This Crock Pot Chicken General Tso is a sweet and spicy recipe, which uses hoisin sauce and boneless chicken breasts. It’s a no-fuss take on the classic, ready in about 4 hours and 15 minutes.
Crock Pot Chicken General Tso Ingredients
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds), chopped into bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

How To Make Crock Pot Chicken General Tso
- Prep the coating: Whisk together cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and pepper in a bowl.
- Coat the chicken: Add the cornstarch mixture and chicken pieces to a large ziplock bag. Seal and shake to evenly coat.
- Brown the chicken: Preheat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the coated chicken and sauté for 1–2 minutes until browned. (The chicken will still be raw inside.)
- Make the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic, water, and red pepper flakes.
- Slow cook: Add half the sauce and the browned chicken to the crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.
- Finish and serve: Just before serving, pour in the remaining sauce and stir gently. Serve hot with rice.

Recipe Tips
- Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts? Yes, chicken thighs work well and stay juicy in the slow cooker.
- How to make it less spicy: Reduce or skip the red pepper flakes for a milder flavor.
- Can I make it crispy? Browning the chicken first helps, but for extra crisp, try air frying or pan-frying completely.
- Do I need to add all the sauce at once? No, adding half later keeps the flavor fresh and bold.
- What if I don’t have hoisin sauce? You can substitute with oyster sauce or a mix of soy sauce and brown sugar.
What To Serve With General Tso Chicken
Round out this dish with simple, flavorful sides:
- Steamed white or jasmine rice
- Fried rice with vegetables
- Roasted broccoli or green beans
- Egg rolls or spring rolls
- Asian cucumber salad

How To Store General Tso Chicken
Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Place in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
General Tso Chicken Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Protein: 21g
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
- Sodium: 1956mg
- Potassium: 402mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 11g
- Calcium: 22mg
- Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Can I make this dish ahead of time?
Yes, you can brown the chicken and prep the sauce a day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
Is it necessary to brown the chicken first?
It adds texture and flavor but you can skip it to save time.
What’s a good substitute for hoisin sauce?
Try oyster sauce or a mixture of soy sauce and brown sugar.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, just make sure your slow cooker is large enough to handle the increased volume.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Use tofu instead of chicken and skip the browning step.
Try More Recipes:
Crock Pot Chicken General Tso
Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings15
minutes4
hours360
kcalA slow cooker version of the classic sweet and spicy Chinese takeout dish made with tender chicken and hoisin-based sauce.
Ingredients
3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds), chopped into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Sauce:
4 tablespoons hoisin sauce
4 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Directions
- In a bowl, whisk cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Add chicken to a ziplock bag with the cornstarch mix. Shake to coat.
- Brown chicken in a skillet with oil over medium heat for 1–2 minutes.
- Mix sauce ingredients in a bowl.
- Add half the sauce and chicken to crockpot. Cook on LOW for 4 hours.
- Add remaining sauce just before serving. Serve hot with rice.
