Enjoy our finger licking Crispy Baked General Tso's Chicken Wings Recipe – savory, tangy and sweet with just the right amount of heat. Perfect for game day or a Chinese American feast, these wings boast a delectable 5-spiced tangy gluten-free sauce that's downright irresistible. Get ready for a saucy adventure that's taking over the appetizer stage!
What sets these wings apart? They're baked instead of fried, completely gluten-free, and there's no flour coating – a flavorful treat without compromise. The secret to ultra-crispy skin? The high oven temperatures to render down the fat. Don’t believe us? Check out the reviews in our super easy baked wings recipe.
Grab extra napkins because once you experience the magic of this sauce, you'll want to slather it on everything. Try our General Tso’s sauce on grilled shrimp or as a dipping sauce for spring rolls. Versatility meets deliciousness.
Ready to elevate your wing game? Let's dive into the recipe!
Baked Wings Ingredients
Chicken Wings – Use the drumette and flat or wingette portion like we did with out honey hot wings. If using full wings, cut into segments, and set aside the tips for another use (great in ABC Soup). Use fresh or completely defrosted and dry wings. Safely defrost frozen wings in the refrigerator for optimal results.
Oil – to prevent sticking and enhance the browning and crispy texture.
Chinese 5 Spice Powder – gives this General Tso’s chicken recipe and our grilled pork loin recipe it’s unique flavor profile without the use of hoisin sauce. The ingredients of 5 spiced powder are ground Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and fennel seeds. Naturally gluten free, but if you are celiac, you must be certain you purchase a certified gluten free option or make your own blend.
General Tso’s Sauce Ingredients
Soy Sauce – To keep the sauce gluten free, you can use coconut aminos, tamari or gluten free soy sauce. If there are no gluten issues, use regular soy sauce.
Honey – or use a sugar alternative of choice for a sweet, sticky, hot honey flavor.
Rice vinegar – provides a tangy flavor. Substitute with apple cider vinegar or Chinese black vinegar.
Garlic Chili Sauce – or Sriracha sauce for a kick of heat. In the absence of both, add crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Chicken broth – we used a gluten free, low sodium broth.
Sesame oil – for a delicious nutty flavor.
Chinese 5 Spiced Powder – add to the unique flavor profile.
Garlic and ginger – fresh are best, but dried ground spices can also be used.
Cornstarch – Clabber Girl brand is gluten free, or exchange with potato starch.
Mastering Extra Crispy General Tso’s Wings
Bake the Chicken Wings
- Dry wings meticulously for ultimate crispiness.
- Toss with flavorful seasonings.
- Bake at 450°F (232°C) for a total of 45–50 minutes until crispy.
Make the Asian Sauce
- Sauté ginger and garlic in oil until aromatic.
- Combine chili garlic sauce, chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil and cornstarch slurry.
- Stir until the sauce reaches a delightful thickness.
Getting the Wings Ready to Serve
- Toss the baked chicken wings generously into the flavorful sauce.
- Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds for the perfect finishing touch.
Recipe Tips
- Dry your wings thoroughly. If wings are frozen, thaw them out in the refrigerator overnight first.
- Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease your baking sheet for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Make sure your oven rack is in the middle shelf!
- Don’t fear the Heat! The oven temperature is indeed 450°F (232°C)! The higher temperature renders off the fat, ensuring crispy wings.
- Go light or heavy on General Tso’s sauce. The decision is yours.
- Serve appetizer wings on a parchment paper lined dish for easy cleanup!
What to Serve with Wings
Appetizer:
- Enjoy with a cold brew of your choice.
- Have plenty of napkins ready for a delightful, hands-on experience.
- Ideal for tailgating parties or cocktail gatherings, pair these wings with other appetizers like air fryer jalapeno poppers or fresh-cut veggies with red pepper hummus.
Main Dish:
- Add a side of fried rice for a satisfying meal.
- Warm up with a starter of wonton soup.
Variations
Vegan Twist:
Explore General Tso’s sauce with grilled or air-fried tofu or pan-fried tempeh for a delightful vegan option.
Carb-Friendly Adjustment:
Opting for a carb-friendly version? Substitute honey with a sugar alternative and reduce the amount of cornstarch slurry to achieve desired thickness.
How to Store & Reheat
Storing Leftovers:
- Let the wings cool to room temperature.
- Place them in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Alternatively, freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating Options:
- Bake at 350°F (176°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Air fry at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes until warm.
- While the quickest, microwaving for 30 seconds to a minute may compromise the crispy factor.
Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Yes, Healthy World Cuisine’s recipe for Baked General Tso’s Chicken Wings is gluten-free. We use gluten-free alternatives for soy sauce, omit flour, and replace hoisin sauce with 5-spice powder. Ensure gluten-free cornstarch or substitute with a potato starch slurry for thickening.
General Tso, real name Zuo Zongtang, was a Chinese military leader during the Qing dynasty. The dish's origin is credited to Chinese chef Peng Chang-Kuei in the 1950s who worked as buffet cater to the Chinese nationalists.
Initially inspired by Hunanese flavors of sour, hot, and savory, it evolved to suit American tastes, adding a touch of sweetness. Unlike Americanized versions, authentic Chinese cuisine does not feature sweetened recipes like this one unless in an American Chinese restaurant.
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Asian Fusion Recipes
Game Day Grub
Baked General Tso's Chicken Wings
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and oiled for easy cleanup.
Ingredients
Baked Chicken Wings
- 3 pounds chicken wings Use the drumette and flat or wingette portion. If using full wings, cut into segments, and set aside the tips. Dried well!
- 1 tablespoon oil plus extra to grease the baking sheet
- 2 teaspoons Chinese 5 spice powder
- salt and white pepper to taste
Gluten Free General Tso's Sauce
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 3 cloves garlic fresh peeled and minced
- 1 knob ginger fresh- peeled and grated
- 1 tablespoon Asian Chili Garlic Sauce or Sriracha Sauce
- ½ cup chicken broth gluten free and low sodium
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce coconut aminos or tamari for gluten free
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or Chinese black vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
or sweetener of choice - 1 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice powder
- 2.5 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water to make a cornstarch slurry
Garnish (optional)
- 2 green onions
chopped for garnish - optional - toasted white sesame seeds
Instructions
Bake the Chicken Wings
- Pre-heat oven to 450°F (232°C). Make sure the baking rack is in the middle position in the oven.
- If using full wings, cut into segments, and set aside the tips for another use. Dry your wings thoroughly (This step is SUPER important to ensure extra crispy wings). If wings are frozen, thaw them out in the refrigerator overnight first.
- Place chicken wings in a large bowl and add oil, Chinese 5 spiced powder and salt and white pepper to taste and toss well. Place seasoned chicken wings skin side up on a lined and greased baking sheet - leaving space in between and in a single layer.
- Bake wings uncovered with the skin side up for 20 to 25 minutes and then turn over and continue baking for another 20 to 25 minutes for a total of 45–50 minutes until crispy and the internal temperature is 165° F (74° C).
Make the Gluten Free General Tso's Sauce
- Sauté ginger and garlic in oil until aromatic.
- Over medium heat, heat the chili garlic sauce, chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil in with the ginger and garlic and stir well. Make a cornstarch slurry by adding water to the cornstarch and stir well. Bring the sauce up to a light boil and drizzle in the cornstarch slurry while stirring to thicken.
Getting the Wings Ready to Serve
- Toss the baked chicken wings generously into the General Tso's sauce.
- Garnish with green onions and toasted sesame seeds for the perfect finishing touch. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Dry your wings thoroughly. If wings are frozen, thaw them out in the refrigerator overnight first.
- Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease your baking sheet for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Make sure your oven rack is in the middle shelf!
- Don’t fear the Heat! The oven temperature is indeed 450°F (232°C)! The higher temperature renders off the fat, ensuring crispy wings.
- Go light or heavy on General Tso’s sauce. The decision is yours.
- Serve appetizer wings on a parchment paper lined dish for easy cleanup!
- Let the wings cool to room temperature.
- Place them in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Alternatively, freeze for up to 2 months.
- Bake at 350°F (176°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Air fry at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes until warm.
- While the quickest, microwaving for 30 seconds to a minute may compromise the crispy factor.
Liz says
Perfect for the Super Bowl! Since it will be just our family watching, eating wings plus some other munchies will be ideal game fare!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Liz! We are gearing up for the big game too but bringing our General Tso's chicken wings as a dish to pass at a gathering. Going to need to make a lot for the hungry crew!
Michelle says
These General Tso wings look so crisp, delicious and fantastically sticky! Yum, this is the definition of finger-licking good!! 🙂
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Michelle. We must admit these General Tso chicken wings are quite addictive. Must make another batch soon - especially for the big game ahead. Take care
Eha Carr says
Altho" I love gnawing at bones have always kept away from chicken wings because of their relative fat content. Living in Australia General Tso's chicken is also very much regarded as American- Chinese . . . my current experience is non-existent :)! You bake yours . . . methinks on this occasion I shall come and say 'hello' !!!
HWC Magazine says
Yum, us too! There is nothing like the extra flavor from the chicken with the bones. I can easily polish off that whole plate on General Tso's chicken wings all on our own. (smiling) Stay well and take care
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
I am not a wing person but I may be after this amazing recipe. Looks so good, along with the newsletter that delivered it. That is fabulous Bobbi. Hope you are doing well!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Abbe! Delighted you enjoyed our General Tso chicken recipe and our emails. Been thinking about you and hope you are doing okay. Please take care
Hannah says
Oh those look so delightfully sticky, rich, sweet, and spicy! The sauce is everything; I could put that on any protein or vegetable to make a fantastic meal.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Hannah! Seriously we go do shots of General Tso's Sauce - such a fun and dynamic flavor profile. Delicious on air fried tofu and pan seared tempeh too!
Raymund | angsarap.net says
Wow, this General Tso's chicken wings recipe is like a symphony for the senses! Savory, tangy, sweet, and with just the right amount of heat – it's got all the notes to make my taste buds do a happy dance. Yum!!!!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Raymund. We must admit, its really hard to stop at just one General Tso's wing...(smiling)
Becky says
Although we don't have this in China, It is a favorite in Taiwan & popular in USA.
David Crichton says
This is so perfect, I bet the Chinese are wondering how you managed it. Beautiful.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you David. Many Chinese dishes all have a main theme to follow for prep such as the marinating of the meat, quick stir fry to keep the veggies crisp and then the sauces. Once you have all the main ingredients in your pantry it is so easy to whip up. Take care, BAM
Preena @ A Teaspoon of Turmeric says
Looks great! I want to make this vegetarian, do you think it will taste similar using tofu?
Healthy World Cuisine says
I think fried tofu, a veggie burger or even a black bean veggie burger would work really nice with this dish. I would just sprinkle or mix in a little cumin, garlic and maybe a little chili powder on the tofu before frying to give it some added flavor. Take care, BAM
lambyknits01 says
Yum! This looks amazing, and my husband loves General Tso Chicken 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you and if your hubby is anything like my teenagers you best quadruple the recipe if you would like a taste of it too. Take care, BAM
Sammie says
Mmm!! Bam! That looks great! I'm so impressed with the asian food you make! I can't wait till you open a restaurant in HK Bam! haha.. P.S. I might be visiting HK soon! yayyyy! So excitingggg
Healthy World Cuisine says
Sammy I would love to meet up with you! Please do give me a shout out if you have the time to meet up even for a quick cup of cha. Take Care, BAM
rsmacaalay says
I love making this one at home and usually make them hot and spicy. Yummy!
Healthy World Cuisine says
The boys love it extra spicy and love anything with peppers and heat.
Korena in the Kitchen says
OK, new rule: you serve yourself first! This looks so good though, I can understand why your boys ate it all!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Korena, I guess I need to apply these rules starting today. 1) no food leaves Bam's kitchen unless first photographed 2 ) no food leaves Healthy World Cuisine unless chef has eaten first! Rules to live by and for kids to follow... Take care, BAM
bitsandbreadcrumbs says
Serves 4 adults or 1 hungry teenager...I love it! Sounds like you need to wear skates in the kitchen, BAM, so that you can get to the table more quickly! What a great sounding dish...I used to love General Tso's chicken and havent' had it in a while. This is making me hungry!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Now I know what to ask Santa for x-mas" a pair of roller skates"! Thanks for that idea. Have a super weekend. BAM