Last Updated on October 11, 2023 by Anne-Marie

Make this easy gluten-free General Tso Chicken recipe for dinner. Includes tips on how to make air fryer General Tso chicken and keto General Tso chicken, too.

Why this recipe works

This crispy gluten-free General Tso's chicken is sweet, spicy, and easy to make at home. The homemade version is just as delicious as what you get at Chinese takeout and GLUTEN-FREE!

Serve it on rice or with your favorite stir fry vegetables. Double it for terrific leftovers that heat up well the next day.

Below are tips on how to make air fryer General Tso chicken and keto General Tso chicken.

What is General Tso's chicken?

Did you know that Chef C.K. Peng created General Tso’s chicken in Taiwan in the 1950s? In the 1970s, he brought his recipe to New York City and served it to Henry Kissinger.

I always get General Tso's and orange chicken mixed up when I order these dishes at my favorite Chinese restaurant.

Both recipes feature fried chicken pieces in a sweet sauce. General Tso's chicken is less sweet with a savory, darker sauce. It's also spicy because of the chili flakes.

Orange chicken is flavored with orange juice and isn't spicy.

If I had to choose between the two, I'd pick a not-too-spicy General Tso stir fry. I love the sweet and spicy combo!

(Looking for more Asian recipes? Check out 35 of the Best Recipes to Serve with Fried Rice!)

Ingredients

Sauce

• gluten-free soy sauce or tamari sauce
• chicken broth (gluten-free)
• hoisin sauce
• brown sugar
• rice vinegar
• fresh ginger
• sesame oil
• cornstarch

Chicken

• boneless skinless chicken thighs
• all-purpose gluten-free flour
• cornstarch
• eggs
• garlic cloves
• fresh ginger
• red pepper flakes
• Vegetable oil

Serving

• Cooked rice
• Green onions
• Sesame seeds

How to make this recipe

First, put together the sauce ingredients.

Second, batter and fry the chicken pieces until they're golden brown. Don't fry too many pieces at a time or they'll clump together. Instead, cook them in batches.

Third, toss the fried chicken in the sauce mixture and some additional ingredients.

Lastly, serve it with rice, sliced green onions, and sesame seeds.

Sauce

1. To prepare sauce, combine all ingredients EXCEPT cornstarch in a small bowl and whisk until completely combined.
2. Gradually sprinkle in cornstarch and whisk until completely combined.
3. Set sauce aside.

After you make the sauce, start up your rice cooker.

Chicken and Serving

1. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces.
2. In a shallow bowl, beat eggs. In another shallow bowl, whisk together flour and cornstarch.
3. Dip each chicken piece in the egg mixture. Then coat it in the flour mixture. Repeat with all the chicken.
4. Heat 2 to 3 inches of oil in a heavy skillet to 350 degrees F.
5. Fry chicken 8-10 pieces at a time until golden brown.
6. Remove and place chicken on a paper towel to drain.
7. After the chicken is cooked, pour off any remaining oil from the skillet. Then wipe it down with a paper towel.
8. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
9. Stir in the prepared sauce and simmer for 2-3 minutes until it thickens.
10. Add chicken to sauce and stir to combine.
11. Serve immediately with cooked rice, sliced green onions, and sesame seeds, if desired.
12. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

FAQs

Can I make air fryer General Tso chicken?

If you have an air fryer, you can eliminate most of the oil and make this into a healthier dish. Here's how:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.

2. In a shallow bowl, beat eggs. In another shallow bowl, whisk together flour and cornstarch.

3. Dip each chicken piece in the egg mixture. Then coat it in the flour mixture. Repeat with all the chicken.

4. Put the chicken in the air fryer. Make sure to separate the pieces so they cook evenly.

5. Air fry the chicken pieces for 15 minutes.

6. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.

7. Stir in the prepared sauce and simmer for 2-3 minutes until it thickens.

8. Add the air fryer chicken to the sauce and stir to combine.

Can I make a keto version?

Yes! Use almond flour instead of gluten-free flour.

Thicken with almond flour or half a teaspoon of xanthan gum instead of using cornstarch.

Use Swerve Sweetener, Brown instead of regular brown sugar.

Serve over low-carb vegetables or cauliflower rice.

How to make this recipe gluten-free

Just make sure all your ingredients are truly gluten-free:

• Gluten-free all-purpose flour – to bread the chicken use a gluten-free all-purpose flour like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour.
• Soy sauce – use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari sauce.
• Chicken broth – read the ingredient label to make sure the brand you're using is certified as gluten-free.
• Hoisin sauce – try out my gluten-free Homemade Hoisin Sauce recipe or try a store-bought gluten-free hoisin sauce.

More tips

Chicken: You can use chicken breast meat or chicken tenders instead of chicken thighs.

Frying: Use an oil frying thermometer to ensure the oil stays at 350 degrees F.

If the oil isn't hot enough, the chicken gets too greasy. If it's too hot, the outside burns before the inside is cooked through.

Spiciness: Add more or red pepper flakes, to taste. You can also toss in a few whole dried red chili peppers if you love the heat!

What to serve with gluten-free General Tso's chicken

Serve this with rice, vegetables, noodles, or a combination.

Rice: You can serve this on any type of rice (white rice, brown rice, or any type of instant rice) or naturally gluten-free quinoa. Whatever you have in the pantry!

Veggies: Serve it with your favorite stir fry or sautéed vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, asparagus, sliced bell peppers, or snow pea pods (Chinese pea pods).

Noodles: Keep this gluten-free with rice noodles or gluten-free spaghetti noodles.

More Asian-inspired recipes

• Asian Watermelon Fruit Salad Recipe
• Instant Pot Orange Chicken Recipe
• Gluten-Free Asian Meatballs with Hoisin Sauce Recipe
• Asian Style Gluten Free Meatballs Recipe
• Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
• Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo Recipe with Quinoa
• Easy Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Honey Garlic Sauce
• Homemade Hoisin Sauce (Gluten Free)

What's your favorite Asian dish?