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Satisfy your takeout cravings without the unnecessary carbs! You’ll love the sweet flavors and crispy texture of this low-carb General Tso’s chicken.

Plate of low-carb General Tso's Chicken with chopsticks

Who doesn’t love General Tso’s chicken? This sweet and crispy dish is a westernized version of Chinese food, but it’s one of the most popular carry-out dishes.

Unfortunately, it’s not very heart-healthy or diabetes-friendly. The chicken is usually deep-fried and then coated in a sticky-sweet sauce. This means that it’s packed with calories, carbs, sugar, and sodium.

So I had to create a healthier low-carb version!

This low-carb General Tso’s chicken recipe is quick and easy to make, and the result is absolutely delicious. It’s less sweet than the restaurant versions, which I liked. It allowed some of the other flavors to shine.

It’s also a bit spicy, but not overpowering. Just make sure you don’t eat the chiles!

How to make low-carb General Tso’s chicken

This dish comes together with just a bit of prep. Then, simply add everything to your pan and cook!

Ingredients for the recipe laid out on a tabletop

You can see how I make the recipe in this short video or follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Step 1: In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the sauce. Mix well and set aside.

The mixed sauce in a white ramekin

Step 2: Place the cubed chicken in a medium bowl and season with salt and white pepper. Add the cornstarch, mix well, then set aside.

Step 3: Heat a wok or large pan over high heat. Once hot, add the peanut oil.

Step 4: Add the garlic and red chiles, stirring for a few seconds, then add the chicken and stir-fry for a couple of minutes.

Chicken and chilies frying in a pan

Step 5: When the chicken starts to turn opaque, add the sherry and cook for 2-3 more minutes.

Step 6: Add the sauce and bring the mixture to a boil.

Sauce being added to the pan with chicken and chilies

Step 7: Reduce the heat to medium and continue to simmer for another minute or two until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

Step 8: Turn off the heat, discard the red chiles, and stir in the scallions to serve.

Finished Low-Carb General Tso's Chicken in a pan

You can choose to leave the red chiles if you want a pop of color on your plate, just be sure not to eat them!

Nutrition

Did you know that General Tso’s chicken in a typical Chinese restaurant has about 850 calories, 40g fat, and 60g carbs?!

This recipe, on the other hand, has about 315 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 18 grams of carbs per serving. How much better is that?

The whole recipe is for 2 servings, so even if you ate the whole thing, you’d still be better off than ordering from a restaurant!

I do recommend using low-sodium tamari or soy sauce to minimize the sodium in this dish. I prefer tamari to traditional soy sauce because it seems less salty to me and it contains no wheat.

If you’re really trying to lower your sodium, you could also reduce or omit the salt used to season the chicken at the beginning.

Piece of chicken held in chopsticks above the plate

What to eat with your chicken

Looking for some tasty sides to serve with your General Tso’s chicken?

You can never go wrong adding steamed veggies to your plate. I love eating this dish with a side of broccoli or edamame!

The broccoli is also great for sopping up any leftover sauce.

Storage

This tasty chicken dish is best served right away. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

If you know you won’t eat both servings, I would recommend leaving the scallions off the portion you plan to save.

Scallions are much better fresh, so if you can, don’t add them until right before you serve this dish!

Plate of Low-Carb General Tso's Chicken seen from above

Other healthy chicken recipes

Chicken breast is such a great protein. Not only is it super lean and healthy, but there are also so many ways to cook it!

If you’re looking for a few more chicken breast recipes, here are some of my favorites:

For more healthy chicken recipes, you can take a look at this roundup of easy low-carb chicken recipes.

When you’ve tried this dish, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!

Low-Carb General Tso’s Chicken

5 from 4 votes
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Satisfy your takeout cravings without the unnecessary carbs! You'll love the sweet flavors and crispy texture of this low-carb General Tso's chicken.
Author: Diabetic Foodie
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients 

SAUCE

CHICKEN

  • 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into ½-inch cubes
  • Kosher salt
  • Ground white pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil
  • 1 clove garlic, (minced)
  • 4 dried red chiles
  • 1 tablespoon dry sherry
  • 4 scallions, (chopped)

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the sauce. Mix well and set aside.
    2 tablespoons low-sodium tamari, 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon ketchup, 1 tablespoon Thai chili sauce, 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
  • Place the cubed chicken in a medium bowl and season with salt and white pepper. Add the cornstarch, mix well, then set aside.
    2 skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into ½-inch cubes, Kosher salt, Ground white pepper, 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • Heat a wok or large pan over high heat. Once hot, add the peanut oil.
    1 tablespoon peanut oil
  • Add the garlic and red chiles, stirring for a few seconds, then add the chicken and stir-fry for a couple of minutes.
    1 clove garlic, 4 dried red chiles
  • When the chicken starts to turn opaque, add the sherry and cook for 2-3 more minutes.
    1 tablespoon dry sherry
  • Add the sauce and bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and continue to simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened, another minute or two.
  • Turn off the heat, discard the red chiles, and stir in the scallions to serve.
    4 scallions

Notes

This recipe is for 2 servings of General Tso’s chicken.
Do not eat the red chiles. 
Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Nutrition Info Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Low-Carb General Tso's Chicken
Amount per Serving
Calories
313
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
8.2
g
13
%
Saturated Fat
 
1.2
g
6
%
Trans Fat
 
0
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2.2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
3.1
g
Cholesterol
 
86.7
mg
29
%
Sodium
 
990.2
mg
41
%
Potassium
 
463.8
mg
13
%
Carbohydrates
 
18.3
g
6
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
10.4
g
12
%
Protein
 
33.6
g
67
%
Vitamin A
 
0
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
0
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
0
mg
0
%
Iron
 
0
mg
0
%
Net carbs
 
17.3
g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.