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Easy Crockpot General Tso’s Chicken Recipe | Better Than Takeout!

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Craving sticky sweet-spicy General Tso’s Chicken without takeout guilt? This easy crockpot version delivers tender bite-sized chicken pieces coated in glossy hoisin-soy-honey sauce. Just 15 minutes prep time before slow cooking for busy weeknight perfection. Healthier than restaurant versions with less sodium and no deep frying, but all the addictive flavor families love. Perfect served over jasmine rice with broccoli or cucumber salad.

Ingredients

Scale

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 tbsp vegetable or avocado oil (for searing)

1/2 cup hoisin sauce

1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup rice vinegar

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp fresh ginger, minced

1/2–1 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust for spice)

Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

1. Pat chicken dry. Toss in a large zip-top bag with cornstarch, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper until evenly coated. Shake off excess.

2. Heat 2 tbsp oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sear coated chicken 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown (not cooked through). Work in batches to avoid overcrowding. Transfer to crockpot.

3. In a bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes.

4. Pour sauce over chicken in crockpot; stir gently to coat.

5. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours until chicken is tender and shreds easily. Stir halfway through if possible.

6. If sauce is thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp cold water to make slurry. Stir into crockpot during last 20 minutes.

7. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot over rice with steamed broccoli.

Notes

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in airtight container up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat on stovetop with splash of water.

Substitutions: Use chicken thighs for juicier results, coconut aminos for paleo/soy-free, arrowroot powder for paleo cornstarch.

Spice level: Start with 1/2 tsp flakes for mild, add sriracha for extra heat.

Make-ahead: Coat and sear chicken morning; refrigerate sauce separately and add before cooking.

Pro tip: Don’t skip searing – it creates crispy edges and helps sauce cling better.

Nutrition calculated for 6 servings using breasts and low-sodium soy. Values vary by substitutions.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yummyyrecipe.com/easy-crockpot-general-tsos-chicken-recipe-better-than-takeout/