Description
This Healthy General Tso Chicken recipe offers a lighter, yet flavorful take on the classic Chinese-American dish. Featuring baked chicken breast pieces coated in a tangy, sweet, and mildly spicy sauce made with low sodium soy sauce, honey, and fresh ginger, it’s a balanced meal perfect for a nutritious weeknight dinner. Serve it with steamed broccoli and brown rice for a complete, wholesome meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons green onions, sliced
Optional Serving Suggestions
- Steamed broccoli
- Cooked brown rice
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Prepare Chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch and olive oil until each piece is evenly coated. This creates a light crust when baked.
- Bake Chicken: Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even browning and thorough cooking until they are lightly golden and cooked through.
- Make Sauce: While the chicken bakes, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, hoisin sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, crushed red pepper flakes, and chicken broth in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and flavors meld.
- Toss Chicken with Sauce: Remove the cooked chicken from the oven and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot sauce over the chicken and toss well to ensure each piece is coated evenly with the flavorful sauce.
- Serve: Serve the sauced chicken immediately, garnished with sliced green onions. For a balanced meal, add steamed broccoli and brown rice on the side.
Notes
- Using boneless, skinless chicken breast keeps the dish lean and healthy.
- Low sodium soy sauce and chicken broth help reduce salt content.
- For more heat, increase crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
- Hoisin sauce adds a subtle sweetness and depth; substitute with more honey if preferred.
- Flipping the chicken halfway through baking ensures even cooking and crispiness.
- Serve immediately after tossing with sauce to keep chicken crispy.
- Use parchment paper to minimize cleanup and prevent sticking.
