Craving that irresistible Chinese takeout flavor without the long wait or delivery fees? Get ready to transform your kitchen into a gourmet Chinese restaurant with this lightning-fast Shortcut General Tso's Chicken recipe! In less time than it takes to scroll through food delivery apps, you'll create a mouthwatering dish that's crispy, saucy, and guaranteed to satisfy your takeout cravings. Whether you're a busy home cook or a culinary novice, this recipe will make you feel like a professional chef in just 25 minutes.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Cuisine: Chinese
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast, diced
- 1 cup General Tso's sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- Cooked rice, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients by cutting chicken breast into 1-inch uniform dice. Ensure broccoli florets are washed and trimmed to bite-sized pieces.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Allow the oil to become hot but not smoking, which typically takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Add diced chicken to the hot skillet, spreading pieces evenly to ensure maximum surface contact. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is golden brown and cooked through with no pink interior.
- Add broccoli florets to the skillet with chicken. Sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing broccoli to become bright green and slightly tender but still crisp.
- Pour General Tso's sauce over chicken and broccoli, stirring to coat all ingredients completely. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow sauce to thicken and flavors to meld.
- Remove from heat and let stand for 1-2 minutes to allow sauce to further set and chicken to absorb flavors.
- Serve hot over steamed white rice, ensuring each portion has an even distribution of chicken and broccoli.
Tips
- Chicken Cutting Technique: Dice chicken into uniform 1-inch pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture.
- Oil Temperature is Key: Wait until the oil is hot but not smoking to achieve that perfect golden-brown exterior on your chicken.
- Don't Overcrowd the Pan: Cook chicken in a single layer to ensure proper browning and prevent steaming.
- Broccoli Crispness: Sauté broccoli just until it turns bright green to maintain a crisp, fresh texture.
- Sauce Coating Trick: Reduce heat when adding sauce and stir thoroughly to ensure every piece of chicken and broccoli is evenly coated.
- Resting Time Matters: Let the dish stand for 1-2 minutes after cooking to allow flavors to meld and sauce to thicken.
- Serving Suggestion: Serve over steamed white rice and garnish with sesame seeds or green onions for an extra touch of authenticity.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 322kcal
Carbohydrates: 29g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 11g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 60mg
