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Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken – just like your favorite take-out! A simple sauce with bold flavor make this crock pot recipe for General Tso’s Chicken a must-make!
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Pin It NowSLOW COOKER GENERAL TSO’S CHICKEN: AN EASY WEEKNIGHT DINNER!
If you love ordering General Tso’s Chicken from your favorite takeout spot but want to make a homemade version, this Slow Cooker General Tso’s chicken is the recipe for you!
I have always loved making Chinese-inspired recipes at home, especially my Sweet and Sour Chicken and Chinese Fried Rice and this recipe is no exception.
Unlike deep-fried takeout, this recipe uses chicken breast with a light cornstarch coating and a delicious sauce with a little kick of heat!
Why you’ll love this:
- Easy weeknight dinner – only 15 minutes of prep time
- Healthier than takeout – make with lean chicken breast and there’s no deep frying
- Slow cooker convenience – throw this in your crock pot and forget about it! It’ll cook low and slow for about 4 hours.
- Customizable – adjust the heat according to your family’s preference
There’s only 10-15 minutes of prep time and the rest of the work is done by the slow cooker. The result? A sweet General Tso’s Chicken recipe with a little kick of heat and a whole lot of flavor! Let’s go make it!
❤️ Ashley
How to Make General Tso’s Chicken in the Slow Cooker
It is so easy to make General Tso’s Chicken in the slow cooker. Here’s a brief overview of the step by step instructions. The complete instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Brown the chicken: toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch then brown in a large skillet. The goal here is to just brown the chicken. It will not be cooked through.
- Make the sauce: in your slow cooker, combine all of the ingredients for the sauce: soy sauce, hoisin sauce, red wine vinegar, sriracha, sesame oil, chicken broth, sugar and garlic.
- Slow cook: transfer the browned chicken to the slow cooker and stir with the sauce to combine. Cook on low for 4 hours.
- Finish and serve: garnish with chopped green onions, cilantro, and red pepper flake. Serve over rice – white, brown, or fried rice and serve with roasted or steamed veggies.
Ingredient Notes:
- In place of olive oil, you can use vegetable oil or avocado oil
- In place of red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar are g good substitutes.
- Garnish: green onions or chopped fresh cilantro are great garnish options!
General Tso’s Sauce
The sauce for General Tso’s Chicken is savory, slightly sweet, tangy, and can be as spicy as you’d like it to be. For example, add more sriracha for extra heat, or use less for a milder taste.
What to Serve with General Tso’s Chicken
I like to serve this with white rice or brown rice. Here’s my guide for how to make perfect rice every time. Alternatively, my Chinese Fried Rice is delicious!
Want to make more Chinese take-out fake-out recipes at home? Try these:
MORE CHINESE TAKEOUT RECIPES
In the end, whether you’re feeding the family or meal prepping for the week, this easy Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken is so flavorful, delicious, and is sure to become a repeat fave! Enjoy!
Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot starch for gluten-free
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce low sodium recommended
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 –2 tablespoons sriracha depending on spice preference
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 large garlic cloves minced
- Crushed red pepper flakes optional, for heat
- 3 tablespoons chopped green onion or cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the chicken: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch until well coated. Add to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, until browned on all sides (the chicken does not need to be fully cooked through).
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, red wine vinegar, sriracha, sesame oil, chicken broth, sugar, and garlic.
- Slow cook: Transfer the browned chicken to your slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the top, stir to coat, and cover with the lid. Cook on LOW for 4 hours or until the chicken is tender and infused with flavor.
- Finish & serve: Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes (if using) and garnish with fresh green onions or cilantro. Serve hot over white rice, brown rice, or steamed vegetables.
General Tso’s FAQ / Tips and Tricks
General Tso’s Chicken is typically a deep fried Chinese style dish that is served in America. It’s both sweet and spicy; a great combo!
Orange Chicken and General Tso’s Chicken are actually quite similar. Orange Chicken is coated in a sweet orange, chili sauce, that is more of a glaze. General Tso’s Chicken is usually deep fried, then coated in a sweet and spicy sauce. Our recipe for Orange Chicken is also super delicious and worth adding to your dinner rotation.
The most common way to say it is to keep the T silent. It’ll rhyme with “so” – “General So’s”
