Trevor's Kitchen

Air-fried General Tso’s Chicken

Ingredients:

1 large egg
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, patted dry and cut into1 to 1 1/4-inch chunks
1/3 cup plus 2 tsp. cornstarch, divided
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
7 tablespoons lower-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons unseasoned rice vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
3 to 4 chiles de árbol, chopped and seeds discarded
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion, divided
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

About the Recipe

This air-fryer riff on the Chinese takeout classic saves the day with nearly half the saturated fat of restaurant versions and loads less clean-up than deep frying at home.

Air fryer sizes vary (hence the cook time’s wide range); if you have a smaller air fryer, commit to cooking in batches so that there’s plenty of room for the air to circulate and crisp up the chicken

Nutritional Info

Getting it done:

Step 1

Beat egg in a large bowl, add chicken, and coat well. In another bowl, combine 1/3 cup cornstarch with salt and pepper. Transfer chicken with a fork to cornstarch mixture, and stir with a spatula to coat every piece.

Step 2

Transfer chicken to air-fryer oven racks (or fryer basket, in batches), leaving a little space between pieces. Preheat air-fryer at 400°F for 3 minutes. Add the battered chicken; cook for 12 to 16 minutes, giving things a shake midway. Let dry 3 to 5 minutes. If chicken is still damp on one side, cook for 1 to 2 minutes more.

Step 3

Whisk together remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch with broth, soy sauce, ketchup, sugar, and rice vinegar. Heat canola oil and chiles in a large skillet over medium heat. When gently sizzling, add the ginger and garlic; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Step 4

Re-whisk cornstarch mixture; stir into mixture in skillet. Increase heat to medium-high. When sauce begins to bubble, add chicken. Stir to coat; cook until sauce thickens and nicely clings to chicken, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn off heat; stir in 1 tablespoon green onion and sesame oil. Transfer to a serving plate, and top with sesame seeds and remaining 1 tablespoon green onion.