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Crockpot General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

4.6 from 123 reviews

This Crockpot General Tso’s Chicken recipe offers a flavorful and easy way to enjoy a popular Chinese-American dish with minimal effort. Tender chicken thighs simmer in a savory and slightly sweet sauce made with soy, hoisin, rice vinegar, and a hint of honey, all cooked slowly in a crockpot to develop deep flavors. Perfect for a hands-off weeknight dinner or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 1 lb chicken thighs, cubed

Sauce

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Optional Thickening

  • 1 tbsp cornstarch (optional)
  • Water (for dissolving cornstarch)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Cube the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and tender results.
  2. Make the Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes thoroughly.
  3. Combine in Crockpot: Place the cubed chicken into the crockpot, then pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken.
  4. Cook: Set the crockpot to low and cook for 4 to 6 hours, or set it to high and cook for 2 to 3 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the chicken to become tender.
  5. Optional Thicken the Sauce: About 30 minutes before the cooking time ends, if you prefer a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with an equal amount of water until dissolved, then stir it into the crockpot and continue cooking to thicken.
  6. Serve: Once cooked and the sauce reaches desired thickness, serve the General Tso’s Chicken hot over steamed rice or your favorite side.

Notes

  • Use chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful results compared to breast meat.
  • Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your heat preference.
  • Adding cornstarch slurry is optional but recommended for a thicker sauce.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
  • For gluten-free option, use gluten-free soy sauce and hoisin sauce.

Keywords: General Tso’s Chicken, crockpot recipe, slow cooker chicken, easy Chinese recipe, comfort food