Name: General Tso’s Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 10 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 4 lb whole chicken, insides removed; 1 lb broccoli, cut into florets; Salt and pepper; 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes; 1 tsp. vegetable oil; 3/4 cup chicken broth; 1 tbsp. tomato paste; 2 tbsp. soy sauce (you can use a GF version); 2 tbsp. rice wine vinegar; 1 tsp. sesame oil; 3 tbsp. granulated sugar; 1 tbsp. cornstarch; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tsp. freshly chopped ginger; Salt and pepper

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Looking for an easy midweek meal without the hassle? Try this general tso's whole chicken in the slow cooker! Keeps the heat at bay by using the slow cooker, but also utilizes a whole chicken! No more takeout for us 🙂

Okay, so I am going to be honest and say that I completed this general tso's whole chicken in the slow cooker way before my general tso's potatoes and chicken. In my defense I did not want to be posting two similar recipes at the same time, and my contract agreement comes first, so this recipe was pushed aside for months! But it is here now and I am so excited to share it with you!

General Tso's Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker on white plate and wooden pad, vegetable on blue table and on white plates

Firstly, I love working with whole chickens. They are so cheap, and you get a bit of everything. That means the dark meat lover gets a slice, while the white meat lover gets their share. It is a win for everyone! Cannot eat all the meat in one sitting? Whole chickens are great for producing leftover meat that can be used on sandwiches and salads. All the meat has been eaten and you are left with the carcass? Turn the bones into broth! Bam! So much you can do with whole chickens 🙂

General Tso's Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker on wooden pad next to plate with vegetables, chicken being sliced with vegetables on plate

Today's recipe is made entirely in the slow cooker. It can also be made in the oven, but let's face it, I love whole chickens in the slow cooker (as seen with whole chicken and rice in the slow cooker, curry whole chicken in the slow cooker, and chipotle and lime chicken in the slow cooker!) I always broil my chicken after it is finished in the slow cooker for a nice, crispy skin. You can also sear/broil the chicken before placing it into the slow cooker if you want, but I find it is easier to come home after a long day of work and just pop it under the broiler. Otherwise you are cooking before work and that does not sound like fun.

General Tso's Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker on white plate with vegetable on plate and on blue table

So this general tso's whole chicken in the slow cooker was super easy to make, and took no extra effort. You can use store-bought sauce, or homemade sauce like I did. The addition of broccoli was a last minute thought and I am so happy I pulled it off! You don't want to put the broccoli in too early because then it will get soft. Try adding it within the last 30 minutes-1 hour. You will get a perfect tender-crisp texture this way. If you forget, don't worry! You can always cook the broccoli in the remaining sauce while the chicken rests on the counter 🙂

📖 Recipe

General Tso’s Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes

This is a recipe that can be made with homemade or store-bought sauce!

Ingredients

4 lb whole chicken, insides removed
1 lb broccoli, cut into florets
Salt and pepper
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Sauce

1 tsp. vegetable oil
¾ cup chicken broth
1 tbsp. tomato paste
2 tbsp. soy sauce (you can use a GF version)
2 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
1 tsp. sesame oil
3 tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tbsp. cornstarch
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. freshly chopped ginger
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Sauce

Add vegetable oil to a small saucepan over medium heat. When hot, stir in garlic and ginger. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add ½ cup broth, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if desired. Bring to a boil and simmer for a couple of minutes. Mix cornstarch with remaining broth and add to sauce. Simmer 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.

Chicken

Add chicken to 6-quart slow cooker. Season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour sauce over top of the chicken. Cover and cook for on low heat for 6-8 hours, or on high heat for 3-4 hours. In the last 30 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli.
Slice and serve over broccoli and/or rice!

Notes

I broil my chicken in the oven for a few minutes until a nice, golden brown skin is achieved!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1205Total Fat: 65gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 40gCholesterol: 400mgSodium: 1182mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 4gSugar: 12gProtein: 128g

Sweet, simple, and to the point! I cooked the sauce first, and then poured it over the chicken. If you are using store-bought sauce, you won't have to worry about this. If you want to cook your meal all day while you are at work, you may want to prep the sauce the night before so you can just pour it over the chicken in the morning.