Description
This Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken is an easy and flavorful recipe perfect for a hands-off dinner. Tender chicken cubes are lightly browned, then slow-cooked in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce made from hoisin, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, rice wine vinegar, and a blend of spices, delivering classic Asian-inspired flavors with minimal effort. Serve over steamed rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Sauce
- 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon dry ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, adjust to taste
Garnishes (Optional)
- Green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds
- Additional red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Coat the Chicken: In a bowl or a plastic bag, toss the cubed chicken breasts with the cornstarch until each piece is evenly coated, which will help the chicken develop a slight crust and thicken the sauce during cooking.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until they are lightly browned on all sides but not fully cooked through. This step adds texture and flavor. Once browned, transfer the chicken to the slow cooker.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, dry ginger, and crushed red pepper until smooth and combined.
- Cook the Chicken: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Serve and Garnish: Once cooked, serve the General Tso’s chicken over steamed rice. Garnish with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and additional red pepper flakes if desired for extra flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, you can remove the lid of the slow cooker toward the end of cooking and increase to high heat to reduce the sauce for 15-20 minutes.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the crushed red pepper or add fresh chili slices.
- This recipe can be made with chicken thighs instead of breasts for juicier results.
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken in the skillet, as it will finish cooking in the slow cooker to avoid dryness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 cup chicken with sauce)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
