Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken

The tantalizing aroma of sweet, spicy, and savory sauce coating tender chunks of chicken is just the beginning of this incredible Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken. This beloved Chinese-American classic transforms beautifully in the slow cooker, developing deep flavors while requiring minimal effort. The sticky, glossy sauce caramelizes perfectly around juicy chicken pieces, creating that restaurant-quality taste without standing over a hot wok. You’ll learn how to achieve that perfect balance of flavors and textures while your slow cooker does most of the work for you.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken recipe stands out from other slow cooker chicken dishes because it delivers authentic flavors without the usual fuss. The contrast between the tender, moist chicken interior and the slightly caramelized exterior creates an irresistible texture experience. Unlike takeout versions that can be overly sweet or greasy, this homemade version allows you to control the heat level and sweetness.

The convenience factor can’t be overstated – simply prepare your ingredients, set your slow cooker, and return to a kitchen filled with mouthwatering aromas and dinner practically ready to serve. The sauce achieves that perfect consistency – thick enough to cling to each piece of chicken but not gloppy or overly starchy. For busy weeknights or weekend family dinners, this crockpot General Tso’s chicken delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal hands-on time.

Ingredients

For the Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken, you’ll need:

• 2 lbs (900g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
• ¼ cup (32g) cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the sauce:

• ½ cup (120ml) low-sodium soy sauce
• ⅓ cup (67g) brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup (60ml) rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons sriracha (adjust to taste)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
• 6-8 dried red chili peppers (optional, for authentic heat)
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 4 garlic cloves, minced

For finishing:

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water
• 4 green onions, sliced
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• Steamed rice and broccoli, for serving

The chicken thighs are essential for this easy General Tso’s chicken recipe as they remain tender during slow cooking, unlike chicken breasts which can dry out. The combination of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and rice vinegar creates that distinctive tangy-sweet base that defines authentic General Tso’s flavor.

Pro Tips

Perfect Browning Before Slow Cooking: For the most authentic Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken, don’t skip the initial browning step. Coat your chicken pieces in cornstarch, salt, and pepper, then quickly brown in batches. This crucial step creates a protective layer that helps the chicken retain moisture while developing that characteristic General Tso’s texture. The cornstarch coating will also help thicken the sauce as it cooks.

Control the Sauce Consistency: The key to restaurant-quality General Tso’s sauce lies in the final thickening step. After slow cooking, transfer some of the hot liquid to a small bowl with cornstarch slurry before returning it to the pot. This prevents lumps and ensures smooth thickening. For a thicker sauce, leave the slow cooker lid ajar for the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow reduction.

Balance the Flavors: Authentic General Tso’s slow cooker chicken requires careful flavor balancing. Taste your sauce before adding the chicken and adjust as needed – more brown sugar for sweetness, more sriracha or dried chilies for heat, or a splash of rice vinegar for tanginess. This personalization makes the dish truly yours and allows you to create the perfect balance that commercial versions often lack.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Begin by cutting your boneless, skinless chicken thighs into 1-inch chunks. In a large bowl, toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch, salt, and pepper until evenly coated. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, brown the chicken pieces for about 2 minutes per side. You’re not cooking them through – just creating a golden exterior. Transfer the browned chicken to your slow cooker.

Step 2: Create the Sauce
In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, tomato paste, sriracha, sesame oil, Chinese five-spice powder, grated ginger, and minced garlic until well combined. The sauce should have a balanced sweet-spicy-tangy profile. Pour this mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, gently tossing to ensure all pieces are coated. Add the dried red chili peppers if using.

Step 3: Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover your slow cooker and set to LOW for 3-4 hours or HIGH for 1.5-2 hours. The Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken is done when the chicken is tender and the sauce has begun to thicken and caramelize around the edges. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking as this releases heat and extends cooking time.

Step 4: Thicken the Sauce
About 30 minutes before serving, prepare the cornstarch slurry by mixing 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 3 tablespoons cold water until smooth. Remove about ½ cup of hot liquid from the slow cooker, whisk in the cornstarch mixture until smooth, then return this mixture to the slow cooker. Stir gently to incorporate, then continue cooking with the lid slightly ajar for the remaining time.

Step 5: Finish and Serve
Once the sauce has thickened to your liking, gently stir in half of the sliced green onions. Serve your Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken over steamed rice, garnished with remaining green onions and sesame seeds. Steamed broccoli makes the perfect accompaniment, catching all that delicious sauce in its florets and providing a fresh, green contrast to the rich chicken.

Variations

Healthier Version: Create a lighter Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken by using chicken breasts instead of thighs (though monitor closely to prevent drying) and reducing the brown sugar to 3 tablespoons. Add 2 tablespoons of orange juice for natural sweetness and complexity. Increase the vegetables by adding bell peppers, snow peas, or carrots during the last 30 minutes of cooking for a more balanced meal with fewer calories.

Spicy Szechuan Style: Transform this dish into a fiery Szechuan-inspired meal by doubling the dried chili peppers, adding 1 tablespoon of Szechuan peppercorns (crushed), and incorporating 2 tablespoons of doubanjiang (spicy fermented bean paste). This variation creates a more complex, numbing heat that true spice lovers will appreciate while maintaining the convenience of the original General Tso’s slow cooker chicken recipe.

Vegetarian Option: Replace chicken with 2 pounds of extra-firm tofu (pressed and cubed) or seitan. Skip the initial browning step and reduce cooking time to 1-2 hours on LOW. Add 1 cup of mixed vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and mushrooms in the last 30 minutes for a plant-based version that still delivers all the signature General Tso’s flavors.

Storage and Serving

Your Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days, making it perfect for meal prep. The flavors actually deepen overnight, creating an even more delicious lunch the next day. For longer storage, freeze portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months – thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

For reheating, microwave individual portions with a splash of water to revive the sauce, or gently warm in a saucepan over medium-low heat until heated through. Avoid high heat which can toughen the chicken.

Serve this crowd-pleaser family-style in a large bowl surrounded by various sides for a create-your-own-plate experience. Alongside traditional steamed rice, consider offering cucumber salad dressed with rice vinegar and sesame oil, vegetable spring rolls, or garlic green beans. For a fun presentation, serve in hollowed-out pineapple halves topped with toasted sesame seeds and crispy wonton strips.

FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Yes, you can substitute chicken breasts in this Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken recipe, but reduce the cooking time by about 30 minutes to prevent them from drying out. Chicken thighs are preferred for their higher fat content, which helps them remain juicy during the long cooking process.

My sauce is too thin. How can I thicken it?
If your sauce hasn’t reached your desired thickness, make an additional cornstarch slurry with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water. With the slow cooker on HIGH, stir in the slurry and cook with the lid off for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Can I make this recipe less spicy?
Absolutely! For a milder version, reduce or omit the sriracha and dried chili peppers. The easy General Tso’s chicken recipe will still have plenty of flavor from the other sauce ingredients.

Can I prepare this the night before?
Yes, you can brown the chicken and prepare the sauce the night before, storing them separately in the refrigerator. Combine them in the slow cooker in the morning for a convenient weekday meal.

Is this recipe gluten-free?
Traditional soy sauce and hoisin contain gluten. For a gluten-free version, substitute tamari for soy sauce and look for gluten-free hoisin sauce, which is available at many specialty grocery stores.

Conclusion

This Slow Cooker General Tso’s Chicken is comfort food at its finest — a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors wrapped around tender morsels of chicken that practically melt in your mouth. It’s the kind of dish that brings the excitement of takeout to your dinner table while giving you the satisfaction of homemade quality and flavor control. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or meal prepping for the week ahead, this slow cooker adaptation delivers all the authentic taste with a fraction of the effort, proving that excellent Chinese-American cuisine doesn’t require constant attention or special equipment—just a little planning and your trusty slow cooker.

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