensure even cooking.
- Do this for a few times. Continue to cook the chicken until it just starts to get golden.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the Instant pot: ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar and water. Stir well to combine. Close lid, select the Poultry function and adjust the time to 5 minutes.
- Then use a 10 minute Natural Release. Turn off the heat. Open the lid. Gently stir to combine. Select "Sauté" on the Instant Pot.
- Add your cornstarch slurry to the Instant Pot. then cook for 5 minutes. Turn your Instant pot off, let the General Tso Chicken stand for 5-7 minutes
Notes
Nutrition
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes:
My husband and I love this flavor! Cannot wait to try it!
This burned on the bottom of my instant pot three times - including after taking the chicken out, scraping the pot, and trying again. Not sure what caused it to burn, but I had to finish it on the stove top (InstantPot will not work when there is a burn).
Oh dear.... Be sure to follow the instructions in the correct order. We have never had burn notice with this recipe.