Orange Chicken vs General Tso’s

The Great Debate: Orange Chicken vs General Tso’s

Orange chicken and General Tso’s chicken might seem like the same dish, but there are some major differences between the two. If you’re looking for the best orange chicken recipe, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ll break down the differences between orange chicken and General Tso’s chicken and help you decide which one you should make.

What is orange chicken?

Orange chicken is a deep-fried dish made from chicken, orange flavoring, cornstarch, and water. It’s often eaten with broccoli, string beans, and scallions.

This dish is often confused with General Tso’s chicken, a slightly spicy Chinese chicken dish. However, they are two different dishes, with orange chicken being a much simpler version.

What is General Tso’s chicken?

General Tso’s chicken is a spicy Chinese chicken dish made with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. It’s often eaten as an appetizer or snack, or as part of a larger meal.

The origins of this dish lie in the Mid-western United States. Sichuan food was brought to the U.S. by Chinese immigrants, and they brought their favorite dishes with them. Among these were General Tso’s chicken, Twice-fried pork with garlic, and stir-fried cabbage with chicken.

Differences between orange chicken and General Tso’s chicken

While orange chicken and General Tso’s chicken may both be chicken dishes, there are a few differences between them. Let’s take a look at these:

  • Orange chicken is a type of fried chicken. Fried chicken is popular all over the world, but it originated in the American South.
  • General Tso’s chicken is spicier than orange chicken, with a greater amount of red pepper flakes.
  • Orange chicken is usually eaten as an appetizer, snack, or as part of a larger meal.
  • General Tso’s chicken is usually eaten as a snack or as part of a larger meal.
  • Orange chicken is usually served with broccoli, carrots, or snow peas.
  • General Tso’s chicken is usually served with fried rice or white rice.

Which one should you make?

Both dishes are popular in the United States, and many Americans think of both when they hear the word “chicken.” However, when you make a true General Tso’s chicken, the recipe is slightly different than orange chicken.

If you want to get technical, orange chicken actually has a stronger orange flavor than General Tso’s chicken, but both are delicious. What to make? You decide!

Conclusion

While both orange chicken and General Tso’s chicken are fried and can be eaten as a snack or appetizer, there are some differences between the two. If you’re looking for the best orange chicken recipe, we’ve got you covered.