General Tso’s chicken is a beloved Chinese-American dish featuring crispy chicken pieces bathed in a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy sauce. While the chicken is certainly the star, vegetables can add flavor, texture, nutrients, and visual appeal to this classic takeout favorite.
I’ve experimented with many veggie pairings over the years and discovered 12 winners that perfectly complement General Tso’s chicken. Keep reading to learn which vegetables go best with this iconic dish!
Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the most popular and versatile vegetables for pairing with General Tso’s chicken. The tree-shaped florets soak up the sauce beautifully, adding flavor and color contrast to the dish. Broccoli also provides vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber
For the best texture, add broccoli florets to the wok or pan during the last few minutes of cooking so they soften but retain a bit of crispness. Small broccoli florets or broccolini work well too.
Snow Peas
Snow peas offer a sweet, crisp texture that balances the saucy chicken perfectly Their bright green color also livens up the look of the dish Add snow peas to the wok a couple minutes before serving so they heat through but stay crunchy.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers add a pop of color, flavor, and crunch to General Tso’s chicken. Red, yellow, orange, and green peppers provide visual appeal. For maximum crunch, stir-fry peppers briefly. For softer peppers, cook a bit longer.
Yellow peppers offer the mildest flavor that works well if other veggies would make the dish too pepper-heavy.
Bok Choy
Both baby bok choy and regular bok choy pair deliciously with General Tso’s chicken. The leaves gently soak up the sauce while the crunchy stems add texture. Bok choy provides vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, and fiber.
Baby bok choy offers a sweeter, more tender option if regular bok choy is too fibrous. Add bok choy to the wok a few minutes before serving to heat through and absorb the sauce.
Zucchini
Zucchini is a mild, versatile veggie that soaks up sauce nicely. It doesn’t add much flavor but provides moisture and nutrients like vitamin C, manganese, and magnesium. Zucchini also cooks quickly, so add it right at the end to warm through and soften slightly while retaining shape and texture.
Carrots
Carrots perfectly complement General Tso’s chicken with their crunchy texture, pop of color, and natural sweetness. They also add immune-boosting vitamin A. Grate or slice carrots thinly and stir-fry briefly to retain crunch. Or, add earlier in cooking for softer carrots.
Water Chestnuts
Canned water chestnuts add fun, crunchy texture and minimal flavor to General Tso’s chicken. They hold their shape during cooking and provide an enjoyable contrasting “bite” when mixed with tender chicken and vegetables. Drain and rinse canned water chestnuts before stir-frying.
Baby Corn
Baby corn brings sweetness, crunch, and visual appeal to General Tso’s chicken. The petite cobs soak up sauce nicely. Canned baby corn works well for convenience. Drain and rinse before stir-frying. Or, boil frozen baby corn for 2-3 minutes to thaw before adding to the wok.
Cabbage
Napa, green, or red cabbage pair perfectly with General Tso’s chicken. Cabbage soaks up sauce and provides filling fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and sulfur compounds. For tender cabbage, stir-fry briefly. For softened cabbage, cook a bit longer.
Asparagus
Asparagus is an unexpected but tasty complement to General Tso’s chicken. The vegetable’s delicate flavor highlights the sauce, while its texture provides contrast. Snap off the woody ends before cooking. Stir-fry briefly to retain crunch.
Green Beans
Long, slender green beans stir-fry nicely with General Tso’s chicken and visually balance chunks of chicken and other veggies. Their crisp-tender texture and subtle flavor work well. Add them toward the end of cooking for the best texture.
Mushrooms
Meaty mushrooms like shiitakes, white buttons, and cremini add hearty texture, savory flavor, and immunity-boosting compounds. Sauté mushrooms early on so they brown and soften. Or, cook briefly to retain some bite.
Mix and Match Veggies
The options for vegetables to accompany General Tso’s chicken are nearly endless. I recommend selecting 3-4 veggies to avoid overcrowding the dish. Aim for contrasting flavors, textures, and colors for maximum appeal.
Some excellent combinations include:
- Broccoli, carrots, water chestnuts
- Snow peas, baby corn, red bell pepper
- Bok choy, asparagus, shiitake mushrooms
- Zucchini, green beans, baby carrots
While vegetables take a supporting role to the chicken, they can transform an ordinary takeout dish into a restaurant-quality meal bursting with fresh flavors, colors, and nutrients. Next time you whip up General Tso’s chicken, try one of these tasty veggie pairings to bring your dish to the next level. Your taste buds and health will thank you!
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How to Store General Tso’s Chicken
This meal lasts for up to four days in the fridge. You can also save any extra sauce in the fridge for up to 6 days. It’s also ok to freeze leftover rice if needed, but if you freeze the chicken the texture may suffer a bit.
You can reheat this General Tso’s chicken in the microwave (at your preferred power level and duration), or on the stovetop over medium-low heat. It’s useful to add a little bit of water or sauce when you reheat this recipe. The rice especially can get dehydrated easily and things then tend to stick together (or stick to the pan).
How to add more volume or double this recipe
To double this recipe, simply double the ingredients.
To add more volume, start with the veggies. My go-to would be to add broccoli or snap peas. Or you can just add 1 to 2 extra cups of veggies in the recipe as it’s written. Then, consider increasing the rice or grain portion. Increasing the veg/rice portions to add more volume is easier and more cost-effective than increasing the protein, but that’s always an option, too. You can play with these ratios, too, to suit your needs.
It’s also perfectly reasonable to serve a steamed or sauteed veggie on the side with this dish if you want something that works well with the flavors of General Tso’s, but want a bit of a break from the heat. We like steamed sugar snap peas, sauteed broccoli with a little drizzle of sesame oil, or even just a bit of soy sauce. Carrots would be a sweet counterpoint, too. Here’s where having a bag of frozen mixed veggies comes in handy!
How to Make Takeout Icon General Tso’s Chicken
FAQ
What sides go with General Tso’s chicken?
General Tso’s chicken is crispy, twice-fried breaded chicken pieces in a deliciously sweet and sticky glaze. This mouthwatering dish delivers a combination of Asian flavors that will knock your chopsticks off! Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice and garnish with sliced green onions.
Does General Tso’s chicken have vegetables?
Yes, General Tso’s chicken typically includes vegetables, most commonly broccoli. Other vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, and onions can also be added according to some recipe sites.
What kind of vegetables go with Chinese food?
Vegetables – Use your favorite fresh vegetables cut into bite-sized pieces. I like broccoli florets, baby bok choy, carrots, water chestnuts and onions. Other options include green onions, snow peas, green beans, and red bell pepper.
What vegetables pair well with chicken?
Here are some great side dishes that pair well with chicken breasts: Roasted Vegetables: A mix of seasonal vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, and broccoli, tossed in olive oil and herbs, then roasted until tender. Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes with roasted garlic for added flavor.
What goes well with General Tso’s chicken?
But, like in much of Chinese food, it’s the sauce that makes each dish unique. Typically, General Tso’s Chicken is served with a bed of steamed rice and a side of steamed broccoli.
What to eat at General Tso’s?
Typically, General Tso’s Chicken is served with a bed of steamed rice and a side of steamed broccoli. If you want to make a full spread of takeout favorites, try your hand at making some chow mein too. Don’t forget the chopsticks!
What is General Tso’s chicken?
General Tso’s Chicken is saucy, juicy and crispy. The signature sauce is thick and loaded with flavor. If you are a die-hard orange chicken fan, you must try this dish! Make it all in one dish in the comfort of your home for a sweet and spicy treat! This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
How do you make General Tso chicken crispy?
To get crispy General Tso chicken, coat the chicken pieces in cornstarch or flour and fry them at the right temperature (350-375°F). This ensures they stay crunchy when you add the sauce, making the dish more delicious. 4. Balance Sweetness and Saltiness The key to a great General Tso sauce is the perfect balance between sweet and salty.
What does General Tso sauce taste like?
It is renowned for its unique blend of spicy, sour, and slightly sweet flavors. This is General Tso’s sauce. It has just the right amount of soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sugar to make a flavor that goes well with fried chicken or veggies. Making this sauce at home with pantry items is simple.
How do you make a good General Tso sauce?
The key to a great General Tso sauce is the perfect balance between sweet and salty. If your sauce turns out too salty, add a little extra sugar or honey to balance it out. If it’s too sweet, add a splash of rice vinegar or soy sauce. 5. Use the Right Soy Sauce Choose a good-quality soy sauce for the best flavor.