The Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe That Wows Every Time

Crafting a delectable sweet and sour chicken recipe can transport you to culinary bliss with minimal effort.

Tender chicken pieces dance in a vibrant sauce that balances tangy and sugary notes perfectly.

Home cooks adore this classic dish for its simplicity and bold flavors.

Every bite promises a delightful contrast of crisp textures and zesty undertones.

Marinades work magic in creating succulent meat that absorbs incredible depth of flavor.

Weeknight dinners become extraordinary when you master this crowd-pleasing combination of ingredients.

Dive into this recipe, and savor a meal that promises to become a new household favorite.

Why Sweet And Sour Chicken Is Always A Hit

• Savor Quick Flavor Explosion: This sweet and sour chicken recipe delivers maximum taste with minimal kitchen complexity, perfect for cooks seeking bold flavors without extensive preparation.
• Master Professional-Level Cooking: Transform ordinary ingredients into restaurant-quality dish with simple techniques like precise chicken coating, strategic frying, and perfectly balanced sauce creation.
• Create Crowd-Pleasing Meal: Guaranteed to delight family and friends with its golden crispy chicken, vibrant sauce, and colorful bell peppers that appeal to multiple taste preferences and ages.
• Customize with Ease: Adaptable recipe allows flexible ingredient swaps like different proteins, adjusting spice levels, or adding extra vegetables to match personal culinary styles and dietary needs.

What Goes Into Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Chicken: A tender, lean meat that provides the main protein source for this sweet and sour dish.

• Egg: A smooth binding agent that helps the flour mixture adhere to the chicken.
• Flour, Cornstarch, Salt, Pepper: A crispy seasoned dredging mixture that creates a golden, crunchy exterior for the chicken.

• Sugar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Ketchup, Soy Sauce, Rice Vinegar, Water: A vibrant sweet and sour base that provides balanced flavor complexity.
• Garlic, Ginger: Aromatic ingredients that add depth and traditional Asian-inspired flavor notes.
• Bell Peppers, Pineapple Chunks: Fresh ingredients that contribute sweetness, color, and texture to the final dish.

• Vegetable Oil: A neutral oil used for achieving golden, crispy fried chicken.
• Green Onions: A fresh garnish that adds a mild onion flavor and visual appeal.
• Steamed Rice: A classic accompaniment that serves as a perfect base for the sweet and sour chicken.

How To Cook Sweet And Sour Chicken The Easy Way

Step 1: Prepare Egg Mixture

Crack eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk them until smooth and well-blended. This will serve as the perfect sticky coating for the chicken pieces.

Step 2: Cut Chicken

Slice chicken into consistent bite-sized cubes that will cook evenly and provide a uniform texture in every mouthful.

Step 3: Create Crispy Coating

• All-purpose flour
• Cornstarch
• Salt
• Black pepper

Blend these ingredients to form a seasoned dredging mixture that will create a crunchy exterior.

Step 4: Coat Chicken Pieces

Dunk each chicken cube into the egg wash, making sure it’s completely covered. Then roll the piece in the flour mixture, ensuring total coverage for maximum crispiness.

Step 5: Heat Cooking Oil

Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet or wok. Heat the oil until it reaches 350°F, creating the ideal temperature for golden, crispy frying.

Step 6: Fry Chicken

Carefully place coated chicken pieces into the hot oil. Fry until the exterior turns a beautiful golden brown and the internal temperature hits 165°F, which typically takes about 4-5 minutes.

Step 7: Drain Excess Oil

Transfer fried chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any extra oil and maintain crispiness.

Step 8: Prepare Sweet and Sour Sauce

• Granulated sugar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Ketchup
• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Water

Blend these ingredients to create a vibrant and tangy sauce base.

Step 9: Sauté Aromatics

In a clean pan, quickly sauté minced garlic and ginger for about 30 seconds to release their fragrant flavors.

Step 10: Add Vegetables and Fruit

Toss in chopped bell peppers and pineapple chunks. Cook for 2-3 minutes until they become slightly tender.

Step 11: Simmer Sauce

Pour the prepared sauce into the vegetable mixture. Let it simmer and thicken for 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Step 12: Combine Chicken and Sauce

Gently fold the fried chicken into the sauce, ensuring each piece gets an even, delicious coating.

Step 13: Serve and Garnish

Sprinkle sliced green onions on top and serve immediately over steamed rice for a complete and delightful meal.

Tips To Get Crispy And Saucy Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Perfectly Fry Chicken: Use a deep-fry thermometer to maintain consistent 350°F oil temperature, preventing soggy or burnt coating.
• Uniform Coating Technique: Pat chicken pieces dry before dredging to help flour mixture adhere more effectively and create crispier exterior.
• Sauce Balance Mastery: Adjust sauce sweetness by gradually adding sugar, tasting as you go to achieve perfect sweet and sour harmony.
• Quick Stir-Fry Trick: Rapidly sauté bell peppers and pineapple to retain vibrant colors and prevent overcooking, maintaining fresh texture.
• Fresh Flavor Boost: Sprinkle freshly chopped green onions just before serving to add bright, aromatic notes and enhance overall dish presentation.

Tasty Spins On Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Gluten-Free Crispy Chicken: Replace wheat flour with rice flour or cornstarch for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the same crispy texture.
• Baked Lighter Alternative: Skip frying and instead oven-bake chicken pieces at 425°F on a wire rack, spraying with olive oil for a healthier preparation method.
• Spicy Asian Kick: Add sriracha or red pepper flakes to the sauce for those craving extra heat, transforming the sweet and sour profile into a more intense flavor experience.
• Vegetarian Option: Substitute chicken with firm tofu or cauliflower florets, using the same coating and cooking technique to create a plant-based alternative that captures the original recipe's essence.

Best Sides For Sweet And Sour Chicken Night

• Elevate Sweet and Sour Chicken Dining
• Pair with Crisp Riesling: Light, slightly sweet German white wine perfectly balances the dish's tangy sauce and cuts through rich fried chicken.
• Match with Jasmine Rice: Soft, fragrant white rice provides a neutral base that absorbs the sweet and sour sauce beautifully, enhancing overall flavor profile.
• Complement with Asian Slaw: Crunchy cabbage and carrot slaw with rice vinegar dressing adds refreshing texture and brightens the meal's heavy elements.
• Serve with Cold Lager: Refreshing, light beer like Tsingtao neutralizes the dish's richness and cleanses the palate between bites.

Storing Sweet And Sour Chicken So It Stays Fresh

• Store leftover sweet and sour chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, it will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Transfer cooled chicken to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Frozen sweet and sour chicken maintains quality for up to 2-3 months.
• Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate, sprinkle few drops of water to prevent dryness. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until thoroughly warmed. Typically takes 1-2 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread chicken on a baking sheet, cover with foil to retain moisture.

Sweet And Sour Chicken FAQs That Make It Simple

• Why do I need to cube the chicken into uniform pieces?

Uniform cubes ensure even cooking and prevent some pieces from being undercooked or overcooked, guaranteeing consistent texture and doneness throughout the dish.

• What's the purpose of using both flour and cornstarch in the coating?

The combination creates an extra crispy exterior by helping the coating adhere better to the chicken and providing a lighter, crunchier texture compared to using flour alone.

• How can I tell if the oil is at the right temperature for frying?

Use a cooking thermometer to check that the oil reaches 350°F, or drop a small piece of bread into the oil – if it sizzles and turns golden within 10 seconds, the oil is ready for frying.

Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe

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4.8 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Craving a flavor explosion? Sweet and sour chicken delivers authentic Chinese-American culinary magic with crispy chicken bathed in tangy sauce. Perfectly balanced flavors will dance across palates, bringing restaurant-quality comfort right to your kitchen.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 large egg

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar

Coating and Preparation:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, minced
• 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
• 1/4 cup water

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Instructions

1. Whisk egg in a bowl, creating a smooth binding agent for the chicken coating.
2. Cube chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture.
3. Combine flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl, creating a crispy seasoned dredging mixture.
4. Dip each chicken piece into egg wash, then thoroughly coat with the dry flour mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
5. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok to 350°F, preparing for golden, crispy frying.
6. Carefully place coated chicken pieces into hot oil, frying until exterior turns golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F, approximately 4-5 minutes.
7. Remove chicken and drain on paper towels to eliminate excess oil.
8. In a separate saucepan, whisk together sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and water, creating a vibrant sweet and sour base.
9. Sauté minced garlic and ginger in a clean pan for 30 seconds to release aromatic flavors.
10. Add chopped bell peppers and pineapple chunks, cooking for 2-3 minutes until slightly tender.
11. Pour prepared sauce into the vegetable mixture, allowing it to simmer and thicken for 2-3 minutes.
12. Gently fold fried chicken into the sauce, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
13. Garnish with sliced green onions and serve immediately over steamed rice.

Notes

• Ensure chicken pieces are uniformly sized to guarantee consistent cooking and prevent uneven browning.
• Use a digital thermometer to accurately check chicken’s internal temperature, avoiding undercooked meat.
• For a lighter version, consider baking the coated chicken instead of deep-frying to reduce oil content.
• Gluten-free adaptation is possible by substituting regular flour with rice flour or gluten-free all-purpose blend.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 800
• Sugar: 35 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 45 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 39 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 70 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 40 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg