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One Pan General Tso’s Chicken

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You love my baked General Tso’s chicken, so obviously, I had to make a faster one. This one pan General Tso’s chicken is sticky, saucy, and on the table in about 30 minutes.

Plate of one pan general Tso's chicken on a bed of rice.

Why This Recipe Belongs In Your Rotation

  • It’s actually one pan! Searing the chicken first, then adding the sauce in the same pan, means better flavor and fewer dishes!
  • 30 Minutes! You read that right! You get restaurant-quality chicken in just 30 minutes!
  • Perfect Sauce! Sweet, savory, and a little tangy, with just enough heat. And it perfectly clings to the chicken.

One Pan General Tso’s Chicken Ingredients

Overhead shot of labeled general Tso's chicken ingredients.
  • Cornstarch: Shake off any excess before browning the chicken.
  • Oil: Cooking the chicken in batches helps to ensure even cooking. Add more oil as needed throughout the cooking process.
Overhead shot of labeled sauce ingredients.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: Add more or less to customize your spice level!
  • Rice Vinegar: Rice wine vinegar also works well in this recipe.
  • Cornstarch: Adding cornstarch to the sauce helps thicken it and coat the chicken.

How to Make General Tso’s Chicken

This one-pan General Tso’s chicken dish will be a lifesaver! No oven needed! You can serve it over rice or noodles, or keep it easy with fried rice or broccoli on the side!

  1. Coat the Chicken in an Egg: Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl. Crack an egg on top of the chicken and massage it in with your hand to coat the chicken.
  2. Coat with Cornstarch: Transfer the chicken to a ziplock bag, then add the cornstarch, seal the bag, and toss to coat each chicken piece well. Add cornstarch if needed.
  3. Cook: In a large skillet or wok over medium heat, add the vegetable oil. Working in batches, add the coated chicken and cook for 7-8 minutes until browned and no longer pink. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
  4. General Tso’s Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ground ginger, and crushed red pepper.
  5. Simmer the Sauce: Returning to the skillet or wok, add the sauce and bring it to a simmer while stirring. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to help slightly thicken the sauce. Stir occasionally.
  6. Combine the Chicken and Sauce: Add the chicken and toss to coat, then cook for 2-3 minutes and enjoy over rice! Garnish one pan of General Tso’s chicken with sliced green onions and additional red pepper flakes, if desired.
Cubed chicken in a bowl with a cracked egg.
Egg washed chicken in a ziplock bag covered in cornstarch.
Cornstarch covered chicken cooking in a skillet on the stove.
Sauce ingredients whisked together in a bowl.
One pan general Tso's sauce added to the skillet.
Cooked chicken added to the sauce in the skillet.

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  • Cut 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl. Crack 1 large egg on top of the chicken and massage it in with your hand to coat the chicken.

  • Transfer the chicken to a ziplock bag. Add 1 cup cornstarch, seal the bag, and toss to coat each chicken piece well. Add cornstarch if needed.

  • In a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, add ⅓ cup vegetable oil. Working in batches, add the coated chicken and cook for 7-8 minutes until browned and no longer pink. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together ¾ cup hoisin sauce, ¼ cup soy sauce, ¾ cup brown sugar, 2 cloves minced garlic, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, and 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper.

  • Returning to the skillet or wok, add the sauce and bring it to a simmer while stirring. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to help slightly thicken the sauce. Add the chicken and toss to coat.

  • Add the chicken and toss to coat. Cook for 2-3 minutes and enjoy over rice! Garnish with sliced green onions and additional red pepper flakes, if desired.

Calories: 861kcalCarbohydrates: 94gProtein: 53gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 188mgSodium: 1947mgPotassium: 1022mgFiber: 2gSugar: 54gVitamin A: 279IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 77mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

One pan general Tso's chicken in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

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