It’s hard to find a dish full of flavor that everyone in the family likes; one that’s not too sweet, too spicy, too bland, too whatever. There are plenty of basic dishes I know we’ll all agree on, but when you start mixing in sauces and such, it gets kinda tricky, you know what I mean?
For the most part though, my kids all love Chinese take-out standards like orange peel chicken, beef and broccoli, and sweet and sour shrimp, so I had a feeling when I tried making this homemade General Tso’s chicken dish for the first time, they’d be happy. My instincts were correct, and almost a year later, the kids are still loving this dish and ask me to make it all the time. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner, especially because it can made in the Instant Pot, which means quick and easy.
General Tso’s chicken (or shrimp or beef) is the spicier Chinese take-out cousin to orange chicken, in that it has a bit more heat and tang from the addition of garlic, ginger, and red chili flakes, giving it a sweet and sour flavor with a spicy kick. This Instant Pot General Tso’s chicken isn’t too spicy at all though, so the kids can still enjoy it, but definitely feel free to add in more heat if you like it hot.
Traditionally, like orange peel chicken and sweet and sour chicken, General Tso’s is battered and/or deep fried, but this version is made healthier by simply sautéing in the Instant Pot, and I’ve cut down on the sugar that a lot of recipes contain. This version is a pretty decent healthy dish when compared to standard take-out fare. And it is SO flavorful!
General Tso’s Chicken is the most famous Hunanese dish in the world, and according to this NPR article, “General Tso’s chicken is named for Tso Tsung-t’ang (now usually transliterated as Zuo Zongtang), a formidable nineteenth-century general who is said to have enjoyed eating it.” The story and history of the dish is quite unusual and interesting, which you can read about in the above linked NPR article.
Even after cutting down on the sugar content, the dish can still be a bit sweet for those of us who like more subtle flavors, so I like to make sure I add in some fresh, lightly sauteed veggies into the mix. Sugar snap peas, broccoli, carrots and red peppers always work. Today I had carrots and snap peas on hand to mix in, and made sure to top with plenty of fresh green onion.
I adapted this recipe from one of my favorite new cookbooks of 2018, Instant Pot Miracle. I cut down on the sugar, added a bit of chili oil, and also cut down on cooking time. Chicken in the Instant Pot is a breeze, but it can very quickly go from moist to rubbery, so I discovered that cutting down on the cook time by just 2 minutes made a big difference in texture and moisture.
I hope you enjoy this recipe and your family loves it just as much as mine does!
What’s Needed for Instant Pot General Tso’s Chicken?
To make this easy General Tso’s chicken recipe, all you need is:
- Sesame oil
- Chicken breasts
- Rice vinegar
- Tamari
- Garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Hoisin sauce
- Chili oil
- Brown sugar
- Cornstarch
How to Make General Tso’s Chicken in an Instant Pot
To make this healthy General Tso’s chicken recipe, turn your Instant Pot to the “sauté” function and brown the chicken on all sides in a little sesame oil.
Meanwhile, stir together the General Tso’s sauce. Once the chicken is seared, stir in the sauce. Set the Instant Pot to “manual” and cook for 8 minutes.
Use quick release to depressurize your Instant Pot, then turn it back to the “sauté” function. Whisk in the cornstarch and cook until the sauce has thickened.
Other Tips for Making Instant Pot General Tso’s Chicken
Keep in mind that this easy General Tso’s chicken is made with hoisin sauce, which contains a good amount of sugar, so if you’re watching your intake keep portions in mind. Now, you can make hoisin sauce yourself, but even homemade hoisin still contains brown sugar so I just get the bottled kind to make life easier — choose your battles, amiright?
The 1.5 lbs feeds my family of 5 just fine for now, but we never have leftovers. If you need to make a bigger batch, just make sure to saute the chicken in batches so it cooks up evenly.
If you do wind up with leftovers, reheat gently in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat. You don’t want to dry out the homemade General Tso’s chicken!
More Instant Pot Dinner Recipes:
- Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
- Korean Beef Tacos
- Dairy-Free Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
- Instant Pot Pot Roast with Cocoa Chipotle Gravy
- All of my Instant Pot recipes!
Instant Pot General Tso's Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts , cut into 1-1.5 inch pieces
- 6 tablespoons rice vingegar
- 6 tablespoons Tamari
- 2 cloves garlic , chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ¾ cup hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili oil (optional)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
- Green onion and sesame seeds , for garnish
Instructions
- Turn your Instant Pot on to the saute setting, and heat up the sesame oil.
- Saute the chicken in 2 batches, turning to brown on each side, but not cook all the way through, about 5-7 minutes in total.
- Meanwhile, combine the hoisin sauce with the rice vinegar, tamari, garlic, ginger, red pepper, brown sugar and chili oil in a small bowl.
- Press cancel on the Instant Pot, then stir the chicken and sauce till combined.
- Set the Instant Pot to Manual and cook at high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Once done cooking, use quick release to depressurize. Press cancel and return pot to Saute function. While simmering, whisk in the corn starch or arrowroot powder and continue to cook 1-2 more minutes until the sauce is thickened.
- Press cancel and serve with rice and veggies.
Tawnie Kroll says
This is right up my alley – cannot wait to make! Thank you!
Lauren says
Can this be made in a regular croc pot? If so, do you know the cooking time?
Oana says
My whole family love this!! I def need to double it next time 🙂
Karri says
So so good. My family of 5 cleaned the pot. I will be doubling it next time!
Andrea Howe says
Oh that’s wonderful to hear! I know you’re a fellow foodie so if you approve, I’m Happy 🙂
Susie Weinrich says
I love using my instant pot, this will be my next ip dinner! Thanks
Andrea Howe says
I hope you all love it as much as we do!