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–+ servings
chopsticks holding a piece of chicken
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4.52 from 642 votes

Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken Recipe

This Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken is a healthier take on the classic Chinese takeout. Succulent chicken slathered in a tangy sauce, served with a side of fluffy rice, is pure heaven on a plate!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Chinese
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 397kcal
Author: Becky Hardin

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
    Tossing bites of raw chicken with cornstarch, salt, and pepper.
  • Spray Air Fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray.
    Spraying an Air Fryer basket with non-stick spray.
  • Place chicken in basket, separating the pieces so they cook all the way around.
    Bite-sized pieces of chicken in the basket of an Air Fryer.
  • 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
    Sauce ingredients in a saucepan.
  • Whisk until brown sugar dissolves, and bring to a rapid boil.
    Whisking sauce ingredients together.
  • Reduce heat, simmer about 5 minutes until sauce has thickened.
    General Tso's sauce simmering in a pot.
  • Pour the sauce over the air fried chicken and coat evenly.
    Tossing air-fried pieces of chicken in General Tso's sauce.
  • Serve over white or brown rice.
    A serving of General Tso's chicken with white rice.

Video

Notes

*Chicken thighs give this dish a richer, juicier result, but you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead.
**Coating pieces of chicken with cornstarch helps them get crispier in the Air Fryer, and also helps the General Tso’s sauce stick. Flour can be used instead.
***Use a low-sodium soy sauce for a healthier take. You can also swap this for tamari, coconut aminos, or Worcestershire sauce.
****You can use an equal amount of fresh ginger (minced or grated).
Becky's Top Tips:
  • 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.
Oven Instructions: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, and place a wire cooling rack on top. Place cornstarch-coated pieces of chicken on top of the rack. Bake in a 400°F oven for about 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Then toss in the General Tso's sauce and serve.
Storage: Store general tso's chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days, or freeze for 3 months.


Nutrition

Calories: 397kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 2074mg | Potassium: 688mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 357IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg