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Satisfy your takeout cravings without leaving the house with this Healthy General Tso’s Chicken Recipe! It has the same sweet and savory flavor, but is gluten-free, less than 300 calories, has 27 grams of protein, and is made with simple, nutritious ingredients.
We all have those days when we’d rather order takeout than cook, but we also don’t want to consume over 1,000 calories. This low-calorie General Tso’s chicken only takes 25 minutes to make, which is less time than it takes to order and pick up takeout.
The sauce is sweetened with honey, and the chicken is dredged in arrowroot powder instead of flour, so it’s less processed and better for your health goals.
If you like quick and easy dinner recipes, you will love my shrimp curry and healthy kung pao chicken!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthier Than Takeout: When you’re craving takeout but want a more nutritious meal made with healthier ingredients that’s not fried at high temperatures in oil, try this healthy General Tso’s chicken!
- Calorie Conscious Takeout: It has the same great flavor, but is better for you and has fewer than 300 calories per serving.
- Ready in Only 25 Minutes: Oftentimes, the appeal of takeout is a quick and easy dinner, but this saucy chicken dish only takes 25 minutes to make on the stove. That’s less time than it takes to order and pick up takeout!
- Made with Simple Ingredients: This delicious meal is made with only 10 simple ingredients, like chicken, tomato pasta, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are best for this recipe. You’ll need to cut them into uniform 1” pieces to ensure they cook evenly.
- Arrowroot Powder: Instead of using cornstarch as a thickener, this recipe uses naturally derived arrowroot powder to thicken the sauce. It is also what you dredge the chicken in for a crispy, crunchy coating on the outside.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: This recipe uses low-sodium soy sauce to keep the sodium levels lower than in takeout. You can also use coconut aminos if you prefer to avoid soy or want this recipe to be Paleo-friendly.
- Tomato Paste and Honey: Many General Tso’s recipes use hoisin sauce, but this recipe captures that deep umami flavor using just tomato paste and honey instead.
- Garlic and Ginger: Add punches of flavor with freshly minced garlic and ginger. You can also use jarred garlic and ginger if you need.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations & Dietary Modifications
- Add Veggies: Stir-fries are a great meal to pack in the veggies! Add zucchini, onion, carrots, bell peppers, snap peas, mushrooms, or broccoli to this dish for a serving of vegetables.
- Customize the Spice Level: This healthy General Tso’s sauce is easy to customize with different spice levels. It includes crushed red pepper flakes, but you can exclude them for less spice. You could also add more spice with sriracha sauce, chili paste, or even bird’s-eye chili peppers.
- Try It with a Different Protein: This recipe is versatile when it comes to the protein. You can swap the chicken for shrimp or use a vegetarian option like tofu.
How to Make Healthy General Tso’s Chicken
This gluten-free General Tso’s chicken is a great meal when you’re craving your favorite Asian takeout.
- Step 1: Make the Sauce. In a medium bowl, combine the low-sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, tomato paste, crushed red pepper flakes, and arrowroot powder.
- Step 2: Mix the Coating. On a separate plate, combine the rest of the arrowroot powder with salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs.
- Step 3: Dredge the Chicken. After chopping the chicken into uniform pieces, dip each piece into the egg mixture. Then dip it into the arrowroot powder. Shake off the excess powder and set the chicken aside.
- Step 4: Cook the Chicken. Heat oil and chicken broth in a large deep skillet or wok until it’s sizzling hot. Add the chicken to the pan in batches. Cook the pieces 2-4 minutes, turning them over several times so the sides cook evenly. Set the cooked chicken aside on a clean plate.
- Step 5: Sauté the Ginger and Garlic. Let the skillet cool a bit, then wipe it clean. Heat a tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Cook the garlic and ginger in the hot oil for 1 minute.
- Step 6: Reduce the Sauce Mixture. Slowly add the rest of the sauce to the hot pan. Let it cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens.
- Step 7: Coat the Chicken. Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and stir until the chicken is well coated. Then add scallions and sesame seeds.
Expert Tips
- Dry the Chicken Before Dredging: The egg mixture will stick to the chicken better if it is dry. After you chop the chicken, pat it dry with a paper towel to absorb the excess moisture.
- Shake Off Excess Arrowroot Powder: Don’t forget to shake off excess arrowroot powder after dredging. If there’s too much arrowroot on the chicken, it will develop a gummy texture.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Be sure to leave space between the pieces of chicken as they cook to ensure they cook evenly and turn crispy instead of steaming. You will probably need to cook the chicken in batches to ensure it’s evenly spaced in the skillet.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftover General Tso’s chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months, but keep in mind the arrowroot coating will not be as crisp.
- Reheating: Reheat the dish in a skillet on the stove over medium heat until it is heated through. I don’t recommend microwaving leftovers as the outside of the chicken won’t be crispy.
- Make Ahead: Save yourself some time in the kitchen and mix your sauce and dredge the chicken the night before. Store the sauce in an airtight container, but keep the chicken uncovered or covered lightly with a paper towel.
Serving Suggestions
Next time a takeout craving hits, try this healthy General Tso’s chicken recipe instead! It’s sure to be a hit for dinner and is easy to add to your regular meal rotation. This is also a great dish for dinner parties or feeding a crowd. Serve it with rice or a simple side dish for a filling meal that tastes better than takeout.
- Serve this General Tso’s chicken over brown rice or rice noodles to make it extra filling. If you need a low-carb option, try my cauliflower fried rice instead!
- Make a true copycat takeout night and enjoy some healthy lettuce wraps as an appetizer!
- If you want a lighter side dish or a little sweetness to go with dinner, a Chinese salad with cabbage and oranges is the perfect pairing.
Healthy General Tso’s Chicken Recipe FAQs
The most likely reason for soggy chicken is that the pan was overcrowded. Be sure to leave an inch of space between the pieces of chicken so they crisp up and cook evenly.
If you notice it’s taking a while for your sauce to thicken, or it’s not as thick as you like, you can add more arrowroot powder. Whisk together 1 tablespoon of water and 1 tablespoon of arrowroot powder, then slowly pour that into your sauce. It should help thicken it more.
Your chicken is probably dry and rubbery because it was overcooked. It cooks quickly, so once the pieces are cooked through, set them aside. When you add the chicken back to the sauce, remove it from the heat so it doesn’t continue to cook.
More Healthy Asian Takeout-Inspired Recipes
If you tried this General Tso’s Chicken recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.
Healthy General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- ¼ cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce, or coconut aminos
- ¼ cup Rice Vinegar, or white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Honey, or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
- 2 teaspoons Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 ½ teaspoons Arrowroot Powder, or cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger, minced
For the Chicken:
- 1 ½ pounds Chicken Breast, boneless, skinless and cut into bite-sized chunks
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- ⅔ cup Arrowroot Powder, or cornstarch
- 1 Egg
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil, divided (or oil of choice)
- ½ cup Low Sodium Chicken Broth
- Sliced Scallions and Sesame Seeds for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix the sauce ingredients together except for the garlic and ginger. Set aside.
- Place the arrowroot powder or cornstarch with salt and pepper on a plate. Stir the ingredients together then spread into a thin layer on the plate.
- In a medium bowl, crack the egg and whisk. Season the chicken with salt and pepper then dip it into the egg wash, toss it in the flour mixture on the plate then shake off the excess. Place on a separate, large plate.
- To a large, deep skillet add one tablespoon of oil and chicken broth and bring to a medium heat. Once sizzling hot, work in batches adding the chicken to the pan. Cook 2-4 minutes turning the pieces a few times then place on a paper towel lined plate repeating this process until all the chicken is cooked.
- Whip the skillet clean then add the other tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Cook the garlic and ginger for 1 minute, then stir in the sauce mixture and cook, stirring until thickened.
- Add the cooked chicken to the skillet then add the scallions and sesame seeds. Serve over rice or cauliflower rice with cooked broccoli.
Notes
- Pat the chicken dry after you chop it to absorb excess moisture so the egg and arrowroot powder stick to the outside better.
- Be sure to shake off excess arrowroot powder to avoid it turning gummy.
- Keep the chicken pieces spaced out when you cook them to avoid overcrowding the pan.
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?