Healthy Recipes 101

The Heart of The Home Beats in The Kitchen

  • Recipe Index
  • Courses
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Beverages
  • Method
    • Air Frying
    • Boiling
    • Broiling
    • Frying
    • Grilling
    • Oven Baked
    • One-Pan
  • About

Hot Tags

  • Juices
  • Chicken
  • Salmon Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Salads
Fact-checked
Chicken

Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

  • Air Fryer
  • Chicken
  • Main Dishes
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Servings 4 servings
Calories 487 kcal
Air Fryer General Tso Chicken Recipe
Jump to Recipe
facebook pinterest twitter Print Recipe

Our air fryer General Tso’s chicken recipe will help you replicate the crispiness and iconic flavors of this popular Chinese takeout. If you have any leftover rice, this recipe is an excellent way to use it up.

Sesame Chicken vs General Tso’s Chicken

Even lovers of Chinese food can mistake these two dishes but don’t worry, we’re here to help.

  • Air Fryer Sesame chicken is a saucy chicken stir-fry with a sweet and salty shiny glaze made of soy sauce and sesame oil. It’s then garnished with lots of toasted (white) sesame seeds and drizzled with extra sesame oil.
  • General Tso’s chicken comprises chunks of battered, deep-fried, sauce-coated chicken. The sauce should taste sweet, salty, and a little tangy. Recipes often call for vinegar or ketchup.

General Tso’s chicken is also sometimes mistaken for orange chicken, but it’s the citrusy undertone of orange juice that draws the line.

Is General Tso’s Chicken Spicy?

Chinese dishes are often spicy, and this one is no exception. However, the heat is adjustable and you can tailor it to your taste.

Sesame Chicken vs General Tso’s Chicken

Is Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken Healthy?

Air frying is generally considered healthier than conventional frying, and for our General Tso’s chicken, it’s no exception. We only need a little oil to fry, which gives us more control over the fat and calories content.

Moderately sizing the portions goes even further to keep the calories, saturated fats, sodium, and added sugar content within healthy ranges. Our portions for this recipe only contain 498 calories, 2.2 g saturated fats, 580 mg sodium, and 7 g added sugar; all complying with our guidelines.

Main Ingredients for General Tso’s Chicken

Our air fryer General Tso’s chicken recipe calls for chicken thighs, soy sauce, honey, white vinegar, cornstarch, cooked rice, bok choy, and other ingredients:

Let’s take a look at the main players:

1. Chicken and Batter

Chicken thighs are our cut of choice. If you prefer leaner meat, chicken breasts also work fine.

Since we batter and fry the meat, we slice the skin off; leaving it on would give the nuggets an unwelcome chewy texture.

Chicken and Batter for Air Fryer General Tso Chicken Recipe

The batter for today’s chicken comprises all-purpose flour, water, and seasoning in the form of garlic powder and paprika. We’ve left out eggs and dairy as these ingredients would cause the batter to turn out less crispy.

Once battered, the chicken is coated in all-purpose flour before being placed in a lined frying basket.

2. Sauce for General Tso’s Chicken

The base of the sauce consists of these basic components: garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey, vinegar, Sriracha, and cornstarch to thicken. The sauce should be aromatic and balanced in flavor — sweet and salty with a tangy under-taste.

To this base, we add red pepper flakes for presentation and some extra heat. We also squeeze in some lime juice for a refreshing twist.

3. Cooked Rice

Like many Chinese recipes, this dish must be served with rice. It’s typically medium-grain white rice, but virtually any type works well.

4. Bok Choy

We cook some bok choy to serve on the side, but it’s replaceable with any green, crunchy vegetable. The color and texture lend the dish a healthy, delicious balance.

ingredients

How to Make General Tso’s Chicken in an Air Fryer

Once you’ve gotten your ingredients laid out and rice cooked:

step 1: Make the batter mixture.

Make the batter mixture.

step 2: Batter and flour the chicken.

Batter and flour the chicken.

step 3: Line the air fryer with foil and arrange the chicken.

Line the air fryer with foil and arrange the chicken.

step 4: Brush them with oil and cook.

Brush them with oil and cook.

step 5: Mix the sauce components together.

Mix the sauce components together.

step 6: Cook the sauce in the air fryer.

Cook the sauce in the air fryer.

step 7: Microwave the bok choy then shock them in an ice bath.

Microwave the bok choy then shock them in an ice bath.

step 8: Toss the chicken with the sauce and sprinkle scallion and sesame seeds on top

Toss the chicken with the sauce and sprinkle scallion and sesame seeds on top.

step 9: Enjoy with cooked rice.

Enjoy with cooked rice.

Forming the foil box shown in step 6 can take some time so, instead, you can line the frying basket with foil. Make sure that the corners are sealed to prevent leaking, and you’re good to go.

For more details, refer to our ‘Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken Recipe’ card at the bottom.

Jump to Recipe

How to Store and Reheat General Tso’s Chicken

You can place the chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate for 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Be sure to date the container so you’ll know when it expires.

Cooked rice can be stored in this manner as well, but for bok choy, it’s best that you keep it in the fridge. Crisp, juicy vegetables tend to become mushy once thawed.

However, unlike chicken nuggets, it’s impossible to reheat General Tso’s chicken to be crispy again. We advise you to consume this dish in one sitting for the best experience.

We also have this air fryer dinner roundup, dedicated to air fryer lovers. The recipes are easy to follow and complied with our healthy eating standards.

What to Serve With General Tso’s Chicken

We serve it with a bowl of warm, wholesome cabbage potato soup and a glass of orange-pineapple juice. The soup’s mild flavors help to refresh the palate, and the drink is a sweet way to end the meal.

What to Serve With General Tso’s Chicken

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes to Try

Here are a few of our favorite air fryer recipes with chicken:

  • Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
  • Air Fryer Greek Chicken Recipe
  • Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Recipe
  • Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs Recipe
  • Air Fryer Peri Peri Chicken Recipe
Sesame Chicken vs General Tso’s Chicken

Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

PRINT RATE Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest
Our air fryer General Tso’s Chicken recipe is a nice, healthy way to replicate the delicious Chinese take-out. We’re serving it with rice, soup, and a drink.
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 4 servings
Calories 487kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 16 oz boneless skinless chicken thigh cut into chunks
  • 10 tbsp all-purpose flour divided into 8 and 2 tbsp
  • 6 tbsp water
  • 2 tsp paprika divided
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 1/2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp garlic about 3 cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp Sriracha
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp ginger finely minced
  • 8 oz bok choy rinsed and separated
  • 2 tbsp scallion chopped
  • 1 tbsp white sesame seeds toasted
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flake
  • 3 cups cooked medium-grain rice

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, whisk together 8 tbsp all-purpose flour (save 2 tbsp for later use), 6 tbsp water, 1 tsp paprika, and 1 tsp garlic powder.
    step 1: Make the batter mixture.
  • Add 16 oz chicken thighs to the bowl and mix well to coat. Coat the battered chicken with the remaining all-purpose flour (2 tbsp).
    step 2: Batter and flour the chicken.
  • Line the air fryer’s frying basket with parchment paper. Gently add the chicken and arrange them in 1 layer.
    step 3: Line the air fryer with foil and arrange the chicken.
  • Brush the top with 1 tbsp olive oil and cook at 400°F for 15 minutes.
    step 4: Brush them with oil and cook.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the sauce by mixing together 2 1/2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 1/2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp garlic, 1 tbsp Sriracha, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp lime juice, 1 tsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp ginger. Set aside.
    step 5: Mix the sauce components together.
  • Remove the chicken and parchment from the air fryer. Line the basket with foil, fix the corners to avoid leaks and add the sauce. Cook for 5 minutes.
    step 6: Cook the sauce in the air fryer.
  • Place 8 oz bok choy into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave on medium for 4 minutes. Shock it in an ice bath once it’s cooked.
    step 7: Microwave the bok choy then shock them in an ice bath.
  • Toss the fried chicken with the sauce. Sprinkle on top 2 tbsp scallion, 1 tbsp white sesame seeds, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes.
    step 8: Toss the chicken with the sauce and sprinkle scallion and sesame seeds on top
  • Enjoy with 3 cups of cooked rice.
    step 9: Enjoy with cooked rice.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 487 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 106mg35%
Sodium 569mg25%
Potassium 544mg16%
Carbohydrates 67g22%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 30g60%
Vitamin A 3102IU62%
Vitamin C 27mg33%
Calcium 105mg11%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Homemade Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
Chicken a la King Recipe
Previous Recipe
Chicken a la King Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Parmigiana Recipe
Next Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Parmigiana Recipe
Luna Regina

Luna Regina

facebook instagram pinterest youtube twitter linkedin
Luna is the founder and chief recipe developer of Healthy Recipes 101. Apart from cooking, she also loves reading, programming, exploring the outdoors, and collecting useless facts about everything.

Comments/ Reviews

Cancel reply
Air Fryer General Tso Chicken Recipe
Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
Recipe Rating




Emily Rogers, MPH, RDN
Recipe developed by Luna Regina on March 28, 2022 Nutritionally reviewed by Emily Rogers, MPH, RDN

Latest Recipes

Air Fryer Mongolian Chicken Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Mongolian Chicken Recipe

Air Fryer Peri Peri Chicken Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Peri Peri Chicken Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Tacos Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Tacos Recipe

Air Fryer Chicken Parmigiana Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Parmigiana Recipe

Chicken a la King Recipe

Chicken
Chicken a la King Recipe

Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Chicken
Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Top Pinterest

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Orange Creamsicle Smoothie Recipe

Pineapple Carrot Juice Recipe

Carrot Juice
Pineapple Carrot Juice Recipe

Strawberry Carrot Juice Recipe

Carrot Juice
Strawberry Carrot Juice Recipe

Cucumber Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Cucumber Smoothie Recipe

Kale Apple Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Kale Apple Smoothie Recipe

Cantaloupe Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies
Cantaloupe Smoothie Recipe

AS SEEN ON
eatthis
parade
bustle
insider
buzzfeed
forbes
cnn
msn
Healthy Recipes 101
We do not offer medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice. Please seek consultation from a qualified health care professional prior to any decision to alter your current diet. Learn more See additional information.
  • Recipe Index
  • Course
  • Method
  • About
  • Cooking Challenge
  • Nutrition Guidelines
  • Recipe Development
  • Cooking Tips
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

facebook instagram pinterest youtube twitter linkedin

Get our latest healthy recipes

Stay up-to-date with our latest RDN-approved recipes, kitchen tips, and healthy eating challenges.

Opt-out at any time by clicking the 'unsubscribe' link at the bottom of our email.

Visit our other Healthy101 sites:

Healthykitchen101
© 2021 Healthy Kitchen 101, LLC - All Rights Reserved
Return to Top