Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken
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An easy slow cooker version of the family favorite General Tso’s chicken and it’s soooo much better than takeout!
Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pineapple Chicken, and Sticky Sesame Chicken are more Asian chicken recipes to enjoy next!
Okay, first things first. I worked as a waitress in a Chinese restaurant for 3 years in high school and we had this chicken dish on the menu. It was called General Tsao’s Chicken. But in all of my Asian food eating experience, I always see it spelled General “Tso’s” Chicken – – – > no “a” involved in the Tso part. So my waitressing past wants me to spell it General Tsao, but for the sake of everyone else on the planet who is going to see this recipe, I am spelling it without the “a”, just so we can all be on the same page her.
In all reality, I’m still confused about how it is supposed to be spelled.
But I’ve eaten a LOT of General Tso’s chicken in my day. It’s easily in my top 5 favorite Chinese dishes. Kung Pao, a natural favorite. Tangerine Chicken, oh my gash I could eat it all day. And Cantonese Flat Noodles, with char sil. Mmmmmmmmm. Oh heaven my mouth is watering. I need Chinese food!!!!!
Okay, sorry. Got a little carried away there for a second.
Like I said, I’ve had a lot of General Tso’s chicken and this slow cooker version is one of the best I’ve ever tasted! I absolutely love that it’s made in a crockpot, so incredibly easy and extra flavorful because it gets to marinate for a while. Just 15 minutes prep before you toss this in the slow cooker and then you just let it goooooooo (yes, like Frozen. I’m a Disney buff.) A few hours later you’ve got dinner on the table the whole family will LOVE! You just can’t beat this kind of flavor and minimal prep.
More Recipes to Try
- Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe – tender and flavorful, just like the restaurant favorite.
- Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken – sweet, savory, and better than takeout!
- Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef – rich flavor with hardly any effort.
When you make this recipe, snap a photo and tag me on social – I love connecting with you and seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!
Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts , (about 2 pounds), chopped into bite size pieces
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 cup corn starch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons hoisin sauce , (can be found in the Asian section at most markets)
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- steamed or fried rice for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oil in a nonstick pan or skillet over medium heat. Whisk together corn starch, salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and pepper.
- Add corn starch mixture and chicken pieces to a large zip lock bag. Seal and shake to coat chicken.
- Add coated chicken pieces to pan. Saute 1-2 minutes until browned. (It chicken will still be raw in the middle at this point, that’s okay)
- In a bowl combine all sauce ingredients and whisk to combine. Add half to the crockpot along with chicken pieces. Cook on low for 4 hours.
- Immediately before serving, Add remaining sauce to the crockpot and stir gently. Serve with rice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe adapted from Favorite Family Recipes.
Can I prepare any part of this ahead like for instance the night before
Yes, you can cut the chicken by chopping it into bite size pieces then store it covered in the fridge. You can also whisk all the sauce ingredients together and store in the fridge in an air tight container. And lastly, you can mix the cornstarch and seasonings and keep it in a bag or container. 🙂
The Sauce Situation: The recipe desperately needs more liquid; it should have at least twice the amount of sauce provided. As it stands, the chicken is left far too dry.
Flavor & Texture: While the taste is “fine,” it lacks the signature sweetness you expect from this dish. More importantly, the texture was completely off—it missed that essential crispy-yet-saucy mouthfeel that defines the classic version.
The Verdict: Definitely not worth the four-hour wait. If you’re looking for an authentic General Tso’s experience, this slow cooker method isn’t it. Sorry 😔
will the sauce thicken or do i have to do the cornstarch thing?
The sauce will be a bit thin so if you want to thicken it, yes you can add a cornstarch slurry
This is my absolute favorite!! It is so much healthier than buying at my local Chinese restaurant, It’s absolutely delicious!!! Next time I might try doubling the recipe Except the chicken LOL! I also love steaming some broccoli and adding to the mix when it is complete. If you try it I hope you will love it as much as I do!