General Tso Shrimp

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This healthy, homemade version of General Tso Shrimp stir fry is super simple to make and SO, SO delicious. Say goodbye to takeout and hello to fake-out!

I love ordering General Tso shrimp at a Chinese restaurant, but truth be told, I consider myself a healthy takeout ninja. It’s fun for me to recreate old favorites at home using natural ingredients, and it often costs less, too.

You know what? I’m good at it! Just check out my healthy salmon stir fry, this zesty orange sesame chicken, and this comforting beef and broccoli.

They’re all so good! In fact, they’re some of the most popular recipes on my site. They always get rave reviews, and this recipe is no exception. So if you’re looking for a new and exciting dinner, I’ve got you covered with a fun take on the classic takeout recipe!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You’re going to love this easy takeout recipe!

• Made with good-for-you ingredients, this General Tso Shrimp recipe is just as good as your favorite takeout dish.
• You can have a great fake-out dinner on the table fast: The entire recipe comes together in about 30 minutes.
• Making restaurant recipes is cost-effective.

This recipe is great for weeknight dinners, date nights or even a fun dinner party. Takeout and a movie is something we love to do at home, and this is a great one if you don’t want to splurge on takeout.

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make a clean, real-food version of General Tso’s Shrimp! It might seem like a long list of ingredients, but they’re all super easy to find at your local grocery store.

Main Dish

Here’s what you’ll need to make the shrimp itself:

• Peeled and Deveined Shrimp: I prefer to buy large, peeled & deveined shrimp with tails off, only because I don’t want to touch them to pull tails off once they’re saucy. If you prefer tails on shrimp, that doesn’t change how the dish is cooked at all! Follow the directions exactly, then just remove the tails as you eat. You can use frozen shrimp or fresh shrimp, but if you use frozen, don’t thaw them — just cook from frozen!
• Arrowroot Powder: Arrowroot is the key to getting crispy shrimp without overcooking them. You can substitute corn starch if that works for your way of eating.
• Snow Peas: They’re quickly sautéed, so they add a great snap and crunch to the dish. Trust me, don’t skip the snow peas!
• Green Onion, Sesame Seeds, and Crushed Red Pepper: For extra flavor & garnish!
• Rice: If you’re sensitive or allergic to gluten, always be sure to check that your rice is certified gluten free.

Homemade General Tso Sauce

And to make that yummy sauce, you will need:

• Sesame Oil
• Chicken or Vegetable Broth
• Coconut Aminos: This is a soy-free substitute for soy sauce.
• Rice Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar
• Honey
• Ginger and Garlic
• Sesame Seeds
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
• Arrowroot Powder: It works as a thickener in the sauce!

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Substitutions and Variations

If you want to mix things up, try these substitutions:

Snow peas: If you prefer another veggie, go for it! Serve them with frozen stir fry veggies or crispy air fryer broccoli florets.

General Tso Chicken: Want to make it without shrimp? I got you! Here’s what to do:

1. Cut your chicken breasts or thighs into 1-inch cubes.
2. Follow the same directions above, except brown the chicken in the skillet on all sides for 1-2 minutes per side. Set it aside to make the sauce.
3. When you return the chicken to the pan to cook with the sauce, cook it for 6-7 more minutes, until each piece is thoroughly cooked through.
4. Remove one piece of chicken and cut it in half to check if it’s been cooked through.

How to Make General Tso Shrimp

I’m going to walk you through the simple step by step instructions to make this stir fry recipe! Ready? Let’s do it.

Step 1: Cook the Rice

If you’ll be serving this dish with rice and you want to get the timing of the entire meal perfectly, start by cooking the rice. I usually cook enough for 4 servings.

As the rice simmers and cooks, you’ll have plenty of time to make the rest of the dish, homemade General Tso’s sauce included!

Step 2: Prepare the Shrimp

Toss the shrimp with arrowroot powder until they’re coated evenly. This will help give them a little crispy coating that holds up really nicely in the sauce.

Next, cook the shrimp in a skillet in batches for about 1 minute per side. They’ll be ready to turn when they start to turn pink. Set them aside on a plate so you can cook the sauce in the same pan.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

You can use the same skillet, but you’ll want to rinse or wipe the pan out first. Heat the sesame oil and add the minced ginger, garlic, and sesame seeds.

Stir occasionally until fragrant, then stir in the other sauce ingredients. Lastly, whisk in the arrowroot powder. Bring to a simmer and allow it to thicken slightly, stirring occasionally.

Step 4: Finish the Shrimp

Add the shrimp back in to the thickened General Tao’s sauce and toss to coat. Allow the shrimp to finish cooking in the sauce for about 1-2 minutes. Shrimp cook very quickly, and overcooking will make them rubbery. Two minutes is plenty of time. Transfer to a large bowl.

Step 5: Cook the Snow Peas

Last, heat about 2 tablespoons of sesame or olive oil in a small, separate skillet. Add the snow peas and a pinch of salt, and sauté for about 3-4 minutes. Once they’ve turned bright green in color, sprinkle with sesame seeds and remove them from the pan.

Avoid overcooking snap peas. You want them to still have a good snap to them!

Step 6: Garnish & Serve

Sprinkle the General Tso Shrimp with more sesame seeds, crushed spicy red pepper flakes, and sliced green onions, and serve over rice and sautéed snow peas.

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How to Store It

To store leftovers, transfer them to airtight containers. I recommend using one container for the shrimp, sauce and snow peas, and then another one for the rice. Store in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2-3 days.

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