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Saturday, December 20, 2025

Common Tso’s Rooster – WellPlated.com


This simple selfmade Common Tso’s Rooster is each bit as candy, sticky, and irresistible because the one you get within the carton once you order Chinese language takeout, with tender, juicy rooster, veggies, and simply sufficient warmth to make issues attention-grabbing.

Why You’ll Love This Simple Common Tso’s Rooster Recipe

  • Fast and Simple. This selfmade Common Tso’s rooster recipe is on the desk in lower than half-hour and it’s made with easy elements you seemingly have already got readily available, particularly for those who recurrently cook dinner stir fry recipes.
  • The Excellent Sticky Sauce. What makes Common Tso’s rooster and Wholesome Orange Rooster (to not point out this Crockpot Orange Rooster) so irresistible is that sticky sauce that adheres to every chunk, coating it in taste. This recipe will present you easy methods to obtain that at house!
  • Common Tso’s Rooster, Lightened Up. Whereas it nonetheless strikes that good steadiness of candy, savory, and spicy, the sauce on this recipe requires a extra cheap quantity of sugar and low-sodium soy sauce. (Like my Bourbon Rooster and Sesame Rooster recipes, the marinade right here is sweetened with honey or maple syrup.) To create that quintessential breaded exterior, I toss the rooster in corn starch and flippantly pan fry it to create a “crust.” No deep fried rooster right here!
Easy General Tso chicken with vegetables

5 Star Overview

“This recipe is scrumptious and will certainly be completely on my weekend meal rotation!”

— Kelly —

How one can Make Common Tso’s Rooster

The Elements

  • Rooster. The sauce deliciously clings to every bite-sized piece of the rooster.
  • Common Tso’s Marinade. A mix of soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, honey or maple syrup, and baking soda. It’s salty, candy, nutty, and a bit spicy.
  • Soy Sauce. Bursting with umami goodness, soy sauce provides essential taste to the sauce. I used low-sodium (low salt) soy sauce to maintain the sauce from changing into too salty.
  • Hoisin Sauce. Hoisin sauce is vital to the Common Tso’s sauce’s delicious, thick, and barely candy taste. Consider it as Asian barbecue sauce.
  • Ginger. With delicate peppery and candy notes, ginger provides zippy freshness.
  • Chili Garlic Sauce. For a spicier model, up the quantity of chili garlic sauce or add crimson pepper flakes. If you happen to want a milder Common Tso’s rooster recipe, you should use only one or 2 teaspoons.
  • Rice Vinegar. A light-weight, delicate approach so as to add crucial acidity.
  • Cornstarch. Helps make the sauce addictively luscious and thick and the outsides of the rooster crispy. I want this over utilizing flour.
  • Sesame Oil. Provides a contact of nuttiness to the sauce. This ingredient will make your cooking higher!
  • Greens. To make this a whole meal, serve your Common Tso’s rooster with stir fry veggies. I exploit a frozen combination, which makes issues fast and straightforward.

Dietary Observe

Whereas this recipe is gluten-free as written, some manufacturers of soy sauce, hoisin, chili garlic sauce, and rice vinegar can comprise gluten. I like to recommend inspecting the elements in every of this stuff to make sure they’re all gluten-free.

The Instructions

Raw meat in a bowl with sauceRaw meat in a bowl with sauce
  1. Marinate. Add the rooster to a bowl with the marinade elements. Let sit for at the very least quarter-hour. Whisk the sauce elements collectively in a separate bowl.
Raw meat being coated in sauce and cornstarchRaw meat being coated in sauce and cornstarch
  1. Coat. Stir the cornstarch into the rooster.
Easy General Tso chicken in a skilletEasy General Tso chicken in a skillet
  1. Cook dinner. Stir fry the rooster.
General Tso chicken in a skillet with veggiesGeneral Tso chicken in a skillet with veggies
  1. Stir Fry. Take away the rooster with slotted spoon whilst you stir fry the greens (if utilizing), then return the rooster to the pan.
  2. End. Pour within the sauce combination and cook dinner to thicken. Plate, garnish, and ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

  • Common Tso’s Rooster Thighs. Whereas I want utilizing rooster tenders or breast, you should use boneless, skinless rooster thighs on this recipe for those who want.
  • Common Tso’s Chickpeas. This vegetarian remake swaps the rooster with chickpeas!
  • Common Tso’s Tofu. One other meatless variation of Common Tso’s rooster, this recipe makes use of chewy tofu as a substitute.
Healthy General Tso chicken with vegetablesHealthy General Tso chicken with vegetables

Storage Suggestions

  • To Retailer. Refrigerate leftover Common Tso’s rooster in an hermetic storage container for as much as 3 days.
  • To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave.
  • To Freeze. Freeze rooster and greens in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. 

Meal Prep Tip

As much as 1 day upfront, lower the rooster and add it to a bowl with the marinade. Cowl and refrigerate till you’re prepared to complete the recipe.

Leftover Concepts

Flip leftover Common Tso’s rooster right into a filling for lettuce wraps (impressed by my scrumptious Asian Lettuce Wraps).

Rice, vegetables, and General Tso chicken on a plateRice, vegetables, and General Tso chicken on a plate

What to Serve with Common Tso’s Rooster

  • Wok. Excellent for making Common Tso’s rooster at house.
  • Mixing Bowls. Nice for mixing sauce elements and marinating the rooster.
  • Measuring Spoons. For recipes with a lot of elements to measure, these double-sided spoons are the most effective.

Recipe Suggestions and Methods

  • Minimize the Rooster into Even Items. This ensures that it’s all carried out cooking on the similar time. You don’t need to find yourself over-cooking smaller items whilst you anticipate greater items to cook dinner via.
  • Cook dinner the Rooster in Batches, If Wanted. If you happen to crowd the pan, you gained’t get that good sear and crispy exterior. As an alternative, the rooster will steam, which isn’t practically as scrumptious!
  • Don’t Skip the Baking Soda. The baking soda within the marinade is a trick eating places use to tenderize the rooster. (For extra sticky-sweet and tender rooster, try my traditional Orange Rooster recipe.)
General Tso chicken in a bowl with rice and vegetablesGeneral Tso chicken in a bowl with rice and vegetables

Common Tso’s Rooster Video

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FOR THE CHICKEN:

  • 1 pound rooster tenders or rooster breast lower into bite-sized items
  • 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce Sambal Oelek
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 5 giant inexperienced onions (scallions) or 7 small inexperienced onions white elements (bulbs) eliminated and lower into 1/2-inch items (about 1 bunch)
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

FOR THE SAUCE:

  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce plus further to style
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon grated recent ginger
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce Sambal Oelek; the extra you add, the spicier the rooster
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

FOR THE STIR FRY VEGGIES (OPTIONAL for those who’d like so as to add a aspect serving):

  • 1 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
  • 12 ounces chopped greens I exploit a frozen stir fry medley

  • Place the rooster in a medium bowl. High with the soy sauce, chili-garlic sauce, sesame oil, honey, and baking soda. Let sit quarter-hour or refrigerate for as much as 1 day.

  • Whereas the rooster rests, whisk collectively the sauce elements till easily mixed: water, soy sauce, hoisin, ginger, chili garlic sauce, rice vinegar, cornstarch, and sesame oil.

  • Cook dinner the rooster: Warmth the canola in a wok or giant skillet over medium-high warmth. Sprinkle the three tablespoons cornstarch over the rooster. Stir to evenly coat, utilizing a spoon to separate the items and guarantee every is properly coated.

  • As soon as the oil is scorching, with a big spoon, add the rooster to the pan a number of items at a time, distributing it in an excellent layer (discard any remaining marinade). Cook dinner on the primary aspect till golden, about 1 minute. With tongs, flip and cook dinner on the remaining sides, stirring periodically, till the rooster is deeply golden brown on all sides and fully cooked via, about 3 minutes extra.

  • If you can be cooking the greens: Take away the rooster to a plate. With a paper towel, fastidiously wipe out the pan. Warmth the canola oil and stir fry the veggies till crisp tender, about 4 minutes. Return the rooster to the pan.

  • Add ¾ of the inexperienced onion to the pan and cook dinner 1 minute, stirring always. Pour within the sauce, tossing to coat the rooster evenly. Let cook dinner 1 to 2 minutes extra, tossing always, till the sauce is thickened and deliciously sticky. Stir in 1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds. Sprinkle the remaining inexperienced onion and sesame seeds excessive. Serve scorching with rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice, as desired.

YouTube videoYouTube video

  • TO STORE: Refrigerate rooster in an hermetic storage container for as much as 3 days. Retailer any rice individually from the rooster and greens. 
  • TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low warmth or within the microwave. 
  • TO FREEZE: Freeze rooster and greens in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. 

Serving: 1(of 4), with out greens or riceEnergy: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 26gFats: 10gSaturated Fats: 1gPolyunsaturated Fats: 3gMonounsaturated Fats: 5gTrans Fats: 1gLdl cholesterol: 73mgPotassium: 575mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 346IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 2mg

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