Sweet, spicy, and savory, General Tso’s chicken is a Chinese-American takeout staple that can easily be made in your slow cooker.
For many years, I’ve cultivated a habit after a great night out at a restaurant when I’ve been blown away by a meal. First, I tell everyone I know about the amazing new dish I’ve experienced, and second, I dig through every bit of information on the internet about said dish, devouring every historical fact, recipe, and variation in cooking methods. Once I’m satisfied with my quest for knowledge, I make a grocery list, go get the necessary items, and proceed to cook the dish myself.
This happens a lot when I’m at Asian-style restaurants. Perhaps it’s because cooking with soy sauce and ginger was not common when I was growing up, and as such, eating umami-gingery food is still new and thrilling to my taste buds. Chinese-American takeout is no exception. I know the story behind many of these common dishes across America, so I know they were created specifically for American tastes. All I can say is—they nailed it!
This recipe is a busy person’s take on a Chinese-American classic. General Tso’s chicken tastes great right out of the slow cooker, and you won’t have to babysit the cooking process! It’s savory, gingery, tangy, and sweet, all at the same time. Plus, the cooking process results in a delicious brown sauce that goes so great over rice, noodles, or whatever you choose to serve with your chicken.
What substitutions can I make with slow-cooker General Tso’s chicken?
If you only have chicken thighs on hand or prefer their flavor over chicken breast, you can use them instead. You could also substitute the chicken for turkey breast or even use tofu for a meatless option. If you’re gluten-free or have issues with soy products, use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. There are gluten-free versions of hoisin sauce (which is soy-based), but you can also make your own with a mixture of tamari, tahini, honey, rice wine vinegar, five-spice powder, and red chili flakes. And if you don’t have any rice wine vinegar, you can use white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even lemon juice as a replacement.
How do I store leftovers?
Leftover chicken can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Or, if you prefer longer storage, your leftover General Tso’s chicken will freeze well (in a freezer-safe bag or container) for up to 3 months. Simply let it thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or in a pot over the stove. I recommend making fresh rice whenever you plan to enjoy leftover General Tso’s chicken.
Serving suggestions
To enjoy slow-cooker General Tso’s chicken, all you really need is a side of Steamed Rice and some roasted vegetables like Roasted Broccoli And Carrots. Instead of white rice, you could substitute Brown Rice, or even something fun like Garlic Rice. If you’re a lover of side dishes and appetizers, then you can’t go wrong with some Crispy Air-Fryer Egg Rolls or Spring Rolls.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Nonstick cooking spray (or 1 tablespoon vegetable oil)
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss chicken pieces with cornstarch and black pepper until evenly coated.
- Heat nonstick cooking spray (or vegetable oil) in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook just until browned on all sides, not cooked through. About 5 minutes. Transfer to slow cooker.
- In a bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Pour over the chicken in the slow cooker. Stir to coat. Cook on low for 4 hours.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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