Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken
Description
Crispy air fryer General Tso's chicken tossed in a sweet, tangy, and spicy homemade sauce. A takeout favorite made at home in about 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Olive oil or cooking spray
Sauce
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
For the skillet
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes, or to taste
- Sliced scallions and sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 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.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for 2–3 minutes.
- Let the excess egg drip off each piece of chicken, then dredge it in the flour mixture, shaking off the extra.
- Spray the air fryer basket, add the chicken in a single layer without touching, and spray the tops generously. Air fry for 8 minutes, flipping and spraying again halfway, until golden and 165°F inside. Work in batches if needed.
- 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 15 seconds. Add the sauce and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until glossy and thick.
- Add the hot chicken, toss to coat, and garnish with scallions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Instant-read thermometer
Notes
- Air fryers vary, so check the chicken at 7 minutes the first time you make this.
- For crispier chicken, sauce it right before serving.
- To make ahead, store the chicken and sauce separately and re-crisp the chicken in the air fryer at 350°F for 5 to 8 minutes before tossing.
- For gluten-free chicken, use tamari, gluten-free hoisin, and a gluten-free flour blend.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 495kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 23gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 153mgSodium: 864mgPotassium: 371mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 223IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 2mg