Healthier General Tso’s Chicken.
New favorite chicken dinner right here.
It’s sweet, it’s just a little spicy and it’s real saucy. Sauce just makes everything better.
Oh, this sauce. It is down right awesome! And this chicken is swimming in it.
This is what I like to see.
I have never had General Tso’s Chicken before. I can not remember the last time we ordered take-out. It was definitely before we moved to Colorado, which was almost six years ago. When we ordered take-out in Cleveland we would either get Buffalo Wild Wings (B-dubs or BW3’s as we used to call it), pizza (I remember a whole lot of Hungry Howies until my best friend in middle school turned us on to a place that had buffalo chicken pizza. That pizza was so greasy, but soo good!) and then there was this Chinese restaurant called Pearl of the Orient. All I remember eating was the steamed white rice or brown rice that came with whatever my parents got.
Maybe I ate other stuff too, but for some reason all I remember is the rice. Oh, and the fortune cookies, of course.
Until I started cooking, we never experimented with different food. It was pretty much just chicken, steak, pasta, rice, burgers and more chicken and steak.
Boring, boring, boring!
You can’t blame my parents though. They had too little money, too little time, too many hungry mouths and way too many picky eaters. At the time I think I was the only kid who would even touch a vegetable. Did I mention vegetables are my thing? I have always LOVED vegetables, raw or cooked I’d eat them. Pickles were my first sold food. Yeah, I know who the heck feeds a baby pickles? Apparently, my parents. No wait, It was actually my aunt Erin. I think she and my mom just needed something for me to gnaw on to shut me up – apparently it did the trick.
Anyway, this chicken is pretty much just the bomb. Way better than anything you could ever get out of those little cardboard containers. Plus, you know exactly what is in it. READ: No MSG or other scary ingredients that I cannot read for the life of me. I am really not into eating ingredients that I cannot even begin to sound out the names of.
Instead of frying the chicken I oven “fried” it. Which is maybe the easiest most genius way to fry chicken. Ah plus, it is a whole lot healthier! This is good since I hear people are talking about bikini season (not here of course). Ok, and the sauce. The sauce is just awesome. And there is A LOT of it. I hate when chicken is not saucy enough. Sauce = good. Really good!
Trust me on this one guys. I have a feeling you will never want to go back to ordering take-out. When you do have to, you’ll be wishing you had made your own.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Healthier General Tso's
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: chicken
It's sweet, it's just a little spicy and it's real saucy. Sauce just makes everything better.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs (If you can find whole wheat buy those)
- 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
- 1 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into small bite size pieces
Sauce
- 1 2/3 cups water
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup jam (I used raspberry but recommend apricot or peach)
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic grated
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 teaspoons chili paste or you can use 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- green onions for garnish
- toasted sesame seed for garnish
- white or brown rice for serving
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a wire rack or if you do not have a wire rack line with parchment, tin foil or a Silpat. Spray with cooking spray or oil with olive oil.
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In three separate shallow bowls place the whole wheat flour, panko bread crumbs and buttermilk. Working in batches, dredge chicken in flour, dip in buttermilk, then coat with the panko bread crumbs, pressing them into the chicken. Lay on prepared baking sheet. Spray chicken with cooking spray. Bake until the chicken and coating is brown and crisp, about 15 minutes (10 if you cut your chicken really small).
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Meanwhile, whisk water, soy sauce, jam, ketchup, hoisin, corn-starch, and vinegar together in bowl. Heat sesame oil in a large skillet with sides over medium heat until shimmering. Add garlic, ginger, and chili paste. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Whisk in soy sauce mixture, bring to simmer, and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Return the chicken to the sauce and heat until just warmed through.
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Serve with rice, green onions, sesame seeds and steamed broccoli if desired.
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Slightly adapted from Pinch Of Yum.
I am in Love.
Shared with: Time to Sparkle, Lil Luna, Chef In Training, Buns In my Oven, Foodie Friday Friends, Tidy Mom, Taste and Tell, Cheerios and Lattes, Somewhat Simple, Mom on Timeout, I Heart Nap Time, Fine Craft Guide, The Country Cook, Whipperberry, Chef In Training, Thursday’s Treasures, A Pinch Of Joy, Whats Cooking With Ruthie, Watch Out Martha
YUM! I love a good chicken recipe! 🙂
Yup! A good chicken recipe is always very good!
Looks so tasty and brown rice would be better to me. Love brown rice.
I love take out, but can’t stand the sodium and excess fat – this is so totally getting made next time I have a hankering!
I know i hate all that etra stuff! Very unwanted! Thanks so much for reading Megan!
Yummmm…………pinning it!
Thanks for pinning!
Oh wow this could be my new favorite meal as well.
Meagan! Thank you so much for reading! Hope you give this a try!
I LOVE General Tsos, but I also want to look good this summer! I know our readers would love to see this recipe, too. We have a link up party at allthingswithpurpose.com. We go live tonight (Wednesday) at 8:00 for our All Things Thursday Link Up. We hope to see you there!!
Thanks for the invite!
I am SO making this Tieghan. Next week. OMG so good.
LOVE this! I bought the ATK book and I can’t wait to make this 🙂 yours looks just perfect!
Julie, thank you so much! That seriously means so much coming from you! I am so happy you finally found my little blog! Thank so much for reading!
Yummy! I think I pin every recipe that you blog! I have been on an Asian kick so this will be perfect! Thanks!
Thank you and thanks so much for pinning I am so glad you like my recipes!
I lovvvve takeout and general tso’s is my husband’s favorite. I like to go a healthier route though so I love this!
Cassie, it is all about the sauce! It is so good! Hope you guys give it a try and love it!
I am visiting from the Mandatory Mooch…Your Chicken looks delicious!!! I have just started a brand new party called “Pin it Again”…please come on by and bring your chicken…there is always room for one more at the table! Blessings! Diane
http://mylifeasrobinswife.com/2013/03/28/pin-it-again-friday-link-party/
Thanks for the invite!!
Made this last night!! It was easy and sooo good!! Can’t wait to eat the leftovers.
Love your blog!!
YAY!! I am so glad you like this!! Thank you for your kind words!
This is one of my favorite things to eat. I love to see a healthy version of it.
Thank you! Stopping by from Pin Me 🙂
Alexis from Running Away? I’ll Help You Pack!
Thanks for stopping by!
This looks wonderful! We love General Tso’s chicken, but it is so loaded with calories – I appreciate your lower calorie version! I’ll be pinning.
Thank you and thanks for pinning!
this is one of our favorite take -out dishes…looks AMAZING
Thank you! I hope you give it a try!
This looks amazing! And I love that it’s a healthier option. Pinning for future use! I found you at Your Homebased Mom–thanks for sharing! Happy Easter!
~Abby =)
Thank you so much for pinning!
What a great recipe, I most certainly will have to try it. I’m always looking for healthier alternatives to my beloved foodies. 🙂
Morgaine from Madcap Frenzy
http://www.madcapfrenzy.blogspot.com/2013/03/totally-tuesday-link-party-2.html
Thank you and let me know if you give it a try!
I love Chinese food but most if it is so bad for you. This sounds like a good healthy alternative.
Thanks for sharing!
It is so good and really I think it taste better than the sugar loaded stuff!
That looks delish! The Hubs loves General Tso’s.
Hope you guys give it a try!
I can’t wait to try this! I love General Tso’s but steer clear of it because it’s not very healthy. Thanks for the great recipe! 🙂
Visiting from Skip to My Lou.
~Emily
http://www.texaslifeblog.com
This is a great take of General Tso’s. Using the panko on the chicken to add crunch was a great idea. The sauce looks divine too. Thanks for sharing on Thursdays Treasures.
Thank you! Hope you give it a try!
Lovely photos and delicious looking food, as always! I’d be thrilled if you’d link up at this week’s Off the Hook!
Thank you!
This is one of my husband’s favorites!
We’d love for you to stop by and share your posts at our Finished Friday link-up.
Thanks for the invite, I hope you give this a try!
Love your healthy version and you make it sound so easy to do! You are featured this week on Busy Monday at A Pinch of Joy! Pinned.
Thank so much for featuring me this week!
I am all about healthier fare… I will have to try these for sure! Thanks so much for sharing at Super Saturday Show & Tell… I’m SO glad you came to (link) party with me! http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com xoxo~ Ruthie
This looks so good! The fact that it’s a healthier version makes it even better! Would you mind to link this up to my blog hop? I think our readers would love to see this recipe. Thanks!
http://carriethishome.com/2013/04/frugal-crafty-home-blog-hop-18/
Thank you!
Popped over to your blog from StoneGable. This recipe was a huge hit. My picky eater 7 year old LOVED it, and has already requested it again. She calls it “hairy chicken” for the way it looks with the panko crumbs. Thank you.
HA! Hairy chicken, that is so cute! I am so glad you guys loved this and thank you for letting me know!
This looks like a great dinner recipe! Thanks for sharing : )
xoxo Liz
Thank you, liz!
This sounds absolutely wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Can this be frozen and reheated later?
HI there! Yes, you can freeze, thaw and then reheat. That works great. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan