Description
This Ground General Tso’s Chicken recipe offers a flavorful and quick take on the classic Chinese-American dish, using ground chicken for a hearty and easy-to-cook meal. The dish features a savory and slightly sweet General Tso’s sauce made with soy, hoisin, and rice vinegar, combined with a crunchy texture from diced water chestnuts. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner that packs bold flavors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 8 ounces canned water chestnuts, diced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
General Tso’s Sauce
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Heat and Cook Chicken: In a large pan, add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and then add the ground chicken along with the diced water chestnuts. Cook until a good crust forms on the chicken before breaking it apart.
- Finish Cooking Chicken: Break apart the chicken using a spatula and continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and slightly browned.
- Add Aromatics: Once the chicken is cooked, add the minced ginger, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan. Stir and cook for about 10 seconds to release their fragrance.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, water, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth and combined.
- Combine and Thicken Sauce: Pour the prepared General Tso’s sauce into the pan with the chicken. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for a few seconds, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken evenly.
Notes
- Use a non-stick or stainless steel pan for best results in forming a crust on the ground chicken.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the spiciness of the dish.
- Serve immediately over steamed rice or alongside sautéed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Ground turkey can be used as a substitute if preferred.
- For a gluten-free option, replace soy sauce with tamari.
Keywords: General Tso's Chicken, Ground Chicken Recipe, Chinese-American Chicken, Quick Dinner, Asian Sauce, Spicy Chicken