Super Easy Instant Pot General Tso Chicken Recipe

Looking for tasty Chinese chicken recipes for Instant Pot? Keep scrolling for the best Instant Pot General Tso Chicken Recipe!

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Chinese New Year is coming up and in our family, that means LOTS of yummy food!

We usually get together with extended family and eat many traditional Chinese New Year dishes, plus a few family favorites.

This year, we’re celebrating on our own and we’re testing out new recipes that our kids can help us with.

So, today I’m sharing this easy General Tso’s chicken recipe that is made completely in the Instant Pot.

It’s actually an awesome weeknight dinner idea because the whole thing is ready in just 15 minutes.

Keep scrolling to learn how to cook General Tso chicken in the Instant Pot!

This General Tso chicken recipe tastes great with Hawaiian Pineapple Fried Rice or Vegetable Lo Mein Noodles!

Learn how to make this easy general tso’s chicken in the instant pot. Image of General Tso chicken in a bowl.

Simple General Tso Chicken Instant Pot Recipe

Ingredients for General Tso Chicken

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed into bite-sized pieces
¼ cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground ginger
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water

General Tso Instant Pot chicken recipe. Image of a bowl of Chinese chicken over fried rice.

How to Make Instant Pot General Tso Chicken

Place all of the ingredients into the electric pressure cooker EXCEPT the cornstarch and water. Stir well to mix.

Stir up all the wet ingredients for this General Tso Instant Pot recipe. Image of a bowl of sauce with whisk in it.

Put the sauce and the chicken cubes into the Instant Pot. Image of chopped chicken and sauce in an Instant Pot

Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Program the electric pressure cooker with the “manual” or “pressure cook” setting for 6 minutes.

After the cooking cycle has completed, wait for the pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes before doing a quick release of the remaining pressure.

This easy Instant Pot General Tso chicken cooks in just 6 minutes! Image of an Instant Pot with General Tso chicken inside.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the electric pressure cooker but keep warm. Press to cancel the “keep warm” setting and program to “saute.”

Combine the cornstarch and water. Then, pour the mixture over the sauce and stir. Cook for about 2 minutes or until thickened.

Thicken up the sauce with cornstarch and water. Image of General Tso chicken in the Instant Pot.

Return the chicken to the electric pressure cooker and toss in the sauce.

Garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds if desired.

Quick and easy General Tso Chicken Instant Pot recipe. Image of a bowl of Chinese chicken over fried rice.

General Tso Chicken FAQs

What is General Tso chicken?

Traditionally General Tso chicken is a slightly sweet, deep fried Chinese chicken dish that you can find at many Chinese restaurants. While it’s similar to other Chinese chicken recipes, the difference is all in the sauce.

Is General Tso chicken spicy?

It definitely has a kick! If you are comparing it to sesame chicken or orange chicken, yes it will seem spicy. However, I wouldn’t put it in the “spicy” category in comparison to other Chinese dishes.

Is General Tso chicken healthy?

Usually, General Tso chicken is breaded and deep fried and then tossed in a sugary sauce (aka definitely unhealthy!) However, this Instant Pot General Tso chicken recipe is a much healthier alternative.

Looking for more Asian-inspired recipes? Learn how to make Shoyu Chicken, Mochiko Chicken, and Instant Pot Hawaiian Meatballs!

Yield: 4

Instant Pot General Tso Chicken Recipe

Your family will love the super easy Instant Pot General Tso Chicken recipe that is quick to assemble. Tastes great over sticky rice or Hawaiian pineapple fried rice.

Prep Time 3 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed into bite-sized pieces
¼ cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoon brown sugar
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground ginger
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water

Instructions

Place all of the ingredients into the electric pressure cooker EXCEPT the cornstarch and water. Stir well to mix.
Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Program the electric pressure cooker with the “manual” or “pressure cook” setting for 6 minutes.
After the cooking cycle has completed, wait for the pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes before doing a quick release of the remaining pressure.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the electric pressure cooker but keep warm. Press to cancel the “keep warm” setting and program to “saute.”
Combine the cornstarch and water. Then, pour the mixture over the sauce and stir. Cook for about 2 minutes or until thickened.Return the chicken to the electric pressure cooker and toss in the sauce.
Garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 469Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 193mgSodium: 1178mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 72g