Gluten-Free General Tso’s Chicken (Dairy-Free)

In this gluten-free General Tso’s chicken recipe, cornstarch-coated chicken is fried till crispy and then tossed in a sticky-sweet sauce with a slight kick of heat. Make this favorite American-Chinese dish in just 30 minutes in the comfort of your own kitchen! Dairy-free too.

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General Tso’s Chicken – Our Gluten-Free Version of This Takeout Favorite

A hugely popular menu item in American Chinese restaurants, General Tso’s chicken is actually not a traditional Chinese dish (it’s practically unheard of in Mainland China).

Invented by a Chinese chef who migrated to the United States, this chicken dish has been adapted to suit the American tastebuds with the combination of sweet, savory and spicy flavors together with crispy texture of the fried chicken and a sticky sauce.

Most versions are not gluten-free because of the soy sauce and hoisin sauce used (which contain gluten), but today we’re making a gluten-free and dairy-free version of this Asian-inspired dish!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe:

• Simple Ingredients: The main ingredients required for making this gluten free General Tso’s chicken recipe are easily accessible at the local grocery store.
• Easy to Make: Preparing this 30-minute dinner recipe is just a matter of coating chicken pieces in cornstarch, frying until golden and crispy, then tossing it in a simple homemade sauce that’s bursting with flavor! A quick dinner for Chinese takeout lovers that’s perfect for busy weeknights!
• Totally Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free: The best part is that this American-Chinese chicken dinner is 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy this homemade version without issues.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for making this gluten-free General Tso’s chicken recipe.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Recipe Notes + Substitutions:

• Chicken: I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but you can also use skinless, boneless chicken breasts if you prefer. (I like chicken thighs as they tend to be juicier than chicken breast meat).
• Cornstarch: Coating the chicken in corn starch before frying it makes it crispier. If you are allergic to corn, you can substitute the cornstarch with tapioca starch or arrowroot starch instead.
• Ginger: Freshly grated ginger adds a beautiful depth of flavor to this chicken recipe, so definitely make sure to add it in.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic adds so much taste and flavor to this recipe, so don’t leave it out.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Red pepper flakes add a nice kick of heat to the sauce. Feel free to add more or less depending on how much heat you can tolerate.
• Broth: I used chicken broth (chicken stock will work too), but you can also use vegetable broth or vegetable stock if you prefer.
• Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar adds a hint of acidity to balance out the sweetness and savory flavors. Alternatively, if you don’t have rice vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar will work just as well.
• Hoisin Sauce: I used gluten-free hoisin sauce to keep this recipe gluten-free. However, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, feel free to use regular hoisin sauce instead.
• Soy Sauce: I used gluten-free soy sauce (tamari sauce) to keep this recipe gluten-free. However, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, feel free to use regular soy sauce instead. Alternatively, if you are allergic to soy, you may substitute the soy sauce with equal amounts of coconut aminos instead.
• Sugar: I used light brown sugar to add a touch of sweetness to the sauce. You may also use white sugar, cane sugar, or dark brown sugar if you prefer.
• Sesame Oil: Sesame oil adds a characteristically Asian profile to the flavor of this General Tso’s chicken recipe, so definitely make sure to add it in.

How to Make Gluten-Free General Tso’s Chicken:

Coat Chicken with Cornstarch: Place the cut chicken pieces in a bowl, add cornstarch, cover, and shake well until evenly coated.

Fry Chicken Until Crispy: Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry chicken for 6–7 minutes, stirring, until golden brown and crispy. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Dish by Dish Tips:

• Serve With: I love serving this delicious chicken recipe with a bowl of fluffy white rice (brown rice will work too). Alternatively, you can serve it with cauliflower rice for a low carb alternative.
• Make it Vegetarian/Vegan: If you wish to make this a vegetarian or vegan option, feel free to swap out the chicken with tofu cubes or a vegan chicken alternative instead.

Other Gluten-Free Asian Chicken Recipes:

• Mongolian Chicken (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Easy Chicken Stir Fry (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Korean Fried Chicken (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Honey Sesame Chicken (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Gluten-Free Chicken Dishes to Make:

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Gluten-Free General Tso’s Chicken (Dairy-Free)

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5 from 1 review

• Author: Felicia Lim
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free

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Description

In this gluten-free General Tso’s chicken recipe, cornstarch-coated chicken is fried till crispy and then tossed in a sticky-sweet sauce with a slight kick of heat. Make this favorite American-Chinese dish in just 30 minutes in the comfort of your own kitchen! Dairy-free too.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Chicken:

• 1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup cornstarch
• Oil, for frying

For the Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1 1/2 tablespoon grated garlic
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 1/2 tablespoon gluten-free hoisin sauce
• 5 tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce (tamari sauce)
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil

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Instructions

1. Coat Chicken with Cornstarch: Place the cut chicken pieces in a bowl, add cornstarch, cover, and shake well until evenly coated.
2. Fry Chicken Until Crispy: Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry chicken for 6–7 minutes, stirring, until golden and crispy. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding.
3. Set Fried Chicken Aside: Transfer chicken to a bowl lined with paper towels.
4. Prepare Sauce: In a bowl, mix the broth, rice vinegar, gluten-free hoisin sauce, gluten-free soy sauce (tamari sauce). Dissolve cornstarch in water, then add to the bowl.
5. Sauté Ginger, Garlic & Red Pepper Flakes: In the same skillet as before, sauté ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes over low heat for 2 minutes.
6. Add Sauce Mixture: Add the sauce and cook on low heat, stirring, until sauce has thickened slightly (3–4 minutes).
7. Toss Chicken in Sauce: Add the previously fried chicken to the pan, gently toss to coat in the glossy sauce, and remove from heat.
8. Garnish & Serve: Sprinkle chopped green onions over the General Tso’s chicken and serve with white rice.

Notes

Chicken: I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but you can also use skinless, boneless chicken breasts if you prefer. (I like chicken thighs as they tend to be juicier than chicken breast meat).

Cornstarch: Coating the chicken in cornstarch before frying it makes it crispier. If you are allergic to corn, you can substitute the cornstarch with tapioca starch or arrowroot starch instead.

Ginger: Freshly grated ginger adds a beautiful depth of flavor to this chicken recipe, so definitely make sure to add it in.

Garlic: Fresh garlic adds so much taste and flavor to this recipe, so don’t leave it out.

Red Pepper Flakes: Red pepper flakes add a nice kick of heat to the sauce. Feel free to add more or less depending on how much heat you can tolerate.

Broth: I used chicken broth (chicken stock will work too), but you can also use vegetable broth or vegetable stock if you prefer.

Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar adds a hint of acidity to balance out the sweetness and savory flavors. Alternatively, if you don’t have rice vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar will work just as well.

Hoisin Sauce: I used gluten-free hoisin sauce to keep this recipe gluten-free. However, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, feel free to use regular hoisin sauce instead.

Soy Sauce: I used gluten-free soy sauce (tamari sauce) to keep this recipe gluten-free. However, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, feel free to use regular soy sauce instead. Alternatively, if you are allergic to soy, you may substitute the soy sauce with equal amounts of coconut aminos instead.

Sugar: I used light brown sugar to add a touch of sweetness to the sauce. You may also use white sugar, cane sugar, or dark brown sugar if you prefer.

Sesame Oil: Sesame oil adds a characteristically Asian profile to the flavor of this General Tso’s chicken recipe, so definitely make sure to add it in.

• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Stir Fry
• Cuisine: Asian