Marianne Martinez
Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken is a delicious, healthier alternative to the classic Chinese takeout dish. Succulent chicken pieces are coated in a sweet, salty, and tangy sauce, and the entire dish can be prepared in under 30 minutes. The chicken is best cooked in an air fryer at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, but the sauce and spices can be customised according to taste. This dish is perfect for a quick, easy, and tasty weeknight meal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time | 20 minutes to 30 minutes |
| Temperature | 350 °F to 400 °F |
| Preheat Time | 3 minutes to 5 minutes |
| Chicken Type | Boneless, Skinless Thighs or Breasts |
| Chicken Size | 1-pound |
| Chicken Cube Size | 2" |
| Sauce Ingredients | Ketchup, Brown Sugar, Soy Sauce, Ginger, Rice Vinegar, Red Pepper Flakes, Chilli Sauce, Garlic |
| Sauce Consistency | Thick |
| Spiciness | Mild to Spicy |
| Sweetness | Sweet |
| Oil | Neutral Oil, Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil |
| Other Ingredients | Cornstarch, Potato Starch, White Pepper, Shaoxing Wine, Chicken Broth |
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$10.86
What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your General Tso Chicken cooks evenly and efficiently. By preheating, you create a consistent cooking environment, allowing the hot air to circulate effectively and cook your chicken to perfection.
To preheat your air fryer, start by setting the desired temperature. For General Tso Chicken, recipes recommend preheating your air fryer between 350 °F and 400 °F. The higher temperature setting will help achieve that sought-after crispy texture on the outside of the chicken. Preheat your air fryer for around 3 to 5 minutes to ensure it reaches the desired temperature.
While the air fryer preheats, you can prepare your chicken. Cut boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts into small pieces, around 2" in size. Avoid cutting the chicken too small, as this can lead to drying out during cooking. In a separate bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, and pepper. You can also add other spices like onion powder, garlic powder, or white pepper to this mixture. Thoroughly coat the chicken pieces in this mixture.
Generously spray the air fryer basket with a non-stick cooking spray. This step is crucial, as it prevents the chicken from sticking to the basket and helps achieve an even crisp. Place the coated chicken pieces in the basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded to allow proper air circulation. Once the air fryer has preheated, you are ready to cook your General Tso Chicken!
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Prepare the chicken
Preparing the chicken for Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken is a straightforward process. To begin, you'll need to cut the chicken into small pieces. It's recommended to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, with a preference for chicken thighs as they yield juicier results. Cut the chicken into 2" cubes or pieces to ensure the meat stays moist and juicy during cooking. Overly small pieces tend to dry out in the air fryer.
Once you have the chicken pieces ready, it's time to season them. In a bowl, combine the chicken with seasonings like white pepper, salt, Shaoxing wine or chicken stock, light soy sauce, grated garlic, ginger, and an egg white. Mix well to ensure the egg white coats the chicken evenly. Allow the chicken to marinate in this mixture for about 30 minutes.
After marination, it's essential to coat the chicken pieces evenly with a dry mixture. The exact composition of this mixture may vary, but it often includes cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Some recipes suggest adding onion powder, garlic powder, or even potato starch to the mix for extra flavour and crispness. Coat the chicken pieces thoroughly with this dry mixture.
The next step is crucial for achieving that signature crispy texture. Spray the coated chicken pieces generously with a cooking spray, such as avocado oil, olive oil, or coconut oil. This step ensures the chicken doesn't stick to the air fryer basket and helps the coating cook evenly, resulting in a crispier texture.
Now, you're ready to arrange the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket. Place them in a single layer, making sure they don't touch or overlap. This arrangement allows proper air circulation, which is essential for even cooking and that sought-after crispiness.
With the chicken pieces in place, you're almost ready to start air frying. However, it's a good idea to give the basket a final spritz of cooking spray to ensure the chicken doesn't stick during cooking.
By following these steps, you'll have perfectly prepared chicken that's ready for the air fryer. The next step is to cook the chicken, and then toss it in the delicious General Tso's sauce!
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Cook the chicken
To cook General Tso's Chicken in an air fryer, start by cutting 1 pound of chicken (boneless thighs or breasts) into small pieces. You can cut them into 2" cubes for the best, juiciest results. Thighs are recommended for a juicier dish, but you can substitute boneless skinless chicken breasts. Next, toss the chicken in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, ½ teaspoon of salt, and a dash of black pepper. You can also add onion powder and garlic powder to taste.
Spray the air fryer basket with a non-stick spray like olive oil or avocado oil. Place the coated chicken in a single layer in the basket, making sure to leave space between the pieces for the air to circulate. This will ensure the chicken cooks evenly and gets crispy. You may need to cook the chicken in batches.
Now you're ready to start air-frying! Set the air fryer to 400°F and cook for 10 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through. The chicken is ready when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can also check the chicken's doneness by piercing it with a knife. If the juices run clear, the chicken is cooked.
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and set it aside while you make the sauce.
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Make the sauce
Making the sauce for General Tso's Chicken is a straightforward process. The sauce is tangy, sweet, and spicy, and you can adjust the sweetness and spiciness to your preference.
To make the sauce, you will need a combination of some of the following ingredients: soy sauce, coconut aminos, brown sugar, honey, ketchup, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, chicken stock, crushed Szechuan chilli, dried red pepper flakes, dried whole red chillies, hoisin sauce, tomato sauce, and cornstarch slurry.
For a spicier sauce, you can add dried red pepper flakes, dried whole red chillies, or gochujang. If you prefer a less spicy option, you can omit these ingredients or add less to taste. To adjust the sweetness, you can use brown sugar or honey, adding more or less to suit your preference.
- Combine your chosen ingredients in a small saucepan or wok. The specific ingredients and quantities can be adjusted to your taste preferences.
- Cook the mixture over low to medium heat for approximately one minute.
- Continue cooking over low heat until the sauce begins to thicken. This should take around 4-5 minutes.
- Once the sauce has reached your desired consistency, remove it from the heat and set it aside.
By making your own General Tso's sauce, you can control the amount of sodium and ensure that it is gluten-free if needed. It is a versatile sauce that can be tailored to your taste preferences and dietary needs.
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Store leftovers
Storing leftovers of General Tso Chicken is a straightforward process. It is important to let the dish cool to room temperature before storing it. This is to prevent the growth of bacteria, which thrives at warmer temperatures. Once the dish has cooled, place the leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. The airtight container will prevent the food from drying out and absorbing odours from the refrigerator.
General Tso Chicken will keep for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. To reheat the dish, it is recommended to use the air fryer or oven, as this will help retain the crispiness of the chicken. However, it is important not to overheat the dish, as this can dry out the sauce.
When storing leftovers, it is also essential to maintain food safety. Use a clean container and ensure the food is not contaminated by other foods or substances. Practicing good hygiene when handling food will help to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the sauce may become stickier when stored, which can affect how well the dish reheats. To counter this, a small amount of water or broth can be added to the sauce before reheating, creating a thinner consistency.
By following these simple steps, you can enjoy your leftover General Tso Chicken safely and conveniently, making the most of this delicious dish.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes around 10 minutes to cook General Tso's Chicken in an air fryer. However, some recipes suggest cooking for 8-10 minutes or 12-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken pieces.
The air fryer should be preheated to 350-400°F for 3-5 minutes.
To make the chicken crispy, ensure that the chicken pieces are not overcrowded in the air fryer basket, allowing air to circulate and cook the chicken evenly. Spray the chicken pieces generously with cooking spray to ensure the coating cooks nicely.
The sauce typically includes ginger, garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar. Some recipes also include ketchup, chicken broth, and red pepper flakes or chili paste for added spice.
Leftover General Tso's Chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
