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Meal Prep General TSO’s Chicken! A healthier and lighter version is a better for you meal than takeout! Made easy in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop.
I have no idea how I ever lived without my Instant Pot. I can throw together the quickest and what seems like difficult meals in under 30 minutes. The options feel endless now when it comes to dinner time. Our weekends have been busier and with summer travel coming up, I know meal prep will be a challenge.
That’s why I keep basic foods like chicken, fish, brown rice, rice noodles, frozen veggies, etc. on hand for quick and easy, throw together meals like Easy Shrimp and Rice, Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi, or Pulled Chicken Sloppy Joe’s!
That way if I’m in a pinch, I can grab my Instant Pot and make a healthy meal without a lot of planning or obsessing.
This Meal Prep General TSO’s Chicken has been one of our favorite throw together meals as of lately. This one is made lighter and healthier than the traditional version.
Unlike other General TSO’s Chicken recipes, this one has no added starch to bread the chicken. I personally love a thick sauce paired tender, juicy chicken {and it’s less calories and carbs} so that’s what I went with!
I used coconut flour to thicken the sauce. It’s lower in calories and higher in fiber. It makes a great thickener because it naturally absorbs liquids.
Then I added molasses to sweeten the deal. Molasses is such a delicious sweetener {and loaded with iron} that doesn’t get enough recipe attention.
I paired my Meal Prep General TSO’s Chicken with brown rice noodles and roasted zucchini and broccoli. This meal prep was for the guy and I knew I could get him to eat healthier if I threw noodles in the boxes.
For a lower carb meal, sub the noodles with zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, carrot noodles, cauliflower or broccoli rice. Brown rice is always a good choice too!
No Instant Pot? No problem! I added a stovetop option in the recipe instructions in case you’re not quite ready to take the plunge into the Instant Pot world. I’m excited for you to try the recipe. It’s a good one!
Looking for more Instant Pot low calorie recipes? Try this yummy Healthy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe, Healthy Steak and Peppers Recipe, Instant Pot Everything Bagel Chicken.
Meal Prep General TSO’s Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 2 cups red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 green onions, diced
For the Sauce:
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos, or low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Gluten Free Hoisin sauce, or regular hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon chili paste
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour, or cornstarch
For the Rest of the Meal Prep:
- 4 cups broccoli, roasted with salt & pepper
- 1 cup zucchini, roasted with salt & pepper
- 2 cups brown rice pasta, gluten free if needed
Instructions
- Place the chopped chicken in the Instant Pot with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper then turn it to sauté. Sauté the chicken until browned about 8-10 minutes. See notes below for making on the stovetop.
- While the chicken cooks, whisk together the ingredients for the sauce. Pour the sauce over the chicken and add the red bell pepper.
- Cover the Instant Pot, set to steam or pressure cook and turn the valve to sealing. Set it to cook 8 minutes.
- After 8 minutes, carefully move the valve to release to release the steam. Remove the lid after the steam has stopped coming out of the pot.
Notes
- To make on the stovetop, add the chicken to a sauté pan with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Bring to a medium heat and cook until the chicken browns. Add the sauce and bell pepper then cover for about 20 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and the bell pepper softens.
- For a lower carb meal, pair this meal prep with brown rice, cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I know it’s been ages since the other comment was left here but the 2nd ingredient on the list is riced broccoli. Was that a mistake?
Yes, thank you for the catch. I’ve updated it now!
When do you add the riced broccoli?
There’s no riced broccoli in the recipe. Are you trying to swap the noodles for riced broccoli?