Easy Crockpot General Tso’s Chicken – Chinese Recipe Delight!

Introduction

Easy Crockpot General Tso’s Chicken brings the flavors of your favorite Chinese takeout straight to your kitchen—with almost no effort. This slow cooker version features juicy chicken breasts gently simmered in a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce that infuses every bite with an irresistible zing. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or a fuss-free weeknight meal, this dish proves that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for convenience.

Why You’ll Love This Crockpot General Tso’s Chicken

This recipe is a game changer for anyone craving bold flavors without the need to deep fry or constantly babysit the stove. The Crockpot takes care of the heavy lifting, making this meal ideal for busy schedules or meal prep. The sauce strikes the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and heat—the hallmark of classic General Tso’s—while the slow-cooked chicken turns out tender and succulent every time.

Crockpot General Tso’s Sauce – Tangy, Sweet & Spicy

The magic of this dish lies in its signature sauce, built from pantry staples like soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, and ginger, brightened with a splash of rice vinegar and balanced sweetness from brown sugar. Using the Crockpot allows the sauce to mellow and thicken, perfectly coating every tender piece of chicken.

Assembling Your Easy Crockpot General Tso’s Chicken

After cutting the chicken into bite-sized cubes, you toss it in a simple cornstarch coating, helping the sauce cling and giving the texture a gentle bite. Once everything is combined in the slow cooker, you can simply set it and walk away, returning hours later to a fragrant, mouthwatering masterpiece. For those who crave a little extra crunch, a quick broil at the end is optional but worth the extra minute!

Serving Suggestions for a Crowd-Pleasing Meal

Spoon your tender General Tso’s chicken over steamed jasmine rice, brown rice, or even a bed of fluffy quinoa. It pairs beautifully with quick stir-fried veggies such as broccoli, snap peas, or bok choy. A sprinkle of sesame seeds and sliced scallions provides a restaurant-style finishing touch—making every serving as visually impressive as it is delicious.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 hearty servings. Each serving typically contains around 350 to 400 calories, depending on your choice of chicken and whether you opt for extra garnish or added vegetables. It’s a balanced, satisfying main course that works for meal prep or family-style dining.

Unbeatable Ease, Incredible Flavor (Recap)

In just a few easy steps, this Crockpot General Tso’s Chicken delivers all the flavor and elegance of a Chinese favorite—right at home. Set it, forget it, and reward yourself with a meal that’s both nourishing and packed with crowd-pleasing taste.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and streamlined meal planning.

Instructions

1. Place the bite-sized chicken pieces in a bowl and toss with 1/2 cup cornstarch, a pinch of salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken pieces in batches (1-2 minutes per side; they don’t need to be cooked through). Transfer browned chicken to the Crockpot.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
4. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the Crockpot. Stir to coat evenly.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours, until chicken is cooked through and tender.
6. In the last 15 minutes, mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to create a slurry. Stir this into the Crockpot to thicken the sauce.
7. Optional: For a crispier exterior, use tongs to transfer the chicken onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and broil for 2-3 minutes until slightly golden—then return to the sauce.
8. Serve hot over rice and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions, if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe is a star for meal prep and weeknight menus. Save and schedule this recipe to plan which days you’d like to serve it and instantly build smart shopping lists that consolidate all your ingredients by recipe and store section.

Benefits for Meal Planning:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities for your entire meal plan
• Creates organized shopping lists by grocery aisle
• Reduces last-minute store trips and forgotten ingredients
• Streamlines your weekly cooking routine for less stress, better meals

Pro tip: If you’re planning other recipes for the week (like stir-fries or salads), schedule all your meals together for one-click shopping list generation and even fewer wasted ingredients.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3-4 hours (slow cook)
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes
(Active Hands-On Time: less than 25 minutes)