Easy General Tso's Tofu (air fryer or oven!)

This sticky-sweet General Tso's tofu doesn't use any refined sugar. Crispy tofu and tender broccoli tossed in flavorful General Tso's sauce is an easy, delicious meal. Make the tofu in the air fryer or in the oven!

Table of Contents

• 💖 Reader feedback
• 🌶️ Lightened-up General Tso's sauce
• ✓ Ingredients and substitutions
• 🥣 How to make General Tso's tofu
• 💡 Helpful tips
• 🫙 Storage directions
• 🍴 More Asian-inspired tofu dishes
• 📖 Recipe

In this modified version of General Tso's tofu, I'm using maple syrup and orange juice to add sweetness and flavor to the sauce instead of refined sugar. The result is still sticky and delicious!

My main problem with restaurant versions of General Tso's tofu is that they tend to skimp on the broccoli. Don't get me wrong. I love tofu! But I also want more than a handful of florets in my meal.

That's why I'm changing the tofu-to-broccoli ratio from what I see in restaurants. This dish is about half tofu and half broccoli. Feel free to change the ratio to your preference!

General Tso's tofu is a vegan version of General Tso's chicken, a dish named for an actual Hunanese general. The dish was created by chef Peng Chang-kuei after he fled Hunan in 1949 for Taiwan.

The General Tso's chicken/tofu that you find here in the U.S. has different flavors and textures from the original dish. My version is based on takeout dishes here in the States.

If you love tofu in a sweet-and-spicy sauce, also try my vegan honey garlic tofu. It's a sheet pan dinner that bakes up on 1 pan alongside tender broccoli!

🌶️ Lightened-up General Tso's sauce

Any time you're making a "sticky" sauce, there's going to be sugar involved.

In this recipe, I sweeten the sauce with orange juice and maple syrup instead of white sugar. The result is a sticky-sweet sauce that's refined-sugar free without sacrificing any of the deliciousness.

Making the sauce only takes about 15 to 20 minutes on the stovetop.

✓ Ingredients and substitutions

• tofu - This is your protein. Tearing into bites-sized pieces will yield a more chicken-like texture, since chicken isn't usually cut into perfect cubes.
• cornstarch - To make the tofu crispy and to thicken the General Tso's sauce.
• orange juice and maple syrup - To sweeten and flavor the sauce without refined sugar.
• chili garlic sauce - Adds umami and heat. Use more for a spicier General Tso's tofu. If you can't get your hands on chili garlic sauce, you can use sriracha instead.
• soy sauce - Adds moisture, saltiness, and umami.
• toasted sesame oil - Adds flavor to the sauce. Omit for oil-free.
• ground ginger - For flavor. You can use the equivalent amount of minced, fresh ginger, if you prefer.
• broccoli - This is the veggie you most often see with General Tso's tofu. You can sauté some bell peppers and onions instead, if you prefer. Steam the broccoli on the stovetop or microwave or roast it while the tofu cooks.
• rice - For serving. You can also serve this over noodles or in lettuce wraps.
• green onion - For garnish.

🥣 How to make General Tso's tofu

Make the tofu.

If you're baking the tofu, preheat the oven to 400° F.

In a large bowl, combine the tofu with a tablespoon of cornstarch, and toss to coat. Air fry at 400° F for 15 minutes, shaking after 8 minutes to prevent sticking. Or bake for 30 minutes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave the oven on, if baking.

Make the General Tso's sauce while the tofu cooks.

Combine all of the sauce ingredients except the cornstarch mixture in a small saucepan on medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 8 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the cornstarch mixture and continue to simmer, stirring, until the cornstarch completely dissolves and the sauce reduces and becomes syrupy.

Taste and adjust the salt and flavor. For more sweetness, add more maple syrup. For more heat, add more chili garlic or sriracha sauce. For tang, add rice vinegar or lemon juice. Set the sauce aside.

Transfer the tofu to a bowl, and toss it with ¼ cup of the General Tso's sauce. Air fry at 350° F for 5 minutes, shaking once to prevent sticking. To bake, transfer the tofu back to the same lined baking sheet, and bake for 10 more minutes. Now you can turn off the oven.

Serve the General Tso's tofu with the broccoli and rice, topped with extra sauce and green onions.

🫙 Storage directions

Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Store the tofu separately from the rice and broccoli. Reheat the tofu in the oven, air fryer, or on the stovetop. Reheat the broccoli and rice in the microwave.

📖 Recipe