Connie Perry Recipes - Chinese General Tso’s Sauce

Homemade General Tso’s Sauce

Make your favorite Chinese takeout dishes at home with this homemade General Tso’s Sauce. Sweet, savory, tangy, and slightly spicy, it’s perfect for chicken, shrimp, vegetables, stir-fries, and dipping.

Cook Time

Servings

Difficulty

1½ cups

Easy

Prep Time

5 Minutes

Ingredients

Combine the Sauce
Add the chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, minced ginger, and red pepper flakes to a small saucepan.
Whisk everything together until well combined.
Simmer the Sauce
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved and the flavors are combined.
Thicken the Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until completely smooth.
Slowly pour the slurry into the simmering sauce while whisking continuously.
Continue cooking for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce becomes thick and glossy.
Finish & Serve
Remove the sauce from the heat and allow it to cool slightly.
Use immediately with chicken, shrimp, vegetables, or stir-fries, or transfer to an airtight container for storage.

Adjust the heat: Use less red pepper flakes for a milder sauce or add more if you like it spicy.

Keep the slurry smooth: Mix the cornstarch with cold water before adding it so the sauce thickens without lumps.
Don’t overcook it: Once the sauce is thick and glossy, remove it from the heat. It will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
Taste before serving: Adjust the sweetness, heat, or tanginess to suit your taste.
Use it your way: Toss it with crispy chicken, shrimp, or vegetables, drizzle it over rice, or serve it as a dipping sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does General Tso’s Sauce taste like?

General Tso’s Sauce is sweet, savory, tangy, and slightly spicy, with rich flavors from soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil.
Can I make General Tso’s Sauce less spicy?

Yes. Reduce or leave out the red pepper flakes for a milder sauce. You can also add more if you prefer extra heat.
What can I use General Tso’s Sauce on?

It’s delicious with chicken, shrimp, vegetables, stir-fries, rice, or as a dipping sauce for appetizers.
Why isn’t my General Tso’s Sauce thickening?

Make sure the sauce is gently simmering when you add the cornstarch slurry. Continue stirring for 1–2 minutes and it should become thick and glossy.
How do I store homemade General Tso’s Sauce?

Allow the sauce to cool completely, then refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if it becomes too thick.

□ 1 cup chicken broth
□ ½ cup soy sauce
□ ½ cup rice vinegar
□ ½ cup granulated sugar
□ 2 TBSP hoisin sauce
□ 1 TBSP sesame oil
□ 1 TBSP minced garlic
□ 1 TBSP minced ginger
□ 1 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste
□ 1 TBSP cornstarch
□ 2 TBSP cold water, for the slurry

5 Minutes