Air Fryer General Tso Chicken

Air Fryer General Tso Chicken is delicious! Crispy pieces of chicken smothered in homemade sauce is an easy weeknight meal idea.

Air Fryer General Tso Chicken

Standing in front of the stove frying up General Tso’s chicken is a common sight. But with the invention and popularity of air fryers, you can now make this easy General Tso chicken using an air fryer instead!

One of my family’s favorite Chinese take-out dinners is General Tso’s Chicken, so today I recreated the dish in my air fryer. And it is incredible!

Tender, juicy chicken pieces smothered in the tasty homemade General Tso chicken sauce, served over a plate of rice with a side of broccoli is a fantastic dinner. And it would beat any Chinese restaurant.

This healthy dinner is made with real chicken pieces and air-fried to perfection. Although it tastes almost deep-fried, you use very little oil in this dish. This is a healthy Air Fryer Recipe, and it is good!

This will soon be one of your favorite weeknight meals or a great meal to impress your guests with. Keep reading to learn the difference between General Tso vs sesame chicken too!

Some of my favorite and excellent air fryer Chinese-inspired dishes to make include AIR FRYER CHINESE SPARE RIBS, AIR FRYER CHINESE BUFFET CRAB CASSEROLE RECIPE, INSTANT POT VEGETARIAN CHINESE FRIED RICE, and AIR FRYER CHINESE CHICKEN WINGS.

And of course, everyone needs an appetizer of AIR FRYER, CHINESE CRAB RANGOON to start the meal!

Why You’ll Love General Tso’s Chicken

• Only takes 20 minutes!
• Easy step-by-step directions
• Kid-friendly
• It has a subtle spiciness
• Delicious

What Is General Tso’s Chicken?

If you’re not sure what General Tso’s Chicken is, it’s a dish that originated in Hunan, China, and was created by Zuo Zongtang. It has become popularized in America due to its sweet and spicy flavor profile, made with soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic cloves, brown sugar, ginger root, and chili peppers.

General Tso VS Sesame Chicken

We will break down the differences and similarities between General Tso vs sesame chicken:

• General Tso has a perfect combination of sweetness and spice.
• Sesame chicken is sweeter and doesn’t have any heat to it.
• Both have delicious sauces.
• Each has simple ingredients and is fairly easy to make.

Why Air Fry Chicken?

If you never have had air-fried chicken, let me tell you, it’s life-changing. I have never made tender chicken pieces that were so juicy and delicious.

Although this dish is typically fried, you can get tender chicken pieces by cooking them in the air fryer.

Our Latest Air Fryer Recipe And Video

Ingredients Needed For This Easy General Tso Chicken 

This air fryer General Tso chicken has many ingredients, but it is definitely worth the time. You will have most of the ingredients in the pantry or refrigerator.

• Boneless & Skinless Chicken Breast or Thighs
• Egg
• All-Purpose Flour
• Cornstarch
• Chicken Stock
• Brown sugar
• Soy Sauce
• Rice Vinegar
• Hoisin Sauce
• Vegetable Oil
• Minced Garlic
• Fresh Ginger
• Spices: Salt, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Chili Flakes
• Cooking Spray
• Garnish: Scallions or Sesame Seeds

How To Make Homemade General Tso Chicken

Step 1: Prep the chicken

Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces and place in a medium-sized bowl. Add the beaten egg, coat the chicken in the egg, and set aside.

Whisk the flour, cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in another medium-sized bowl.

Step 2: Dip chicken in breading

Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F, air fryer setting. Take the chicken pieces one at a time and let the excess egg drip off. Dip into the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.

Step 3: Air fry General Tso’s chicken

Spray the air fryer’s basket with olive oil, place the chicken pieces into the basket (not touching), and spray them generously with cooking spray. You may need to do this in batches.

Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through, coating with more cooking spray until crispy and an internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees F.

Step 4: Prepare the sauce

For the sauce, whisk together the chicken stock, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and cornstarch in a small bowl set aside.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the vegetable oil. Add the garlic, ginger, and chili flakes to the skillet and cook, stirring for 15 seconds. Add the sauce to the pan and cook for about 30 seconds until it thickens.

Immediately add the chicken and toss in the sauce. Serve with an optional garnish of scallions and sesame seeds.

Air Fryer General Tso Chicken Tips

• Preheat the air fryer before adding the chicken so the chicken’s outer layer gets a great sear.
• Spray the basket and chicken with cooking spray. You can use any high-heat oil that you want. I used olive oil spray, but avocado oil works well.
• If you end up with white spots or dried spots on your chicken, you did not use enough cooking spray on the chicken’s outer part.

Air Fryer General Tso Chicken FAQs

Can I Use Chicken Thighs?

You can use either boneless skinless chicken breast or boneless chicken thighs for this easy General Tso chicken. Both chicken cuts will work in this recipe.

Do I need to preheat the air fryer beforehand?

Yes. The best way to get a sear is by preheating the air fryer. It adds flavor and locks in moisture.

What kind of spray should I spray my air fryer with?

Like all air fryer recipes, you want to use high-heat oil. Remember not to use any aerosol sprays which will cause your basket or tray to lose its coating over time.

So, use a high-heat oil such as olive oil, avocado oil, or even vegetable oil.

How To Store Leftover Homemade General Tso Chicken

If you have any leftover air fryer General Tso chicken, you can easily place it into an airtight container and put it into the refrigerator. Leftovers will last for about 2 to 3 days.

How to Reheat General Tso Chicken In Air Fryer: Place the chicken in the air fryer or on a microwave-safe plate, and heat until warmed through.

How To Freeze:

Place the chicken without the sauce into a freezer container. Place into the freezer for 2 to 3 months.

When you are ready to serve it, defrost it overnight in the refrigerator and make a fresh batch of the sauce. Toss together and place into the air fryer; heat until warmed through.

How To Make General Tso’s Chicken in the Oven

You can easily make this in the oven! Prepare as directed, then place the chicken into a preheated 425 degrees F oven. Cook for about 10 to 12 minutes.

Some Other Great Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

• AIR FRYER TYSON CHICKEN WINGS
• EASY AIR FRYER CHICKEN WINGS
• AIR FRYER HONEY BBQ CHICKEN TENDERS
• EASY AIR FRYER COPYCAT KFC FRIED CHICKEN
• AIR FRYER HONEY BBQ CHICKEN WINGS

Some Other Great Air Fryer Asian-Inspired 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
• AIR FRYER, EASY HOMEMADE CHINESE SESAME CHICKEN