Description
This 30 Minute General Tso’s Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful take on the classic Chinese-American dish. Tender chicken pieces are baked with broccoli and coated in a tangy, spicy sauce made from tamari, hoisin, chili paste, garlic, and ginger. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this recipe combines a crispy baked texture with bold flavors, topped with sesame seeds and green onions for an extra burst of aroma and crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs, cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- Black pepper, to taste
- Chili flakes, to taste
- 1/4 cup flour or gluten-free flour
- 4 tablespoons melted butter or extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- Salt, to taste
Sauce
- 1/3 cup tamari or soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chili paste
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
To Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- Green onion, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450° F (230° C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with oil to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Chicken and Broccoli: On the baking sheet, combine the cubed chicken with garlic powder, black pepper, and chili flakes. Add the flour and toss the chicken thoroughly to coat each piece. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of melted butter over the chicken and toss again to coat well. Arrange the chicken on one side of the baking sheet. On the other side, place the broccoli florets and toss them with the remaining melted butter or olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Bake Chicken and Broccoli: Bake the baking sheet in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and broccoli is tender-crisp.
- Make the Sauce: While the chicken and broccoli bake, combine the tamari or soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, chili paste, chopped garlic, ground ginger, and toasted sesame oil in a bowl or glass jar. Mix well to create the flavorful General Tso’s sauce.
- Coat Chicken with Sauce and Bake Again: Remove the broccoli from the baking sheet. Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken and toss to coat the pieces evenly. Return the chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and caramelize on the chicken.
- Serve: Plate the sauced chicken alongside the roasted broccoli. Garnish generously with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. This dish pairs excellently with steamed rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- You can use either chicken breasts or thighs depending on your preference—thighs tend to be juicier.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute regular flour with gluten-free flour and ensure your soy sauce is tamari or gluten-free.
- Adjust the amount of chili flakes and chili paste to control the heat level according to your taste.
- Serve with steamed white or brown rice to soak up the delicious sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Keywords: General Tso's Chicken, Baked General Tso's, Quick Chinese Chicken, Gluten-Free General Tso's, Broccoli Chicken Recipe
