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Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken is a crispy fried chicken in a sweet and sour sauce that is just like your favorite take out.

It is easy, quick and simple to put together.

Plus, it’s surely everyone’s favorite meal.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Pinterest Image.
Pin for later.

This sweet and sour chicken with pineapple chunks is a Chinese classic.

Sweet and Sour Chicken is best served with some steamed rice.

However, you can eat it with your favorite side dish.

Sweet and Sour Chicken with white rice.

What is Sweet and Sour Chinese Sauce made of?

The sweet and sour sauce has an easy but flavorful taste to it that has you coming back for seconds.

It is made of a few ingredients that you can find in your pantry.

These includes pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, soya sauce and some ketchup with ginger and garlic for added flavor.

That’s it.

Is Sweet and Sour Chicken the same as Orange Chicken?

Sweet and Sour Chicken has a balance taste that comes from the vinegar, brown sugar, tomato ketchup and pineapple.

While the Orange Chicken has a sweet and tangy taste that comes from the orange juice and orange zest with a little spice to it.

What part of the Chicken is best for Sweet and Sour Chicken?

For Sweet and Sour Chicken, it can be white or dark meat.

It’s your choice.

For me, it’s what available in my deep freezer at the moment.

The meat comes from the chicken breast, thighs or even the drumsticks… either which, it is still delicious.

Can I use an Air Fryer to Fry the Chicken

Yes, you can. I have used my Air Fryer to fry the pieces of chicken before but not with this recipe.

As usual, grease the air fryer first and then add the battered chicken pieces to the air fryer.

Fry it to your air fryer chicken setting.

How to store Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple

You can store your sweet and sour chicken or some leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days or freeze it in a freezer friendly container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you are ready to reheat it, let it thaw in the refrigerator from overnight.

Please keep in mind that the vegetables may become soft and mushy after thawing.

Then place it in a skillet or saucepan of your choice, covered over low heat.

Allow the sweet and sour chicken to heat up all the way through.

How to make Sweet and Sour Chicken

Firstly, cut chicken breast into 1 inch chunks. Wash with vinegar water and rinse with plain water twice. Discard water. Then pat dry and season the chicken pieces. Allow to marinate. Whisk all the ingredients to make the sauce in a medium bowl and set aside. Prepare the vegetables.

Seasoned chicken pieces.
Chopped vegetables to use in the sweet and sour chicken recipe.

Secondly, add the cornstarch to a large Ziploc bag, a lightly beaten egg in a medium bowl and all purpose flour to another large Ziploc bag. Dredge the chicken pieces first into the cornstarch, then dip into the egg mixture and then into the flour mixture in the Ziploc bag.

Thirdly, add the oil to a large skillet on medium heat. Add the chicken pieces to the heated oil and allow to cook (brown and crispy) on each sides. Remove the chicken pieces once they are done cooking and set aside

Frying the chicken pieces.

Fourthly, add the vegetables and pineapple chunks and saute for a few minutes.

Vegetables and pineapple chunks saute to make sweet and sour chicken.

Finally, add the chicken pieces, sauce and cornstarch water mixture. Mix together and allow to simmer until it thickens. Serve with some white rice.

Pouring the sauce to the chicken pieces and sautéed vegetables.
Sweet and Sour Chicken simmering.

Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1/3 cup + 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Ketchup
  • 1/3 cup Pineapple Juice, from the can of pineapple chunks
  • 10oz can Pineapple Chunks, drained
  • 1/2 cup White Vinegar
  • 1/3 Green Bell Pepper
  • 1/2 large Onion
  • 1/3 Red Bell Pepper
  • 1/3 Yellow/Orange Bell Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Ginger, grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt (optional)
  • 2 Tablespoon Soya Sauce
  • 3 cloves Garlic
  • 1 1/2lb Chicken Breast, cut into 1 inch chunks
  • 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1/4 cup Water

Instructions

  1. Cut Chicken Breast in 1 inch chunks. Wash pieces with some white vinegar and water. Discard the vinegar water mixture and rinse under running water twice to clean chicken. Discard all water.
  2. Pat dry chicken pieces with paper towel and season the chicken with the all purpose seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper. Allow to marinate for about 2 hours in the refrigerator or overnight. I leave mine overnight in the refrigerator.
  3. Remove chicken from the fridge to come to room temperature.
  4. Add the cornstarch to a large Ziploc bag. Lightly whisk the egg in a medium bowl. Add the all purpose flour to another large Ziploc bag.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, pineapple juice, garlic, ginger and soya sauce. Set aside for later.
  6. Add the chicken pieces into the Ziploc bag with the cornstarch and shake until fully coated. Dip the chicken pieces into the whisked egg. Then add the chicken pieces into the flour and shake until fully coated again.
  7. Pour some oil into the large skillet on medium heat. Add the chicken pieces to the hot oil and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, until each pieces are brown and crispy. Flip each pieces for even cooking. Remove and place on a large plate. Repeat, if you are doing two batches.
  8. Remove some of the oil and leave about a tablespoon of oil.
  9. Add the onions, bell peppers, pineapple chunks and stir together. Sauté for about 1 to 2 minutes.
  10. In the mean time, mix together the 1 table spoon cornstarch with the 1/4 cup of water.
  11. Add the chicken pieces to the sautéed vegetables. Pour the sauce in and the cornstarch mixture. Mix together. Let it come to a boil.
  12. Turn the heat down and allow it to simmer for awhile until the sauce thickens.
  13. Taste and add salt if needed.
  14. Serve with some white rice and enjoy.

Notes

  1. Dark or white meat, its’s your choice what you use to make the sweet and sour chicken.
  2. Make sure the chicken is cut into small pieces to help them cook when getting browned (frying).
  3. Season the chicken, if you choose to.
  4. You can use an air fryer to fry the chicken if you choose to. Just make sure to follow the settings for chicken.
Sweet and Sour Chicken served with white rice in a white bowl.

Additional Chicken Recipes

Please let me know what you think about this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe, by leaving a comment in the comment section below.

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Blessings & Love, as you carry on, on your YouNique Journey!

Sweet and sour Chicken served with white rice in a white bowl.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Yield: 4 Servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Sweet and Sour Chicken is a crispy fried chicken in a sweet and sour sauce that is just like your favorite take out.

Ingredients

  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1/3 cup + 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Ketchup
  • 1/3 cup Pineapple Juice, from the can of pineapple chunks
  • 10oz can Pineapple Chunks, drained
  • 1/2 cup White Vinegar
  • 1/3 Green Bell Pepper
  • 1/2 large Onion
  • 1/3 Red Bell Pepper
  • 1/3 Yellow/Orange Bell Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Ginger, grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt (optional)
  • 2 Tablespoon Soya Sauce
  • 3 cloves Garlic
  • 1 1/2lb Chicken Breast, cut into 1 inch chunks
  • 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1/4 cup Water

Instructions

  1. Cut Chicken Breast in 1 inch chunks. Wash pieces with some white vinegar and water. Discard the vinegar water mixture and rinse under running water twice to clean chicken. Discard all water.
  2. Pat dry chicken pieces with paper towel and season the chicken with the all purpose seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper. Allow to marinate for about 2 hours in the refrigerator or overnight. I leave mine overnight in the refrigerator.
  3. Remove chicken from the fridge to come to room temperature.
  4. Add the cornstarch to a large Ziploc bag. Lightly whisk the egg in a medium bowl. Add the all purpose flour to another large Ziploc bag.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, pineapple juice, garlic, ginger and soya sauce. Set aside for later.
  6. Add the chicken pieces into the Ziploc bag with the cornstarch and shake until fully coated. Dip the chicken pieces into the whisked egg. Then add the chicken pieces into the flour and shake until fully coated again.
  7. Pour some oil into the large skillet on medium heat. Add the chicken pieces to the hot oil and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, until each pieces are brown and crispy. Stir and flip each pieces for even cooking. Remove and place on a large plate.
  8. Remove some of the oil and leave about a tablespoon of oil.
  9. Add the onions, bell peppers, pineapple chunks and stir together. Sauté for about 1 to 2 minutes.
  10. In the mean time, mix together the 1 table spoon cornstarch with the 1/4 cup of water.
  11. Add the chicken pieces to the sautéed vegetables. Pour the sauce in and the cornstarch mixture. Mix together. Let it come to a boil.
  12. Turn the heat down and allow it to simmer for awhile until the sauce thickens.
  13. Taste and add salt if needed.
  14. Serve with some white rice and enjoy.

Notes

  1. Dark or white meat, its's your choice what you use to make the sweet and sour chicken.
  2. Make sure the chicken is cut into small pieces to help them cook when getting browned (frying).
  3. Season the chicken, if you choose to.
  4. You can use an air fryer to fry the chicken if you choose to. Just make sure to follow the settings for chicken.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 475Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 1530mgCarbohydrates: 83gFiber: 3gSugar: 66gProtein: 25g

The nutritional information that is provided, is computer generated and therefore it is an estimate. Please do your own research with the ingredients that are listed here, if you have any concern about any specific diet or your health.

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