Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe: A Zesty Family Favorite

Crafting a delectable sweet and sour chicken recipe promises a delightful culinary adventure that will transport you straight to flavor paradise.

Culinary magic happens when simple ingredients dance together in perfect harmony.

Tender chicken pieces coated in a vibrant, zesty sauce create an irresistible meal that sparks excitement at the dinner table.

Home cooks can easily master this classic dish with a few clever techniques.

Balancing tangy and sugary notes requires minimal effort but delivers maximum satisfaction.

Crispy, golden-brown chicken mingles with colorful bell peppers and a glossy sauce that sings with robust flavors.

Hungry?

This recipe is about to become your new favorite weeknight star.

Why Sweet and Sour Chicken Is a Takeout Favorite

• Crisp and Golden Chicken: Achieve perfectly cooked chicken with a delightful crispy exterior that promises an exciting texture in every bite.
• Quick Weeknight Wonder: Prepare a restaurant-quality meal in minimal time, making it ideal for busy families seeking a delicious dinner solution.
• Flavor Explosion: Combine sweet, tangy, and savory elements that dance together, creating a mouthwatering sauce that transforms simple chicken into an extraordinary dish.
• Customizable Comfort: Easily adapt the recipe by switching vegetables or adjusting sauce intensity, making it versatile for different taste preferences and dietary needs.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Sweet and Sour Chicken

• Chicken Breasts: Tender white meat that serves as the primary protein for this classic sweet and sour dish.

• Cornstarch: Creates a light, crispy exterior that helps seal in the chicken's moisture during frying.

• White Vinegar, Ketchup, Brown Sugar, Soy Sauce, Water: Blend together to create a balanced sweet and tangy sauce with depth of flavor.

• Garlic, Onions, Bell Peppers: Provide a fragrant base and add texture and color to the dish.

• Pineapple Chunks: Adds natural sweetness and tropical brightness to complement the sauce.
• Sesame Oil: Introduces a nutty, aromatic finish to the entire dish.

• Vegetable Oil: Used for frying the chicken to achieve a golden-brown crispy exterior.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Enhance and balance the overall flavor profile of the sweet and sour chicken.

• Green Onions, Sesame Seeds: Provide a fresh, decorative touch and additional layers of flavor and texture.

How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken Simply

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Cubes

Cut chicken breasts into even, bite-sized pieces to ensure uniform cooking and perfect texture.

Step 2: Create Crispy Coating

Thoroughly dust chicken pieces with cornstarch, generating a light and crunchy exterior that will enhance the dish’s overall appeal.

Step 3: Heat Cooking Pan

Warm vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the surface becomes shimmery and hot, preparing for chicken cooking.

Step 4: Fry Chicken Pieces

Gently place cornstarch-covered chicken into the skillet, allowing each piece to develop a beautiful golden-brown crust. Avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain proper cooking.

Step 5: Cook Chicken Thoroughly

Rotate chicken pieces to ensure even cooking, continuing for 6-8 minutes until they become fully cooked and wonderfully crispy.

Step 6: Drain Excess Oil

Transfer cooked chicken to a paper towel-lined plate, letting excess oil absorb away from the meat.

Step 7: Sauté Vegetable Base

• Minced garlic
• Chopped onions
• Diced bell peppers

Sauté until vegetables become tender and release their aromatic qualities.

Step 8: Whip Up Sweet and Sour Sauce

• White vinegar
• Ketchup
• Brown sugar
• Soy sauce
• Water

Whisk until ingredients blend smoothly into a vibrant sauce.

Step 9: Create Sauce Mixture

Pour sauce into skillet with sautéed vegetables, stirring continuously to prevent burning and ensure even distribution.

Step 10: Incorporate Pineapple and Chicken

Add pineapple chunks and previously cooked chicken into the sauce, gently coating each piece with the flavorful mixture.

Step 11: Simmer and Blend Flavors

Allow the entire combination to simmer for 3-4 minutes, enabling flavors to merge and sauce to slightly thicken.

Step 12: Enhance with Sesame Oil

Drizzle sesame oil over the dish, introducing an additional layer of aromatic complexity.

Step 13: Season to Perfection

Sprinkle salt and black pepper according to personal taste preferences.

Step 14: Plate and Garnish

• Sliced green onions
• Sesame seeds

Step 15: Serve Immediately

Present the dish while hot, ensuring the sauce remains glossy and appetizing.

Tips for the Best Sweet and Sour Chicken at Home

• Cornstarch Coating Trick: Ensure chicken pieces are completely and evenly coated with cornstarch for a perfectly crispy exterior that locks in moisture.
• Oil Temperature Control: Use a medium-high heat setting and avoid overcrowding the skillet to achieve golden-brown chicken pieces with a delightful crunch.
• Sauce Balancing Act: Whisk sauce ingredients thoroughly to create a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors that complement the crispy chicken.
• Fresh Garnish Finale: Sprinkle freshly sliced green onions and sesame seeds just before serving to add a burst of color, texture, and additional flavor layers.
• Pineapple Perfection: Choose ripe, fresh pineapple chunks to enhance the sweet and sour profile and add a juicy, tropical twist to the dish.

Tasty Twists on Sweet and Sour Chicken

• Spicy Kick Chicken: Add red chili flakes or sriracha sauce to the sweet and sour sauce for a fiery version that brings extra heat and excitement to the classic recipe.
• Citrus Fusion Chicken: Replace white vinegar with fresh lime or orange juice to create a brighter, more zesty flavor profile that enhances the overall taste experience.
• Tropical Coconut Chicken: Mix coconut milk into the sauce and garnish with toasted coconut flakes for a creamy, island-inspired interpretation of the traditional sweet and sour chicken.
• Herb-Infused Chicken: Incorporate fresh herbs like cilantro or Thai basil during the final simmering stage to add a fresh, aromatic dimension to the dish's flavor complexity.

Top Pairings for Sweet and Sour Chicken

• Elevate Sweet Harmony: Pair this tangy sweet and sour chicken with jasmine rice for a perfectly balanced meal. The rice's delicate flavor complements the bold sauce without overwhelming the dish.
• Create Refreshing Balance: Serve a crisp, cold Asian-style lager like Tsingtao or Sapporo. These light beers cut through the richness of the chicken and provide a refreshing counterpoint to the sweet and sour flavors.
• Enhance Citrus Notes: Select a chilled Riesling with slight sweetness. Its bright, fruity undertones will echo the pineapple in the sauce while softening the dish's tanginess, creating a delightful flavor harmony.
• Boost Vegetable Contrast: Add a simple cucumber salad dressed with rice vinegar and sesame oil.

How to Store Sweet and Sour Chicken the Right Way

• Transfer sweet and sour chicken to an airtight container, ensuring it cools completely before sealing to prevent moisture buildup, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Pack chicken in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn, and store for up to 2-3 months for maximum flavor retention.
• Warm refrigerated sweet and sour chicken in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or extra sauce to maintain moisture and prevent drying out, stirring occasionally until heated thoroughly.
• Keep sauce and chicken separate when storing to maintain crispy chicken texture, mixing together just before reheating to preserve the original meal's quality and crispiness.

Sweet and Sour Chicken FAQs for First-Timers

• Why use cornstarch to coat the chicken?

Cornstarch creates a protective layer that helps the chicken become crispy on the outside while staying tender inside, preventing moisture loss and ensuring a golden-brown crust during frying.

• Can I substitute white vinegar in the sauce?

Rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar work well as alternatives, providing similar tangy notes to balance the sweetness of the sauce while maintaining the recipe’s core flavor profile.

• How do I know the chicken is fully cooked?

Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C), or cut into the thickest piece to ensure no pink remains and the meat looks opaque white.

Sweet Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

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4.6 from 20 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Culinary magic happens when sweet and sour chicken merges Chinese-American flavors into a delightful dance of tangy and crispy perfection. Crisp chicken pieces glazed with a perfectly balanced sauce promise a restaurant-quality meal you can easily craft in your own kitchen.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup cornstarch

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp water

Vegetable and Aromatics:

• 1 large bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup pineapple chunks

Cooking Essentials:

• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• Salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Garnish:

• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

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Instructions

1. Slice chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes, ensuring uniform pieces for even cooking.
2. Coat chicken pieces thoroughly with cornstarch, creating a light, crispy exterior layer.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and hot.
4. Carefully place cornstarch-coated chicken into the skillet, allowing each piece to develop a golden-brown crust without overcrowding.
5. Flip chicken pieces to cook evenly, approximately 6-8 minutes until fully cooked and crispy.
6. Remove chicken and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
7. In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic, chopped onions, and diced bell peppers until vegetables become slightly tender and fragrant.
8. Whisk together white vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and water to create a vibrant sweet and sour sauce.
9. Pour sauce mixture into the skillet with sautéed vegetables, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
10. Add pineapple chunks and cooked chicken back into the sauce, gently coating each piece.
11. Simmer the entire mixture for 3-4 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to slightly thicken.
12. Drizzle sesame oil over the dish for an additional layer of aromatic complexity.
13. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
14. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
15. Serve immediately while hot and sauce is glossy.

Notes

• Gluten-Free Option: Replace regular soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to make the dish suitable for gluten-sensitive individuals.
• Perfect Crispiness Hack: Pat chicken pieces completely dry before coating with cornstarch to ensure maximum crunchiness and prevent soggy texture.
• Sauce Balance Trick: Adjust sweet and sour ratio by adding more vinegar for tanginess or brown sugar for sweetness according to personal preference.
• Meal Prep Friendly: Chicken can be pre-cooked and stored separately from sauce, allowing for quick reheating and maintaining crisp texture when ready to serve.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 465
• Sugar: 16 g
• Sodium: 670 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 54 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg