General Tso's Chicken with Toasted Sesame and Scallions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

A bold, tangy Chinese stir-fry featuring crispy chicken bites in a spicy-sweet sauce finished with toasted sesame seeds and fresh scallions. This Chinese recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cornstarch, and vegetable oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp finely grated ginger
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp dried red chili flakes
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 3 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp cornstarch slurry (cornstarch + water)
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 2 thinly sliced scallions

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces and toss with 1/2 cup cornstarch until each piece is evenly coated.
2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken pieces in batches for 4-5 minutes until golden and crisp; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add 1 tbsp finely grated ginger, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tsp dried red chili flakes; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Add 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 2 tbsp hoisin sauce, 3 tbsp dark brown sugar, and 1/3 cup water; stir and bring to a simmer.
5. Step 5: Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water to create slurry, then pour into the sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
6. Step 6: Return the fried chicken pieces to the skillet and toss to coat evenly in the sauce.
7. Step 7: Remove from heat and sprinkle with 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds and 2 thinly sliced scallions before serving.