Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken (Crispy, Better Than Takeout)

This air fryer General Tso’s chicken gives you crispy, golden bites of chicken coated in a sticky, sweet-and-spicy homemade sauce, without a pot of hot oil. The chicken air fries in about 8 minutes per batch, the sauce comes together in a skillet in under a minute, and dinner is on the table in roughly 25 minutes.

If you’ve been ordering General Tso’s (or General Tao’s, depending on your local takeout menu) every Friday, this is the version to make at home instead.

The first time I tried making General Tso’s chicken in the air fryer, the sauce completely washed off the crispy coating because I tossed it while the chicken was still piping hot out of the basket. My family still devoured every bite, but I knew I could get that takeout-style crunch even better. After tweaking the cornstarch ratio and letting the chicken rest for just one minute before tossing it in the glossy, sweet-and-spicy sauce, we finally nailed the ultimate crispiness without any deep frying!

What Is General Tso’s Chicken?

General Tso’s chicken is a Chinese-American dish of battered, fried chicken tossed in a glossy sauce that’s sweet, tangy, savory, and a little spicy. It’s named after Zuo Zongtang, a 19th-century general from Hunan province, but the dish as we know it was developed in restaurants in Taiwan and the United States, not in Hunan.

The restaurant version is deep fried. Air frying gets you a crisp coating with just a light spray of oil.

Why This Air Fried General Tso Chicken Works

• The double coat creates the crunch. Dipping the chicken in egg and then a flour-cornstarch mix gives you a thicker, craggier crust than cornstarch alone. That crust holds up once the sauce goes on.
• The sauce is made separately and added at the end. Tossing the chicken in hot sauce right before serving keeps the coating crisp instead of soggy.
• It uses pantry ingredients. Soy sauce, hoisin, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger are all you need for the sauce.
• It’s easy to adjust the heat. The chili flakes are the only source of spice, so you can go mild for kids or double them for heat lovers.

Ingredients for Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken

The full measurements and printable instructions are in the recipe card below.

For the chicken

• Boneless chicken thighs or breasts. Thighs stay juicier in the air fryer. Breasts work if you prefer lean meat; just don’t overcook them.
• Egg. This helps the coating stick.
• All-purpose flour and cornstarch. Together they make a light, crisp crust.
• Salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. These season the coating itself, so the chicken isn’t bland under the sauce.
• Cooking spray or olive oil. A generous spray is what turns the coating golden.

For the General Tso sauce

• Chicken stock. This forms the base of the sauce.
• Light brown sugar. It adds sweetness and helps the sauce turn sticky.
• Soy sauce. This supplies the salt and savory depth.
• Rice vinegar. It adds the tang that balances the sugar.
• Hoisin sauce. It brings body and a rich, slightly sweet flavor.
• Cornstarch. This thickens the sauce so it clings.
• Vegetable oil, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, and chili flakes. These are bloomed in the skillet first for aroma and heat.
• Scallions and sesame seeds. They’re optional, for garnish.

How to Make General Tso Chicken in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces and toss with the beaten egg. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Let the excess egg drip off each piece, then press it into the flour mixture and shake off the extra.

Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for 2–3 minutes. Spray the basket, add the chicken in a single layer with space between pieces, and spray the tops generously. Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping and spraying again halfway through. The chicken is done when it’s golden and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Work in batches if needed.

Step 3: While the chicken cooks, whisk together the chicken stock, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and cornstarch. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and chili flakes and stir for about 15 seconds, just until fragrant. Pour in the sauce and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until it turns glossy and thick.

Step 4: Add the hot chicken to the skillet and toss to coat. Top with scallions and sesame seeds and serve right away.

Tips for the Crispiest General Tso’s Chicken

• Don’t crowd the basket. Pieces that touch will steam instead of crisp. Two smaller batches beat one crowded one.
• Don’t skip the spray. Dry flour spots stay pale and chalky. Spray until you can’t see any white powder.
• Have the sauce ready before the chicken is done. The sauce only needs about a minute, so it should be the last step, not something the chicken waits on.
• Toss just before serving. The longer the chicken sits in sauce, the softer the crust gets.
• Use a thermometer. Chicken pieces vary in size, and 165°F is the only reliable sign they’re done.
• Basket Air fryer. When testing this in my basket-style air fryer, I learned the hard way that crowding the basket turns crispy chicken into soggy chicken fast! Working in two smaller batches with space between the pieces gives you that deep-fried crunch without a single drop of oil splattering your stove.

Easy Variations

• General Tso’s pork. Swap the chicken for pork. We have a full air fryer General Tso’s pork recipe with green beans.
• Gluten-free. Use tamari instead of soy sauce, a gluten-free hoisin, and a gluten-free flour blend in the coating.
• Extra spicy. Double the chili flakes, or add a spoonful of chili garlic sauce to the sauce.

What to Serve With General Tso’s Chicken

Steamed rice is the classic pairing. This Instant Pot coconut jasmine rice is especially good for soaking up the extra sauce, or you can go with Instant Pot vegetarian fried rice.

For a full takeout-style night at home, start with air fryer egg rolls or air fryer cream cheese rangoon, and finish with air fryer Chinese donuts. If your family likes variety, make a batch of air fryer sesame chicken or air fryer Chinese spare ribs alongside it.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The microwave will make the coating soft, so reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 5 to 8 minutes, shaking halfway through. Our guide on how to reheat General Tso’s chicken in the air fryer walks through it step by step, and the method works for takeout leftovers too.

If you want to make this ahead, store the cooked, unsauced chicken and the sauce separately. Re-crisp the chicken in the air fryer, warm the sauce in a skillet, and toss them together.

FAQs

Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs? Yes. Breast meat works well, but it dries out faster, so start checking the temperature a minute or two early.

Why isn’t my chicken getting crispy? The usual causes are a crowded basket, not enough cooking spray, or an air fryer that wasn’t preheated. Cook in a single layer and spray until no dry flour shows.

How do I get the sauce to stick? Cook the sauce until it’s glossy and thick enough to coat a spoon, then toss the chicken in it while both are hot.

Is General Tso’s chicken the same as orange chicken? No. General Tso’s sauce is savory, tangy, and mildly spicy. Orange chicken sauce is sweeter and gets its flavor from orange juice and zest.

Can I make it less spicy? Yes. Cut the chili flakes in half or leave them out. The sauce is still sweet and savory without them.

Can I freeze General Tso’s chicken? You can freeze the cooked, unsauced chicken for up to 2 months. Reheat it in the air fryer from frozen, then toss it in freshly made sauce.

More Air Fryer Chinese Recipes

If you love our recipe for General Tso Chicken Air Fryer, You will love these chicken recipes as well.

• AIR FRYER CHINESE BUFFET CRAB CASSEROLE RECIPE
• AIR FRYER CHINESE DONUTS
• INSTANT POT VEGETARIAN CHINESE FRIED RICE
• AIR FRYER CHINESE SPARE RIBS

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