This simple General Tsoâs Rooster recipe doesnât require deep frying, so it’s a lot much less trouble than most! The candy, tangy, savory sauce completely coats the crispy hen items, and each chunk is a taste explosion.
Thereâs a motive this Chinese language-American traditional is a success at Chinese language eating places, and now you can also make a more healthy (and less expensive) model proper from the consolation of your very personal kitchen!

We’re huge followers of Chinese language meals at my home, so I’m all the time searching for methods to recreate our favourite dishes. This home made Common Tsoâs hen recipe was a success from the very first time I made it.
All my youngsters love the flavorful sauce, and you can also make it as spicy as you want by including extra crimson pepper flakes. Itâs so tasty that if you would like quite a lot of sauce along with your rice, chances are you’ll have to double it!
I actually like that the hen isnât deep fats fried. I really like Chinese language meals, however I all the time really feel responsible consuming it as a result of it’s loaded with energy. This was an ideal substitution for me. I didnât even miss all that grease. ð
What’s Common Tsoâs sauce made from?
The essential components in Common Tso sauce are soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, broth or water, and cornstarch. Extra components like hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger, and crimson pepper flakes add a depth of taste and a bit of warmth. Typically components like tomato paste, sesame oil, and even apple juice are added.
Commercially produced sauce additionally accommodates thickeners like xanthan gum, and vegetable oil.
Learn how to Make Common Tsoâs Rooster Recipe:
- PREP â Begin cooking your rice, as a result of it often takes longer than the hen. Lower the hen into chunk sized items.
- DREDGE â Stir collectively the flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish. Toss every bit of hen within the combination till utterly coated.
- BROWN â Warmth oil in a big skillet over medium excessive warmth. Add the coated hen and cook dinner till golden brown and temperature is 165 levels. Take away from the pan.
- SAUCE â Whereas the hen is browning, stir collectively the water, sugar, cornstarch, soy sauce, hoisin, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Add to the skillet; whisk over medium warmth till thick and bubbly.
- COMBINE â Return the cooked hen to the skillet and gently spoon the sauce excessive of every piece. Simmer for 3-5 minutes simply till heated by.
- SERVE â Spoon hen and rice over servings of scorching rice. Garnish with inexperienced onions and sesame seeds.

PRO TIPS:
- When you canât match all of the hen in a single layer within the skillet, cook dinner it in two batches. When you overcrowd the pan, the hen doesnât brown properly.
- Small items of hen cook dinner rapidly, so if you wish to guarantee they’re juicy, use a meat thermometer and cook dinner simply till the inner temperature is 165°.
Common Tsoâs Rooster Variations:
- You should utilize boneless hen thighs as an alternative of hen breast.
- Be at liberty to make use of rice vinegar or rice wine vinegar rather than the white vinegar.
- Brown sugar can be utilized as an alternative of normal granulated sugar.
- If I’ve leftover hen broth available, I’ll use it rather than the water.

Extra Asian-Impressed Recipes:
Yield: 4 servings
Common Tso Rooster Recipe
Everybody will love this tasty Chinese language-American dish! Juicy hen is breaded, browned, then coated with a spicy and candy sticky sauce. Delish!
Prep Time
quarter-hour
Cook dinner Time
20 minutes
Whole Time
35 minutes
Components
- 1 pound boneless skinless hen breasts
- 2 Tbsp all objective flour
- 3 Tbsp corn starch
- 1/2 tsp salt
- pinch of pepper
- pinch of cayenne pepper (extra should you prefer it spicy)
- 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
Sauce Components:
- 2/3 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp grated contemporary ginger
- 1/4 tsp crimson pepper flakes
Garnish:
- 4 inexperienced onions, sliced
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
Directions
- Begin cooking your rice. Lower hen into 1″ items.
- Combine collectively the flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish. Dredge hen in flour combination.
- Cook dinner hen within the scorching oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth until the skin is golden brown and the inner temperature is 165 levels. Take away to a plate.
- Whereas the hen is cooking, whisk the water, sugar, cornstarch, soy sauce, hoisin, vinegar, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl. Add to the skillet; cook dinner and stir over medium warmth until thick and bubbly.
- Flip the warmth to low and return the cooked hen to the pan. Spoon the sauce excessive of every piece and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Serve hen and sauce over scorching fluffy white rice. Garnish with inexperienced onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
-This dish is finest served instantly, as a result of because it sits the hen coating softens. You possibly can retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for 2-3 days, however the breading tends to disintegrate.
Really useful Merchandise
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Vitamin Data:
Yield:
4
Serving Dimension:
1
Quantity Per Serving:
Energy: 402Whole Fats: 15gSaturated Fats: 3gTrans Fats: 0gUnsaturated Fats: 11gLdl cholesterol: 97mgSodium: 1320mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 38g
When you donât need the mess (or energy) of deep-fried hen, however love making Chinese language meals at dwelling, that is the proper Common Tsoâs hen recipe for you!