My air fryer General Tso’s Chicken recipe is a healthier take on the classic Chinese takeout, and it’s even more delicious. Succulent bites of chicken crisp up in the air fryer, then I slather them in a simple homemade General Tso sauce. Served with a side of fluffy rice, this meal is so easy to make in just 20 minutes!
Top Reader Reviews
Great recipe! So easy to make and just delicious. Like take out but a fraction of the price. I will probably double the sauce part next time cuz we like it saucy. Highly recommend. Seriously you can have dinner on the table in 20 mins with some quick rice and broccoli on the side.
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This is a wonderfully tasty homemade gem of a recipe. Honestly like it more than the restaurant versions!
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Quick and Easy General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
Making General Tso’s Chicken in the air fryer is so quick and easy to do.
Plus it’s so tasty, my family doesn’t even ask for takeout anymore! This is a super simplified version of general Tso’s chicken without a complicated list of special ingredients. Air-frying still makes each piece of chicken delightfully crunchy, but ultimately makes for a much healthier result. The homemade sauce is easy to whip up using soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and tangy, and it coats every bite of chicken beautifully!
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Make it Crispier!
This recipe is meant to be lighter than the classic General Tso’s chicken, so there’s no deep-frying, and I just use a bit of cornstarch to coat. For a crispier result, try dredging the pieces of chicken in egg and flour before air-frying. Be sure to shake off any excess first. Or, lightly spray chicken pieces with cooking oil spray.
Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into small pieces*)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (**)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 dash ground black pepper
For the General Tso's Sauce:
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (***)
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ginger paste (****)
- 2 garlic cloves (crushed)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
For the Chicken:
- Preheat Air Fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- In a small bowl, toss the chicken with cornstarch, salt and pepper, coating evenly.1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 dash ground black pepper
- Spray Air Fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place chicken in basket, separating the pieces so they cook all the way around.
- Air-fry for 10 minutes, tossing the basket once at 5 minutes to flip the chicken over.
For the Sauce:
- Add all sauce ingredients to a small, heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat.¼ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ginger paste, 2 garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Whisk until brown sugar dissolves, and bring to a rapid boil.
- Reduce heat, simmer about 5 minutes until sauce has thickened.
- Pour the sauce over the air fried chicken and coat evenly.
- Serve over white or brown rice.
Notes
- Make sure the chicken is evenly-coated with cornstarch. Shake off any excess to prevent a clumpy or powder-y result.
- Leave some space between the chicken pieces in the Air Fryer so that all sides are exposed to the circulating air.
- If you prefer, use 1/2 cup of bottled sauce for convenience.
Note: Water, salt, pepper, oil, and broth are not counted as ingredients on this site.
General Tso’s Sauce Variations
Change up the sauce with simple tweaks before tossing it with the air-fried chicken.
- To make it a little less sweet, add 1 tablespoon of sugar instead of 2.
- To make it sweeter, add 1 tablespoon of honey, or a bit more brown sugar.
- To add heat, add a small amount of gochujang or sriracha until you get your desired spice level.
- To brighten it up, add a little orange zest.
How to Make General Tso’s Chicken in the Air Fryer Step by Step
Prep the Chicken: Cut 1 pound of boneless chicken thighs or breasts into small, bite-sized pieces. Then toss the pieces in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, ½ teaspoon of salt, and a dash of black pepper. Toss well to make sure each piece is coated with cornstarch.
Air-fry the Chicken: Spray the air fryer basket with a little bit of non-stick spray. Place the cornstarch-coated chicken in an even layer in the basket, and cook at 400°F for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken half-way through the cook time.
Make the General Tso’s Sauce: Make the sauce in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Add ¼ cup of ketchup, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar, ½ teaspoon of ginger paste, 2 crushed cloves of garlic, and ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Whisk until the brown sugar has dissolved, and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat to a simmer and let it cook for about 5 minutes, or until thickened.
Toss it All Together: Place the air-fried chicken pieces in a large bowl, then pour the sauce over it and toss to evenly coat all pieces.
Serve: I always serve general Tso’s chicken with white rice or fried rice, and a side of egg rolls!
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Store leftover General Tso’s chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, or freeze up to 3 months. To reheat, I recommend popping it back in the air fryer or oven until heated through. Avoid overheating, or you’ll dry out the sauce!
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