Skip the expensive and unhealthy takeout and make it yourself instead. This easy Slow Cooker General Tso Chicken is simple to prepare and so much better for you than what you’d get at a restaurant. Plus, it’s gluten free!

What is General Tso Chicken? This favorite Chinese take-out dinner is a sweet and spicy dish that gets its flavor from ginger and red pepper flakes. Instead of ordering some at a restaurant, and having no control over the ingredients used, you can quickly and easily make General Tso Chicken in your slow cooker.

Ingredients

What is Sriracha? Sriracha is a hot sauce made from chili pepper paste. It is milder than Tobasco sauce and is therefore the hot sauce of choice for a wider range of people.

What is hoisin sauce? And tamari? Hoisin sauce is a sweet and tangy sauce that gives Asian inspired dishes their authentic flavor. Tamari is a Japanese soy sauce that has little to no wheat in it, whereas soy sauce does contain wheat. (Check the label on your tamari if you’re avoiding gluten altogether.)

Is General Tso Chicken gluten-free? It can be! If you don’t need gluten-free meal option, you can substitute regular soy sauce and hoisin sauce in this recipe.

Is General Tso Chicken carb smart? Again, it can be! Coconut sugar has lower glycemic index and that’s why I used it in this recipe. However, you can substitute brown sugar if you’d prefer.

general tso sauce poured on chicken pieces in a slow cooker

Preparation

Why do I have to coat the chicken with flour? Coating chicken with flour before browning and cooking it ensure that flavor and moisture are sealed in.

Do I have to brown the chicken? Yes! Browning the chicken seals in flavor that would be otherwise lost during the cooking process.

Pro Tips

What’s the best way to brown chicken? To make General Tso Chicken, you need to first brown the chicken. When you brown the chicken, you need to make sure that it is not cooked all the way through. The best way to ensure that the chicken browns quickly is to make sure your pan is really hot when you add chicken pieces to it.

How do I make my General Tso Chicken spicier? Do you want to make your General Tso Chicken spicier? Simply add more sriracha and/or red pepper flakes. Needing to make the dish milder? Simply reduce the amount of spice used.

general tso chicken and garnish in a slow cooker

Serving Suggestions

What should I serve with General Tso Chicken? General Tso Chicken is typically served over rice. But, you could also serve it with sauteed greens. For some yummy rice dishes try my Instant Pot Jasmine Rice, Instant Pot Brown Rice, and Instant Pot Basmati Rice.

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