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What Great Grandma Ate / Recipes / Main Dishes / Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken

Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken

Last Updated on April 3, 2023 by Jean Choi 8 Comments

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This Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken is a healthier version of the classic Chinese takeout dish! Tender and crispy chicken coated in a sweet and spicy, tangy, and delicious sticky sauce. Ready to serve in just 30 minutes!

a plate filled with white rice and air fryer general tso's chicken topped with green onions and sesame seeds.

What Makes This Recipe Great

This air fryer General Tso’s chicken is a delicious and healthier version of the classic Chinese takeout dish. With the help of an air fryer, you can enjoy crispy and juicy chicken without the need for deep-frying. Recreating takeout recipes at home is actually really easy, budget-friendly, and so much healthier. 

This dish is crispy, flavorful, and satisfying, and it’s a perfect meal for those who want to enjoy all the flavor and satisfaction of General Tso’s chicken without the high amounts of sugar. Featuring crispy chicken pieces coated in a homemade sweet and spicy General Tso sauce recipe. It’s so yummy!

Even better, I’ve created this recipe with allergies in mind. This air fryer General Tso chicken is gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and absolutely divine. Did I mention it only takes 30 minutes to make?

Watch a Short Video of This Recipe

Ingredient Notes

recipe ingredients labeled and in small bowls.
  • arrowroot starch: You can replace arrowroot starch with tapioca starch.
  • boneless skinless chicken thighs: You can substitute chicken breasts if preferred, but chicken thighs are juicier and work really well in this recipe. 
  • sesame oil
  • garlic cloves: You can mince fresh garlic cloves or use a jar of minced garlic. 
  • fresh ginger
  • red pepper flakes: Use to taste. Add more for extra spice or less for a more mild chicken. 
  • sea salt
  • ground black pepper
  • ​​chopped green onions and sesame seeds: Optional for garnish. 

General Tso’s Sauce

  • coconut aminos: I use this as an alternative to soy sauce and hoisin sauce in this General Tso sauce recipe. It has the same great taste but is soy-free and gluten-free!
  • rice vinegar
  • tomato paste
  • coconut sugar: Or 1 Medjool date for Whole30. You can also use brown sugar if preferred. 
  • arrowroot starch

Step-by-Step instructions

numbered step by step photos showing how to make this recipe and sauce.
  1. Combine all General Tso’s sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. (For the Whole30 version, blend the sauce in a blender to break up the Medjool date.)
  2. In a large bowl, stir together arrowroot starch, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken and toss together until the chicken is coated evenly.
  3. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F, and generously spray the tray or air fryer basket with cooking oil or cooking spray. Add the chicken to the air fryer in a single layer without touching each other and air fry for 14-16 minutes, flipping halfway through until golden and crispy. You may need to do this in two batches.
  4. Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add sesame oil. 
  5. Once hot, add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes and stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
  6. Pour in the prepared sauce and let it come to a boil while whisking. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until the sauce is thickened.
  7. Turn off the heat, add the chicken pieces to the saucepan, and toss to coat in the sauce.
  8. Serve with rice or cauliflower rice (for Whole30), sprinkled with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
a plate of air fryer general tso's chicken on a plate with white rice and chopsticks resting on the side.

Expert Tips

  • This recipe easily be made Whole30 by replacing coconut sugar with a Medjool date and serving over cauliflower rice.
  • Cooking with an air fryer reduces the cook time, makes “fried” chicken so much healthier, and offers much easier cleanup. 
  • For best results, make sure to spray your air fryer basket with cooking oil spray and preheat before adding the chicken! 
  • Also, be sure to flip halfway through to get your chicken crispy all over. 

Serving Tips

  • Serve with fresh white rice or cauliflower rice, and garnish the chicken with green onions and sesame seeds. You can also serve it with freshly steamed broccoli. Eat with chopsticks for a real takeout feel! 

Storage Tips

  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
a pair of wooden chopsticks holding a piece of air fryer general tso's chicken.

Recipe FAQs

Is this air fryer general tso chicken gluten-free?

Yes! I made this recipe gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and refined-sugar-free. A much healthier “takeout” alternative that has less sugar than your average Chinese takeout. 

Can I store leftover General Tso Sauce?

Yes! Although this recipe does call for all the sauce, if you have leftovers or want to make a double batch of the general tso sauce, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week to use for later. 

Help! My General Tso sauce is too thin! 

Make sure to include the arrowroot or tapioca starch to thicken the sauce. If you find the consistency is still too thin, you can add a little bit more, a ½ teaspoon at a time, then stir for a minute to thicken. 

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If you make this recipe, please leave me a star rating and comment below! I love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Follow me on social media Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for even more delicious recipes!

a plate of air fryer general tso's chicken on a plate with white rice and chopsticks resting on the side.

Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken

This Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken is a healthier version of the classic Chinese takeout dish! Tender and crispy chicken coated in a sweet and spicy, tangy, and delicious sticky sauce. Ready to serve in just 30 minutes!
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: air fryer general tso chicken, general tso sauce recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 415kcal

Video

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup arrowroot starch
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1½ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 inch fresh ginger grated
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • Chopped green onions and sesame seeds for garnish

General Tso's Sauce

  • 1/2 cup coconut aminos
  • 3 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp coconut sugar or 1 Medjool date, for Whole30
  • 2 tsp arrowroot starch

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients for the General Tso's sauce in a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. (For the Whole30 version, blend the sauce in a blender to break up the Medjool date.)
  • In a large bowl, stir together arrowroot starch, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken and toss together until the chicken is coated evenly.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F, and generously spray the tray or basket with cooking oil. Add the chicken in a single layer without touching each other and air fry for 14-16 minutes, flipping halfway through until golden and crispy. You may need to do this in two batches.
  • Heat a large saucepan over medium high heat and add sesame oil.
  • Once hot, add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes and stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
  • Pour in the prepared sauce and let it come to a boil while whisking. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until the sauce is thickened.
  • Turn off heat, and add the chicken to the saucepan and toss to coat in sauce.
  • Serve with rice or cauliflower rice (for Whole30) sprinkled with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken
Amount Per Serving (1 serving – makes 3)
Calories 415 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 0.04g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 215mg72%
Sodium 1980mg86%
Potassium 698mg20%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 44g88%
Vitamin A 317IU6%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 33mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Expert Tips

  • This recipe easily be made Whole30 by replacing coconut sugar with a Medjool date and serving over cauliflower rice.
  • Cooking with an air fryer reduces the cooking time, makes “fried” chicken so much healthier, and offers much easier cleanup. 
  • For best results, make sure to spray your air fryer basket with cooking oil spray and preheat before adding the chicken! 
  • Also, be sure to flip halfway through to get your chicken crispy. 

Serving Tips

  • Serve with fresh white rice or cauliflower rice, and garnish the chicken with green onions and sesame seeds. You can also serve it with freshly steamed broccoli. Eat with chopsticks for a real takeout feel! 

Storage Tips

  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.

What Great Grandma Ate / Jean Choi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.

382 shares
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By Jean Choi | April 3, 2023

Comments

  1. Lisa says

    April 14, 2023 at 6:32 am

    5 stars
    Wow, this recipe was such a hit! Me and my family loved it!! Thank you for sharing such a great recipe!

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      April 14, 2023 at 9:40 am

      Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  2. Sara says

    June 29, 2023 at 11:32 am

    5 stars
    So so good! My husband loves general tso’s curb and this was amazing, especially while we’re doing whole30, will be making this even after we’re done!

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      June 30, 2023 at 8:39 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for leaving a review.

      Reply
  3. Z says

    December 29, 2023 at 9:42 pm

    5 stars
    An all time favorite!

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      January 29, 2024 at 4:09 pm

      Thaniks so much!

      Reply
  4. Sara says

    January 13, 2024 at 6:11 pm

    5 stars
    The sauce is so so delicious! My husband loves general tso’s and this recipe won his approval. Love the simplicity but also that it’s whole30!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      January 13, 2024 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      I just saw my comment above😆. Goes to show how much we loved this recipe

      Reply

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headshot of Jean Choi - blogger of What Great Grandma Ate

I’m Jean and I’m a food lover and content creator living in Southern California with my husband, 2 young daughters, and a French bulldog. Here, you’ll find simple and easy mostly gluten-free and nutrient dense recipes that focus on quality ingredients, and of course, never sacrifice on taste. I believe that the food you love should love you back, making you feel amazing inside and out. Whatever your health or cooking journey may be, I hope you find something delicious on my site!

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Recipe Key

  • 3030 Min or Less
  • AIPAIP
  • EFEgg Free
  • LCLow Carb
  • NFNut Free
  • PPaleo
  • VVegan
  • W3Whole 30

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