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Ground General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

4.4 from 75 reviews

A quick and flavorful Ground General Tso’s Chicken recipe that combines savory ground chicken with crunchy water chestnuts in a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce. Perfect for a convenient weeknight dinner served over rice or noodles.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 8 ounces canned water chestnuts, diced
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

General Tso’s Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Cook the chicken and water chestnuts: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken and diced water chestnuts. Let the chicken cook undisturbed until a good crust forms on one side before breaking it apart with a spatula. Continue breaking apart and cooking the chicken for an additional 2-3 minutes until fully cooked.
  2. Add aromatics and spices: Once the chicken is cooked, add the minced ginger, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan. Sauté everything together for about 10 seconds to release the flavors.
  3. Prepare the General Tso’s sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, water, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth and well combined.
  4. Combine sauce with chicken: Pour the prepared General Tso’s sauce into the pan with the chicken mixture and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Stir continuously as the sauce thickens, which should take just a few seconds. Once thickened, remove from heat.

Notes

  • For extra heat, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or add a splash of chili garlic sauce.
  • Serve over steamed white rice, brown rice, or noodles for a complete meal.
  • Make sure to cook the ground chicken thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for food safety.
  • The water chestnuts add a delightful crunch but can be omitted or substituted with diced bell peppers if preferred.
  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keywords: General Tso, ground chicken, quick dinner, Chinese chicken recipe, easy stir-fry, weeknight meal