Easy General Tso’s Chicken: Healthy Baked Edition

An easy general tso’s chicken that’s so hands off you’ll want to make it every night.

General Tso’s chicken might be the most popular dish in America when it comes to Chinese food.

It’s easy to see why with its sweet, sticky, and umami forward deep fried chicken nuggets. Like all things though, making it yourself at home is even better. This version is simultaneously tastier than takeout while being super easy and healthy because it’s oven baked with no finicky oil to deal with, just delicious crispy chicken. 2025 Update: the air fryer is even better, read below.

Healthy and protein forward

Unlike traditional General Tso’s chicken, this version is baked in an oven or air fryer. That means a lower fat content, lower cholesterol, and more protein in your diet.

Dark soy sauce

If you’d like extra color in your dish, a bottle of dark soy sauce is highly recommended. In addition to color it also adds an extra layer of rich flavor. You can buy it online, at most larger grocery stores in the Asian aisle, and of course, at any Asian grocery store. Read More about dark soy sauce here.

Next level but still easy General Tso’s Chicken

If you are so inclined, cutting the pieces into smaller than usual 1/2″ cubes make for a crispier chicken that’s actually more true to its Hunan origins. Properly speaking all parts of an authentic Chinese dish should be cut down into a uniformly small chopstick friendly size.

The whole dried peppers add an incredible kick if you eat them or a delicate hint of smoke if you don’t, but you can just leave them out entirely if you don’t like spicy food or can’t find them, this is dinner & chill after all. The green onion whites comes very highly recommended.

What do you need?

A non stick skillet and a baking sheet with a rack that fits. Cooking spray is highly recommended. It puts less oil on the rack than brushing (and you need the oil or you’ll tear your chicken).

Air fryer General Tso’s

If you have an air fryer this is even faster. Just follow the recipe but arrange your chicken in the air fryer and fry at 390ºF for 15 minutes instead of the oven, then continue on with the recipe. In my opinion this is even better.

How do you serve it?

Serve with rice, fried noodles, and some traditional chinese vegetables.

Easy Baked General Tso's Chicken

An easy general tso's chicken that's so hands off you’ll want to make it every night.

Serves 4

5 from 6 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cubed into 1/2” pieces
• 3 tbsp corn starch
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp vinegar rice vinegar preferred
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp hoisin sauce
• 4 cloves garlic

Optional but highly recommended

• 1 tsp dark soy sauce optional for color
• 4-6 whole dried chinese chilies optional if you'd like authentic spiciness
• 4-6 green onion whites optional but highly recommended
• sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

• Heat your oven to 450ºF and season your chicken with salt and pepper.
  
• Transfer your chicken to a ziplock/plastic bag along with 2 tablespoons of corn starch and shake well. Arrange the chicken onto an oiled tray on a foil lined baking sheet.
  
• Bake your chicken for 30 minutes at 450ºF, flipping once after 20 minutes.
  
• While the chicken is baking, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to 1/2 cup of water in a cup and stir into a smooth slurry.
  
• Make your sauce by combining soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, hoisin, and garlic. If you are going all out and using the optional dark soy, dried chilies, and green onion whites, add them now as well. Add the corn starch slurry and bring everything to a boil, then take off the heat and stir until a smooth and glossy sauce forms. Set aside and make your rice or relax with a glass of wine until the chicken is done.
  
• When your chicken is crispy and brown, toss it in the sauce until everything is evenly coated. Top with sesame seeds and chopped green onions with a side of rice, and enjoy!
  

Estimated Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Easy Baked General Tso's Chicken

Amount Per Serving

Calories 182 Calories from Fat 37

% Daily Value*

Fat 4.1g6%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 85mg28%

Sodium 693mg30%

Potassium 52mg1%

Carbohydrates 17g6%

Fiber 0.3g1%

Sugar 8.1g9%

Protein 21g42%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.