General Tso's Smashed Tacos (Crispy Fried) | CookOS

General Tso's Smashed Tacos

Name: General Tso's Smashed Tacos (Crispy Fried)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Ingredients: 3 mini flour tortillas; 1/4 lb ground chicken; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1 egg; 1/4 cup water; 2 tbsp vegetable oil, for frying; 1/2 cup General Tso's sauce; 3 dried red chiles; 1 tbsp cornstarch; 2 tbsp water; 1/2 cup broccoli florets, steamed; 1 tsp sesame seeds, for garnish

General Tso's Smashed Tacos are a crispy-fried Asian fusion dish where ground chicken is smashed onto mini tortillas, battered, fried until golden, then glazed with classic sweet and spicy General Tso's sauce and topped with broccoli.

🌍Asian Fusion 🏷️Smashed tacos 🏷️General tso's chicken 🏷️Tacos 🏷️Chinese-american Ground chicken

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Total

20 min

Servings

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$23–$38

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by kurveykravess

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Ingredients

3 mini flour tortillas
1/4 lb ground chicken
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp vegetable oil, for frying
1/2 cup General Tso's sauce
3 dried red chilesoptional
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water
1/2 cup broccoli florets, steamed
1 tsp sesame seeds, for garnishoptional

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Instructions

1
Spread a thin, even layer of ground chicken onto each mini flour tortilla.
2
In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, egg, and 1/4 cup of water to create a smooth batter.
3
Spread a layer of the batter over the ground chicken on each tortilla.
4
Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the tacos chicken-side down and fry for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
5
While the tacos are cooking, heat the General Tso's sauce and dried red chiles in a separate small saucepan.
6
In a small dish, mix the cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water to create a slurry. Whisk the slurry into the simmering sauce to thicken it. Remove from heat.
7
Remove the crispy tacos from the skillet and place them on a board or plate.
8
Brush the thickened General Tso's sauce over the crispy chicken layer.
9
Top with steamed broccoli florets.
10
Garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Smash ground chicken firmly and evenly onto each mini tortilla to ensure even cooking and good surface contact with the batter during frying.
Keep oil at a consistent 350°F using a deep-fry or candy thermometer; temperature swings cause uneven browning and greasy results.
Fry tacos seam-side down first (2–3 minutes) so the chicken seals to the tortilla, then flip and fry the other side until both are light golden.
Glaze tacos immediately after frying while they're still warm so the sauce clings to the crispy surface instead of pooling underneath.

Substitutions

Ground chicken → ground turkey (identical cooking, slightly leaner result)
Mini flour tortillas → corn tortillas (texture less crispy, more prone to splitting; add 30 seconds frying time)
Vegetable oil → peanut or canola oil (neutral flavor, same frying performance)
General Tso's sauce → sriracha + honey + soy sauce mixture (2 tbsp sauce equivalent; adjust sweetness to taste)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled fried tacos in an airtight container up to 4 days; reheat unwrapped at 350°F for 5 minutes to restore crispness, then reglaze if desired.

Equipment

deep fry thermometer or candy thermometer · shallow frying pan or wok

Common Questions

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground chicken?

Yes. Ground turkey works as a direct substitute with the same cooking time and texture; it may absorb slightly more sauce due to lower fat content.

How crispy do the tortillas get when fried?

Mini tortillas fry to a light golden crisp in 2–3 minutes total per side when oil is at 350°F. They remain pliable enough to eat with your hands but develop a crispy exterior.

Can I make these ahead?

Fry the tacos up to 4 hours ahead and store uncovered in a cool place. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes to restore crispness, then glaze fresh.

What oil temperature is best for frying?

Heat vegetable oil to 350°F. Use a thermometer for accuracy; too hot burns the batter, too cool makes them greasy instead of crisp.

Do I need to cook the ground chicken before smashing it onto the tortilla?

No. Raw ground chicken is smashed directly onto the tortilla, then the entire taco is fried, which cooks the chicken through. Ensure oil is at 350°F and fry until golden.