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Chicken Lunch Dinner Instant Pot One Pot 30 Minutes or Less Asian
4.5 from 558 votes

Instant Pot General Tso’s Chicken

Jump to RecipeVideoPrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •10/8/22 129 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Instant Pot General Tso’s Chicken is the perfect, healthy, homemade dinner in under 30 minutes. This spicy Chinese takeout favorite is simple and quick to prepare with just the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.

overhead shot of instant pot general tso's chicken in a white bowl

Instant Pot General Tso’s Chicken

General Tso’s chicken is a favorite, one that everybody loves. If you’re wondering what exactly this dish is, don’t worry I’ve included a little section below to explain. For those of you who have ordered this dish before, you know that it is the perfect mix of sweet and sour.

I decided to do a healthier spin on Tso Chicken today using my oh so handy instant pot. That means that I had this dish served up in less than 30 minutes! Healthy, tasty, and quick? Now who doesn’t love that.

What Is General Tso Chicken?

Now while this dish is one of the most popular orders in Chinese restaurants here at home, it’s not exactly authentic. Westernized versions are also known as orange chicken if that’s a little more familiar. It is usually served deep fried over a mountain of white rice, but today I decided to cut back on some of the calories and axe the frying. So let’s get into it! Break out that Instant Pot and let’s get cookin.

process shots of making instant pot general tso's chicken

Ingredients In General Tso Chicken

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

  • Chicken – I used chicken breast today but chicken thigh is a tasty alternative, just keep in mind it’ll need to be cooked a minute or two longer than breast.
  • Soy Sauce – Low sodium so we can control the sodium level in this dish. I also used a bit of dark soy sauce for that umami flavor.
  • Sweet – I used both brown sugar and honey to get some rich sweetness and an ooey gooey sauce, you’ll thank me later.
  • Aromatics – Garlic and ginger, fresh is preferred!
  • Rice Vinegar – The tangy key to this General Tso Chicken recipe. If you don’t have any on hand apple cider vinegar is a great substitute!
  • Red Pepper Flakes – We need a little heat in this dish and red pepper flakes are the perfect addition.
  • Tomato Paste – The perfect little acidic base for our sauce, it will also give the dish a nice rich color.
  • Hoisin – If this thick sauce isn’t already a staple in your fridge, it should be. Pick some up as it’s so crucial in lots of Asian dishes!
  • Cornstarch – We’re going to make a slurry with cornstarch and a little bit of water to help our dish thicken.
a fork holding instant pot general tso's chicken over a plate with white rice

How To Make Instant Pot General Tso Chicken

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

  • Saute the sauteables: Turn your Instant Pot on the saute setting and add the chicken first. Then add the rest of the ingredients (save for our cornstarch slurry) and stir well. Close the lid and set the Pot to the poultry setting.
  • Finish the sauce: Allow the pressure to naturally release before removing the lid. Transfer only the chicken to a bowl and switch to the saute setting before adding the slurry. Cook this sauce for an additional 2 minutes till it has thickened and dump the chicken back in before giving it a good stir.
  • Garnish and serve: Serve this dish over a nice mound of hot white rice. I love to garnish this dish with some toasted sesame seeds and fresh green onion!
a white bowl filled with instant pot general tso's chicken garnished with green onions and sesame seeds

Other Ways To Make General Tso Chicken

Slow cooker

This dish is perfect made in your slow cooker! Just sear the chicken a bit on the stove before adding to the slow cooker. Whisk all of your sauce ingredients together separately (save the cornstarch slurry) and pour over the chicken. Cook all of this on low for 3 – 4 hours. Incorporate the slurry in the last 20 minutes of cooking or until thick and serve over rice!

Stove top

If you’d like to make this over the stove just saute up your chicken before removing and cooking your aromatics and chili flakes till fragrant. Add all your sauces and slurry and allow to cook for a few minutes till the sauce is thick. Add the chicken and combine well before serving!

How To Store Leftover General Tso Chicken

In the fridge this chicken recipe will last up to 4 days as long as its container is airtight. It can also freeze beautifully for up to 3 months, just be sure to thaw completely in the fridge and before reheating over the stove.

Craving More Instant Pot Recipes? Try These Dishes:

  • Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Chicken Shawarma
  • Butter Chicken
  • Mongolian Beef
  • Pasta E Fagioli
  • Swedish Meatballs
  • Beef And Broccoli
  • Beef Stew
  • Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

overhead shot of instant pot general tso's chicken in a bowl
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4.48 from 558 votes

Instant Pot General Tso’s Chicken

Prep 5 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 25 minutes
Rate Recipe
This Instant Pot General Tso's Chicken is the perfect, healthy, homemade dinner in under 30 minutes. This spicy Chinese takeout favorite is simple and quick to prepare with just the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.
4

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken breast (skinless and boneless, cut into bite size pieces)
  • ¼ cup soy sauce (low sodium)
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger (fresh, grated)
  • 3 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water

Optional Garnish

  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 2 green onions (chopped)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting. (See your manufacturer’s guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot.)
  • Add the chicken pieces to the Instant Pot then dump the rest of the ingredients to it, excluding the cornstarch and water. Stir everything well with a spoon.
  • Close the lid (follow the manufacturer’s guide for instructions on how to close the instant pot lid). Set the Instant Pot to the Poultry setting and set the timer to 5 minutes.
  • Once the Instant Pot cycle is complete, wait until the natural release cycle is complete, should take about 10 minutes. Follow the manufacturer’s guide for quick release, if in a rush. Carefully unlock and remove the lid from the instant pot.
  • Switch the Instant Pot to the saute setting (do not put the lid on). Transfer the chicken to a bowl using a slotted spoon. 
  • In a small bowl whisk the cornstarch and water together then pour over the sauce and stir. Cook for about 2 minutes until the sauce thickens. Add the chicken back to the Instant Pot and turn off your Instant Pot by pressing the cancel button.
  • Garnish the chicken with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve over rice.

Equipment

  • Instant Pot – 6 Quart

Video

Notes

  1. I strongly recommend reading the manufacturer’s guide for instructions on how to use your Instant Pot before attempting this recipe. 
  2. Substitutes: Boneless skinless chicken thighs may also be used with the same cooking time. Rice vinegar can be substituted with cider vinegar. Red pepper flakes can be replaced with cayenne pepper. Hoisin sauce is a delicious sweet and spicy mix and a must for many authentic Asian meals. A simplified shortcut to using something else instead would be mixing sweet barbecue sauce with sriracha and five-spice powder. 
  3. For less sweetness, feel free to reduce the honey or brown sugar.
  4. Nutrition: Nutritional information does NOT include rice. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 370kcal (19%)Carbohydrates: 23g (8%)Protein: 50g (100%)Fat: 7g (11%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Cholesterol: 145mg (48%)Sodium: 1045mg (45%)Potassium: 945mg (27%)Sugar: 17g (19%)Vitamin A: 225IU (5%)Vitamin C: 5.2mg (6%)Calcium: 51mg (5%)Iron: 1.8mg (10%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

overhead shot of instant pot general tso's chicken in a bowl

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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129 Comments
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Heather
Heather
Posted: 2 months ago

5 stars
Oh my goodness! Delicious and so easy!

0
Reply
Courtney
Courtney
Posted: 2 months ago

5 stars
This was so delicious! My husband hates most chicken recipes but he loves this so much he’s asked me to put it into weekly rotation and make extra for lunches as well. My kids all loved it as well! I should mention this was my first time using the sauté setting on our insta pot and I am pleased with how easy it was(yay for less dishes). Thank you for sharing such an amazing recipe! 😍

Last edited Posted: 2 months ago by Courtney
0
Reply
Claudia
Claudia
Posted: 2 months ago

5 stars
Just got an instant pot for Christmas and this was my first experiment. It was delicious, easy and quick. I’ll make this again.

1
Reply
May
May
Posted: 7 months ago

5 stars
I used chicken thighs and ended up leaving it on natural release/warm for 30 minutes while I finished up making rice & veg. No dryness with thighs. Tasted great & very easy!

0
Reply
Mary Beth Boudreaux
Mary Beth Boudreaux
Posted: 9 months ago

Can I use frozen chicken thighs?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Mary Beth Boudreaux
Posted: 9 months ago

Yes, you can!

0
Reply
Mark D
Mark D
Posted: 11 months ago

5 stars
Jo just like you said this recipe comes together quick and the flavor is delicious. Chicken comes out nice and tender and that sauce is great !

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Mark D
Posted: 11 months ago

So glad you like it!

0
Reply
Karen
Karen
Posted: 1 year ago

Did the video get taken down? The link is inactive here and I also tried searching and was unable to find it. As a novice using the IP, I was hoping to use the video as a confidence-builder. Thanks!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Karen
Posted: 1 year ago

If you can’t see the video it’s possible you have ad blocker turned on.

0
Reply
Lynnette Shimmin
Lynnette Shimmin
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
I made this completely Gluten-free by purchasing Gluten-free hoison sauce on Amazon. We already have the GF soy sauce and everything else GF needed due to celiacs and gluten allergies in the home, SO DON’T BE BUMMED OUT! YOU CAN GET GF HOISON SAUCE TOO!🎉

1
Reply
Carly
Carly
Posted: 1 year ago

I don’t have tomato paste and wanted to throw it together for tonight what would you do leave it out or sub marinara or diced tomatoes? 🤷🏻‍♀️

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Carly
Posted: 1 year ago

I would use tomato sauce instead, ratio should be 1 to 3, so for every tbsp of tomato paste use 3 tbsp of tomato sauce.

0
Reply
Charlene J
Charlene J
Reply to  Joanna Cismaru
Posted: 2 months ago

Can I use tomato juice or ketchup. Forgot tomato paste. I don’t have sauce. It’s ketchup, tomato soup or tomato juice.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Charlene J
Posted: 2 months ago

You can probably get away with using tomato sauce, for every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste use 3 tablespoons of tomato sauce.

0
Reply
Jill Woot
Jill Woot
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
Delicious! Way healthier than ordering Chinese and gave me the same satisfaction! Used some ingredients I typically don’t use, and most of them don’t expire, so I plan to try many more Chinese flavorings in my insta pot.
My sauce didn’t thicken much if at all, but served over rice it’ll be delicious! Not sure if I needed more time or more corn starch

0
Reply
Sarah Wells
Sarah Wells
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
This recipe is amazing!! One of the best dinners I’ve had in a while, and it was so easy!

0
Reply
Bruce
Bruce
Posted: 1 year ago

4 stars
Great recipe! I’m going to add some lightly sautéed coarse-chopped red, yellow and orange bell peppers, and onion at the end with the chicken. I’ll also double the red paper flakes to give it some kick.

1
Reply
Marissa
Marissa
Posted: 1 year ago

I’m excited to make this recipe – General Tso’s is my husband’s favorite! Question for you – how necessary is the dark soy sauce? I make lots of Asian dishes and have never used it before. Kind of hate to buy a whole bottle for 1 tsp unless it really makes a difference! Thanks!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Marissa
Posted: 1 year ago

It’s not really necessary, it’s usually just used for color, to darken the sauce, so you can skip it if you don’t have it.

0
Reply
Virginia
Virginia
Posted: 2 years ago

Any chance I can make this with frozen chicken pieces/tenders?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Virginia
Posted: 2 years ago

You sure can, just add another minute to the cook time, so 6 minutes should be more than enough.

0
Reply
Macyroo
Macyroo
Posted: 2 years ago

The first step says to set it to saute, but it doesn’t look like we’re actually sauteing anything before pressurizing it?

1
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Macyroo
Posted: 2 years ago

That’s right, I just turn it on so that it starts warming up the IP.

0
Reply

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Hey there!

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More
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