Make this Better than Takeout Instant Pot General Tso Chicken! Tender juicy pressure cooker chicken soaked in sweet and sour General Tso Sauce with a tad spicy kick. Easy to make & so delicious to eat!
Is General Tso Chicken one of your favorite Chinese takeout dishes? 🙂
General Tso Chicken
The lightly battered, sweet-sour and spicy bite-size deep-fried chicken has become an iconic favorite American-Chinese dish.
We created this General Tso Chicken inspired shredded chicken in memory of Chef Peng Chang-kuei 彭長貴 (September 26, 1918 – November 30, 2016), credited as the creator of the legendary General Tso’s Chicken.
Chef Peng began his culinary training under a famous Hunan chef at the age of 13. He later became the head chef, running the Chinese Nationalist government’s banquets.
In 1952, during a banquet for a visiting US Admiral, the admiral was so impressed with this chicken dish that he asked for the name.
On the spur of the moment, Chef Peng named it after “General Tso” Zuo Zongtang 左宗棠 – an acclaimed Hunanese military general.
Yes, General Tso was known for war, not the chicken… 😉
Chef Peng continued his culinary journey in America when he migrated to New York in the 1970s.
That’s when his Hunanese food received rave reviews from American Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who helped popularize his food.
Chef Peng, thank you for all your creations and contributions to the culinary world!
Instant Pot General Tso Chicken
Since we couldn’t deep-fry in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, we gave the original dish a creative twist by using shredded chicken cooked in yummy General Tso Sauce, plus the added crunch by serving it as a lettuce wrap! 🙂
You can pair the shredded chicken with lettuce to make low carb chicken wrap; or you can pair it with rice, noodles, or your favorite side dishes. It’s perfect for dinner parties, entertaining guests, potlucks, picnics…
Cooking Tips for Instant Pot General Tso Chicken
1. Chinese Black Vinegar vs. Distilled White Vinegar
Chinese Black Vinegar will add more complexity to the General Tso Sauce Mixture’s flavor compare to using Distilled White Vinegar.
2. Butter Lettuce vs. Romaine Lettuce
We used both butter lettuce & romaine lettuce to serve this Pressure Cooker General Tso Chicken. They each bring a different texture & dimension to the dish.
- Butter Lettuce – extremely tender, smooth, sweet
- Romaine Lettuce – refreshing, firm, adds a crunch
3. Can I Substitute with Chicken Breast?
Yes! Please note that the Pressure Cooker General Tso Chicken will come out slightly drier when compared to using dark meat. You can pressure cook chicken breasts at High Pressure at 6 – 8 minutes + Natural Release.
Step-by-Step Instant Pot General Tso Chicken
Prepare Ingredients for General Tso Chicken in Instant Pot:
Preparation
First, mince the garlic, and roughly chop the ginger.
Chop green onions: green part finely chopped for garnish, white part cut into 1.5-inch pieces (as shown below).
Wash and break the lettuce leaves into individual pieces.
Sauté Garlic and Ginger
First, heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot: press Sauté button).
While the pressure cooker is heating, pour in 1 tbsp (15ml) peanut oil.
Add 10 dried Chinese red chili, minced garlic, white part of green onions, and chopped ginger in Instant Pot. Then, allow them to slowly release their fragrance. Sauté for roughly 3 minutes.
Pressure Cook Chicken
Add General Tso Sauce mixture and chicken in Instant Pot.
With Venting Knob at Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position.
- Pressure Cooking Method: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 12 minutes + 12 minutes Natural Release
After 12 minutes, release the remaining pressure by turning Venting Knob to Venting Position. When Floating Valve drops, open the lid carefully.
Shred General Tso Chicken
Place chicken in a large mixing bowl.
Remove the chicken skin if desired. Remove the meat from the bones, and shred with a fork.
Thicken General Tso Sauce
Remove the Chinese red chili.
Heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot: press Sauté button), and bring the sauce back to a boil.
Taste the General Tso Sauce, then add in roughly 1 tbsp (15ml) of honey to sweeten the sauce if desired.
Mix 2 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir the mixture into the sauce one third at a time until desired thickness.
Place the shredded chicken back in the sauce and mix well.
Serve Instant Pot General Tso Chicken
Place shredded General Tso Chicken on lettuce.
Garnish with finely chopped green onions.
*Note: You may serve this Pressure Cooker General Tso Chicken Lettuce Wrap with Hoisin Sauce on the side.
Enjoy your delicious Pressure Cooker General Tso Chicken!~ 🙂
Tools for Instant Pot General Tso Chicken
Time to make Instant Pot General Tso Chicken!
Instant Pot General Tso Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 - 10 (~2 pounds) chicken drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) peanut oil
- 10 dried Chinese red chili
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 - 2 stalks green onion , green part finely chopped for garnish; white part cut into 1.5 inch pieces
- 1 (10g) slice ginger , roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) honey (optional)
General Tso Sauce:
- 1/4 cup (63ml) dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) Shaoxing wine
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) Chinese black vinegar or distilled white vinegar
- 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) sesame oil
Thickener:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Serve:
- 16 - 20 pieces lettuce
- Hoisin sauce (optional)
Equipment
♥ Share this Recipe so We can create more yummy recipes for you. Thank you 🙂
Instructions
- Sauté Garlic and Ginger: Heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot: press Sauté button). While the pressure cooker is heating, pour in 1 tbsp (15ml) peanut oil.
Add 10 dried Chinese red chili, minced garlic, white part of green onions, and chopped ginger in the pressure cooker, then allow them to slowly release their fragrance. Sauté for roughly 3 minutes. - Pressure Cook Chicken: Add General Tso Sauce mixture and chicken in Instant Pot. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 12 minutes + 12 minutes Natural Release. Release the remaining pressure, then open the lid carefully.
- Shred Chicken: Place chicken in a large mixing bowl. Remove chicken skin if desired. Shred chicken with a fork. Remove the bones.
- Thicken General Tso Sauce: Remove the Chinese red chili. Heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot: press Sauté button), and bring the sauce back to a boil. Taste the sauce and add in roughly 1 tbsp (15ml) of honey to sweeten the sauce if desired.
Mix 2 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water and stir the mixture into the sauce one third at a time until desired thickness.
Place the shredded chicken back in the sauce and mix well. - Serve: Place shredded chicken on lettuce. Garnish with finely chopped green onions. You may also serve this Instant Pot General Tso Chicken Lettuce Wrap with Hoisin Sauce on the side. Enjoy~ 🙂
Notes
Nutrition
More Instant Pot Chinese Recipes You’ll Love
All Our Pressure Cooker Recipes
*Disclosure: We are an Amazon Influencer/Amazon Associate. This means that if you decide to purchase items or services on Amazon through our links on Pressure Cook Recipes to Amazon, Amazon will send a small commission to us at no additional costs to you. Thank you!