Chinese Imperial Palace General Tso's Chicken

Delight your taste buds with the bold and irresistible flavors of Chinese Imperial Palace General Tso's Chicken, a restaurant-style favorite you can easily recreate at home. This dish features tender, bite-sized chicken thighs, marinated in soy sauce and rice vinegar, then perfectly crisped with a light cornstarch-flour coating. The golden fried chicken is tossed in a luscious, tangy-sweet sauce made with hoisin, ketchup, garlic, and a hint of spice from red pepper flakes. Ready in under an hour, this recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions. Pair with steamed rice, and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds for an authentic finishing touch. Master the art of Chinese takeout with this flavorful, crowd-pleasing classic!

Nutriscore Rating: 57/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 4 cups vegetable oil
• 0.25 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 0.5 cup chicken broth
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 green onions, chopped (optional for garnish)
• 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and place them in a medium-sized bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar. Mix well and let marinate for 10–15 minutes.

Step 2

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs. In another shallow dish, combine the cornstarch and flour.

Step 3

Heat the vegetable oil in a large, deep skillet or wok over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).

Step 4

Coat the chicken pieces first in the egg, then dredge them in the cornstarch-flour mixture, pressing lightly to ensure an even coating.

Step 5

Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches for 4–5 minutes or until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.

Step 6

In a small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, hoisin sauce, ketchup, chicken broth, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the sauce thickens, about 3–5 minutes.

Step 7

Add the fried chicken pieces to the sauce and toss until they are evenly coated.

Step 8

Serve immediately over steamed rice or with your choice of side. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1882.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	9072.9

Total Fat 899.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 136.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 538.2g
Cholesterol 940.0mg	0%
Sodium 2623.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 183.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 4.8g	0%
Total Sugars 65.5g
Protein 144.0g	0%

Vitamin D 113.8IU	0%
Calcium 209.7mg	0%
Iron 10.9mg	0%
Potassium 1657.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 86.1%

Protein: 6.1%

Carbs: 7.8%