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General Tso’s Chicken Soup Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 147 reviews

General Tso’s Chicken Soup is a comforting and flavorful one-pot soup inspired by the classic General Tso’s chicken dish. This recipe simplifies the traditional multi-step, multi-pan process into an easy weeknight meal featuring shallow pan-fried chicken pieces enveloped in a thick, spicy-sweet, and bold General Tso’s sauce, all melded into a hearty broth. Perfect to enjoy right away or as a make-ahead dish, it pairs wonderfully with crusty bread or a green salad for a cozy and satisfying dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil (for shallow frying)

For the General Tso’s Sauce

  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp chili garlic sauce or to taste
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (slurry)
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

For the Soup

  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup cooked rice (added at serving time)
  • 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
  • Optional: steamed broccoli or snap peas for added vegetables

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly pan-fry the chicken pieces until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
  2. Make the Sauce: In the same pot, reduce heat to medium, add the minced garlic and grated ginger; sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, and chili garlic sauce. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
  3. Thicken the Sauce: Slowly add the cornstarch slurry to the simmering sauce while stirring constantly. Cook until the sauce thickens to a glossy, syrupy consistency, about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Deglaze and Combine: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Return the cooked chicken pieces to the pot, stirring to coat with sauce. Simmer gently for 10 minutes to meld flavors and heat through.
  5. Serve: To serve, add cooked rice individually to bowls, then ladle the hot soup over the rice. Garnish with sliced green onions. Optionally, add steamed vegetables for extra texture and nutrition.

Notes

  • Do not add the rice to the soup until serving to prevent it from thickening too much during storage.
  • The General Tso’s sauce can be adjusted in sweetness or spiciness according to your family’s taste preferences.
  • This soup tastes even better after resting in the fridge overnight as flavors meld further.
  • Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful meat; breasts can be substituted for a leaner option.
  • If you prefer, add vegetables like broccoli, snap peas, or carrots to increase the nutritional value and texture.

Keywords: General Tso’s Soup, chicken soup, Chinese-inspired soup, one-pot meal, weeknight soup, comfort food, spicy sweet sauce

Find it online: https://tastybynova.com/general-tsos-chicken-soup-recipe/