Keto General Tso Chicken
Crispy pan-fried chicken tossed in a sweet-spicy sticky sauce, with just 5.2g net carbs per serving. This keto General Tso ditches the cornstarch and sugar but keeps every bit of takeout flavor. Ready in 35 minutes.
Head of Nutrition · June 18, 2026
Nutrition per serving
Per serving · makes 4. Values are estimates; brands vary.
This keto General Tso chicken delivers all the crispy, sweet-spicy magic of your favorite takeout order without the breading, sugar, or carb crash. Almond flour and allulose do the heavy lifting, so you get that glossy sticky sauce and golden crunch at just 5.2g net carbs per serving.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/3 cup blanched almond flour
- 2 tbsp coconut flour
- 3 tbsp avocado oil, for frying
- 3 tbsp coconut aminos
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp powdered allulose
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 4 small dried red chilies (or 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes)
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
- 2 green onions, sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Pat the chicken pieces dry and season lightly with salt. Dip each piece in the beaten egg, then toss in a bowl combining the almond flour and coconut flour until evenly coated.
- 2
Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in batches, 3-4 minutes per side, until golden and crisp. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside.
- 3
Lower the heat to medium. In the same skillet, add the garlic, ginger, and dried chilies; saute for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- 4
Whisk together the coconut aminos, rice vinegar, allulose, tomato paste, and 1/4 cup water. Pour into the skillet and bring to a simmer.
- 5
Sprinkle in the xanthan gum while whisking constantly; simmer 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and turns glossy.
- 6
Return the crispy chicken to the skillet and toss to coat every piece in the sauce. Cook 1 minute more to warm through.
- 7
Garnish with sliced green onions and serve immediately over cauliflower rice.
Tips & notes
- Allulose is key here — it browns and turns sticky like real sugar without spiking blood glucose. Erythritol works but can crystallize and cool too firm, so use powdered if you sub it.
- Add the xanthan gum slowly and keep whisking; dumping it in at once will create gummy clumps. A little goes a long way for that classic glossy takeout coating.
- For extra-crispy chicken, double-fry the pieces: rest them after the first fry, then return to hot oil for 1 minute before saucing.
Log this recipe in one tap
Save keto general tso chicken to CarbMeNot and track its 5.2g net carbs against your daily budget automatically.
Frequently asked questions
- How many carbs are in keto general tso chicken?
- Each serving has 5.2g net carbs (6.5g total carbs minus 1.3g fiber), 412 calories, 38g protein, and 25g fat. This recipe makes 4 servings.
- What can I use instead of cornstarch to thicken the sauce?
- Xanthan gum is the keto go-to. Just 1/4 teaspoon thickens the entire sauce to a glossy, clingy consistency. Whisk it in gradually to avoid clumping, since it's far more potent than cornstarch.
- What should I serve with keto General Tso chicken?
- Cauliflower rice is the classic low-carb pairing and soaks up the sauce beautifully. Steamed broccoli, sauteed bok choy, or shirataki noodles also keep the meal under your carb target.
