At Step 2 : Fry the chicken → Cook in Air Fryer

According to MenuCochon: Modification : Replace traditional frying with : Preheat the Air Fryer to 200 °C (400 °F). Place the breaded chicken pieces in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer without overlapping. Spray lightly with oil. Cook for 15 to 18 minutes, turning the pieces halfway through cooking.

At Step 5 : Crispy General Tao Chicken (optional)

According to MenuCochon: Modification : After mixing the chicken with the sauce : Return the pieces to the Air Fryer at 200 °C (400 °F) for 2 to 3 minutes to enhance the crispiness.

Tips for making your chicken General Tao at home

According to MenuCochon: Crispy tip : For a crispy General Tao recipe, coat the chicken in cornstarch before frying. This gives it that golden and light texture, typical of easy Asian dishes to make at home. Light version : For a lighter version of General Tao, opt for oven baking or Air Fryer cooking instead of traditional frying. You'll keep the delicious flavor of the General Tao sauce without the excess fat. Perfect homemade sauce : The key to a good homemade General Tao chicken, is the sauce ! Don't hesitate to adjust the sugar and vinegar according to your preferences for a perfect balance between sweet, sour, and salty. Personalization : Add crunchy vegetables like broccoli or bell peppers to make a complete Asian-inspired meal. Pre-made sauce : There is a ready-to-use General Tao chicken sauce preparation for busy parents.

General Tao Chicken: Better Than Restaurant

Name: Delicious Homemade General Tao Chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 portions
Cuisine: Plats principaux Volaille
Ingredients: 2 cooked chicken pieces; 1/2 tasse cornstarch; 1/2 tasse flour; 1 egg; 2 tablespoons of water; salt and pepper to taste; frying oil; 1/3 tasse soy sauce; 1/3 tasse brown rice vinegar; 1/3 tasse brown sugar; 2 cuillère à soupe ketchup; 1 cuillère à café hoisin sauce; 2 g chopped shallots; 1 cuillère à café freshly grated ginger; 1 tablespoon of cornstarch diluted in 2 tablespoons of water; 1 pincée cayenne pepper (optional, to taste); 2 chopped shallots; G sesame seeds for garnish

FR|EN

Poultry Main Dishes

Delicious Homemade General Tao Chicken

Prep20 min

Servings4

DifficultyMedium

By Menucochon|

February 3, 2025

|Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Poultry Main Dishes

Delicious Homemade General Tao Chicken

Prep20 min

Servings4

DifficultyMedium

By Menucochon|

February 3, 2025

|Updated: Apr 6, 2026

General Tao chicken is a beloved dish known for its crispy texture and sweet-spicy sauce. This homemade version lets you recreate a restaurant-quality meal in the comfort of your own kitchen. It's perfect for a quick and delicious dinner, and you can even make it lighter by using an air fryer.

Ingredients

Servings

Preparation

Instructions

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Preparing the chicken
In a bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, salt and pepper. In another bowl, beat the egg with water. Dip the chicken cubes in the egg, then coat them with the flour-cornstarch mixture.
Frying the chicken
Heat oil in a pan or deep fryer to 180°C. Fry the pieces of chicken in batches until golden and crispy (about 4-5 minutes). Drain on paper towels.
Preparing General Tao's sauce
In a saucepan, mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup and hoisin sauce. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Add garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes.
Thickening the sauce
Add diluted cornstarch and let simmer a few minutes until the sauce thickens.
Coating the chicken
Add the fried chicken to the sauce and stir well to coat it completely.
Serving
Serve hot, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with jasmine rice or sautéed vegetables.

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Our Tips

Chef's tips for making this recipe

For extra crispy chicken, coat the pieces in cornstarch before frying. This creates a light, golden crust that’s characteristic of this dish. It’s a simple trick that makes all the difference in achieving that perfect texture.

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Serving Suggestions

General Tao chicken is a recipe you'll turn to again and again for its simplicity and incredible flavor. Whether you're hosting guests or enjoying a family dinner, this dish is sure to impress. Give it a try and add it to your list of go-to recipes. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

3 questions about this recipe

Modification :

Replace traditional frying with :
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 200 °C (400 °F).
- Place the breaded chicken pieces in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer without overlapping.
- Spray lightly with oil.
- Cook for 15 to 18 minutes, turning the pieces halfway through cooking.