Sheet Pan General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
This Sheet Pan General Tso’s Chicken recipe is a quick and easy one-pan meal featuring crispy breaded popcorn chicken and vibrant vegetables all baked together and tossed in a flavorful General Tso’s sauce. Perfect for a hassle-free weeknight dinner served with steamed white rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American-Chinese
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 small red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 6 medium button mushrooms, quartered
Chicken and Sauce
- 1/2 of a 24 ounce bag breaded popcorn chicken (about 17–20 pieces, Just Bare brand recommended)
- 1/2 cup bottled General Tso’s sauce
Seasonings and Garnishes
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 scallions, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Serving
- Cooked white rice, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Coat a rimmed 15×10 inch baking sheet with nonstick spray to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Prepare vegetables: Place the cut red bell pepper, broccoli florets, and quartered mushrooms on one side of the baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes. Toss gently to coat the vegetables evenly with oil and spices.
- Add chicken: Arrange about 20 pieces of breaded popcorn chicken in a single even layer on the other side of the baking sheet, ensuring they are not overlapping for proper crisping.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 23 to 25 minutes, or until the popcorn chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the vegetables are fork tender.
- Add sauce: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately drizzle the General Tso’s sauce over both the chicken and vegetables.
- Toss and garnish: Toss everything on the sheet pan gently to coat the chicken and vegetables evenly with the sauce. Sprinkle with diced scallions and toasted sesame seeds to add freshness and a nutty crunch.
- Serve: Serve the General Tso’s chicken and vegetables hot over a bed of cooked white rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the chicken for 1-2 minutes at the end of baking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- If you prefer homemade sauce, you can substitute bottled General Tso’s sauce with a mixture of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic, and ginger.
- Feel free to swap out vegetables based on preference or seasonality, such as snap peas or carrots.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure popcorn chicken is cooked safely to 165°F internally.
- To make it gluten-free, choose a gluten-free brand of breaded chicken and General Tso’s sauce.
Keywords: General Tso's Chicken, sheet pan dinner, easy chicken recipe, baked popcorn chicken, one-pan meal, Chinese-inspired chicken
