A sweet and slightly spicy Chinese takeout favorite you can easily make right at home! This recipe for Gluten-Free General Tso's Chicken is soy-free, paleo, top-8 allergy-free, and can be whipped up for the dinner table in a flash!
Because I'm trying to turn your kitchen into a Chinese takeout restaurant. What do they say? "Can't stop, won't stop"? "Don't try to fix something that isn't broken"? Americanized Chinese food (takeout) is not the most allergy-friendly cuisine to indulge in. That's why you and I are here to show the world that we can change that. One glug of coconut aminos at a time!
For all the takeout never to be eaten again and all the dishes never gotten to be tried. Whether it was the big bag sneaky celiac disease, the underestimated soy allergy, or maybe it was peanuts that got you, we can make it work...we will make it work! It only ever takes a few more minutes of thought and a few simple swaps, while in the process of making homemade takeout for our autoimmune diseases and food allergies, it ends up being healthier and much more fulfilling in the end.
So, onto some gluten-free General Tso's Chicken! Definitely not an order I ever had "back in the day", but no better time than the present to whip some up! The most important question you're probably asking yourself though is, "Who the heck is General Tso and why does he have his own chicken recipe?" I know. I asked the same question and I have the answer!
According to Wikipedia (solid fact), "General Tso" was a military leader and statesman with the real name, Zuo Zongtang, during the Qing Dynasty. The modern-day "Americanized" dish was named after him, but it was not a dish that would have ever been made back then. It is a spinoff of a traditional "Hunan chicken dish" and with a translated name of "ancestral meeting hall chicken". The origins are fuzzy, but wherever it is originally from, we here in America did our "thing" to it (of course).
The dish is actually "sweet" with only a hint of spice thrown in from the chili paste. Normally deep fried, but we're just tossing it around in the skillet. General Tso's Chicken has a nice combo of white wine, rice vinegar, soy sauce (coconut aminos for us!), some honey, garlic, sesame, a dollop of tomato paste, hit of chili paste, and a bit of ginger. All in all it is one delicious saucy chicken and not...gluten-free, soy-free, paleo, you get the picture 😉
Don't worry, I even have a vegan general tso's chicken recipe for you!
Gluten-Free General Tso's Chicken
Gluten-Free General Tso's Chicken (Soy-Free, Paleo, Top-8 Allergy-Free)
A sweet and slightly spicy Chinese takeout favorite you can easily make right at home! This recipe for Gluten-Free General Tso's Chicken is soy-free, paleo, top-8 allergy-free, and can be whipped up for the dinner table in a flash!
- Cook Time: 16 mins
- Total Time: 16 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: Chinese, Asian
Ingredients
- 4 Skinless Chicken Breasts (cubed)
- 1 TB Corn or Arrowroot Starch
- ½ Tsp Black Pepper
- ½ Tsp Onion Powder
- 1 TB Neutral Oil
- 1 ½ Cups Chopped Red/Green Bell Pepper
- ¼ Cup Chopped Scalions
- Sesame Seeds (to top)
- For the Sauce:
- ⅓ Cup Chicken Broth
- ¼ Cup Rice or Sherry Wine
- ¼ Cup Rice Vinegar
- ¼ Cup Coconut Aminos
- 1 TB Tomato Paste
- 1 TB Honey
- 1 Tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tsp Chili Paste
- ½ Tsp Ginger Puree
Instructions
- Cube the chicken and toss with the starch, black pepper, and onion powder.
- Heat the tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat.
- Add the chicken and bell pepper to the pan and stir fry for 6-8 minutes.
- In the meantime, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a bowl and add to the cooking chicken along with the chopped scallions.
- Cook for another 8-10 minutes until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is completely cooked through.
- Serve with white rice and top with sesame seeds if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
And you know...when we make homemade takeout, the LEFTOVERS are where it's at! This is a big batch of General Tso's Chicken so I'd say make it as a "meal prep" dish and serve it up all week! Dinner, lunch, late night cravings? Never a bad time for some gluten-free takeout (take"in") goodness, is there? I think General Tso would be impressed and glad to have his "name" branded on this dish!
So tell me:
+ Who else is a food history nerd like me? I always have been!
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Lisa
Absolutely delicious! Wow, will be making this weekly!
Rebecca Pytell
Happy to hear that!
Corina Blum
It looks delicious and definitely sounds like a recipe I'd love to try.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's great to hear!
Cat | Curly's Cooking
This looks really tasty.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks for your awesome comment!
Amanda Martin
Sounds delish! We have homemade takeout at least once a week at our house.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Way to go!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Gorgeous looking dish Rebecca, with amazing huge chunks of chicken which are making me hungry. Yum yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, General Tso is so good!
Linda
So glad I found this recipe! I can’t wait to try it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Let me know if you do!
Ruthie Ridley
Wow! Something I can eat!! This looks divine! Thanks for sharing!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Awesome! Enjoy it!
Sandy
This dish is one of my favourites and this gluten-free version is genius! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
General Tso's is such a classic!
Jennifer
This looks like a great recipe, and much healthier than take out! I will have to give it a try!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Nice and cleaned up and safe!
Felicia
This look so good! Thank you!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you make some!
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-Ups
Yum! This looks great!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Courtney
Wow, this looks so tasty! General Tso chicken is one of my favorites. Pinning it to cook for dinner soon, and also sharing with my friend who has to eat GF!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? It is so good!
susie liberatore
This sounds so yummy we were just talking about some gluten free chicken recipes, thank you.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We've got plenty here!
Tiffany Downin
This look fabulous! Pinning so I can try for dinner one night 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic, enjoy!
Jen
This would definitely satisfy any takeout craving!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It sure will!
Mama to 6 Blessings
Oh my goodness this recipe looks amazing! I am doing Paleo so I would make this but instead of rice I would use riced cauliflower.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Okay. The rice is the photo is not part of the recipe though, so do whatever you want, obviously.
Julie Plagens
I just pinned this. Can’t wait to try it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Awesome! I know you'll enjoy!
Julie Plagens
I just pinned this in my gluten free section. Can’t wait to try it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Great, enjoy!
candy
One of our favorite chinese dishes to make and enjoy. We never have any leftovers when this is made and served.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I can see that!
Stella
Love this recipe as it meets my diet criteria--soy free, paleo. I will give it a try on this weekend.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well I hope you enjoy!
Stephanie
I can’t wait to try this! And my husband will be so excited to have a Chinese takeout dish we can make at home (he eats gf for me when we make dinners!)! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
And this one is such a classic to enjoy again!
Sharon
My husband loves this! Pinning to make later!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic! It is a man favorite here too 😉