Sweet and sour chicken is a beloved dish that offers the perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and savory flavors. This Chinese-American classic features crispy, golden-brown chunks of chicken coated in a sticky, flavorful sauce made from a blend of vinegar, ketchup, sugar, and soy sauce. It’s a dish that’s easy to prepare, satisfying, and perfect for a family dinner or special occasion.
The key to great sweet and sour chicken is in the chicken’s texture. Boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh pieces are cut into bite-sized cubes, then coated in a light batter before being deep-fried until crispy. The result is a crunchy exterior that contrasts perfectly with the juicy, tender chicken inside.
The sweet and sour sauce is what really makes this dish shine. The sauce is a delightful combination of sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce, creating a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Pineapple chunks, bell peppers, and onions are often added to the dish, giving it a burst of color and additional sweetness that complements the sauce. These vegetables not only add flavor but also texture, making the dish even more satisfying.
Once the chicken is fried, it’s tossed in the sweet and sour sauce until well-coated, allowing the crispy chicken to absorb the sauce’s delicious flavors. The result is a dish that’s both tangy and sweet, with the crispy chicken providing the perfect base for the vibrant, flavorful sauce.
Sweet and sour chicken is best served with steamed white rice or fried rice, which helps soak up the extra sauce. It also pairs wonderfully with vegetables like steamed broccoli or sautéed green beans for a complete, balanced meal.
This dish can be customized to your liking by adjusting the sweetness or tanginess of the sauce. You can also add extra veggies or make it spicier by incorporating chili flakes or hot sauce.
Whether you’re cooking for yourself or feeding a crowd, sweet and sour chicken is a flavorful and easy dish that’s sure to become a favorite.
Ingredients
- 200 grams chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup pineapple chunks canned or fresh
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the cornstarch and flour. Dip the chicken pieces into the beaten egg, then coat with the cornstarch-flour mixture.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the chicken pieces until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
- In a separate pan, combine the rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and minced garlic. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the pineapple chunks and diced bell peppers to the sauce. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the fried chicken to the pan and toss to coat with the sauce. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Serve the sweet and sour chicken hot, optionally with steamed rice.
Nutrition
This recipe is fantastic! The sweet and sour sauce is perfectly balanced. My family loved it!
Really easy to make, but I think the sauce is too thick. Maybe less cornstarch?
I totally agree! The sauce was way too thick for me too. I used a bit less cornstarch and it was perfect! Glad to hear it was easy to make though.
This was so good! My kids loved it, and they can be picky eaters!
I dunno, it was too sugary for my taste. Next time, I’ll cut the brown sugar in half.
I totally agree! It is really sweet; cutting the sugar sounds like a smart idea. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Can I use tofu instead of chicken? I’m vegetarian and still wanna try this!
Absolutely! Tofu will work great in this recipe! Just make sure to press it first to get out the excess water. Enjoy your cooking!
I don’t think tofu can substitute chicken right. It’s not the same flavor or texture! Maybe try another recipe? Just saying.
Sounds good, but isn’t chicken with pineapple a bit weird? Not sure if I’ll try it.
This recipe is a hit! My family loved it. Sweet and sour just right!
So glad to hear you loved it! Sweet and sour is my fave combo! 😋
Chicken is good for eating. Nice recipe. 😋
Easy peasy chicken recipe! I added more garlic and it was delicious!
I think the sauce could be thicker. Just seemed a bit runny. But overall okay.
Nah, I don’t think it was that bad! Runny sauce is kinda how sweet and sour chicken is usually, right? Just must be your taste.
I totally agree! A thicker sauce would make it even better. Have you tried adding more cornstarch next time?
Sweet n sour chicken is my weakness! This recipe nails it. 10/10 recommend!
Really? I found it too sweet. Shouldn’t there be more vinegar in it?
Love this dish! It’s so easy to make and tastes just like in restaurants. Yum!
I think I added too much vinegar? It was kinda tart, but everyone ate it anyway.
I tried making this but ended up burning the chicken. Not sure what I did wrong.
This recipe was so easy to follow! My kids loved it, and it was a hit at dinner. Will make again!
Honestly, too sweet for my taste. Maybe I’ll cut down the sugar next time.
I totally agree! It was way too sugary. I like a little sweetness, but this was over the top. Next time, I’ll definitely reduce the sugar too!
Tasted good, but not as good as what I had in a restaurant in China once…
Why would anyone put ketchup in a recipe like this? Sounds weird.
Easy to make and I had all ingredients at home. Will try again for sure!
This is the worst recipe ever!! Sweet and sour should not taste like candy!!!
I think I did something wrong it never looked like the picture 🙁
Took me a bit longer than I thought, but the flavor was worth it. Just a little messy!
Glad to hear it turned out tasty! I always find that it’s the messiest recipes that end up being the most rewarding. 🥡
Yummy!!! My kids ask for this every week now! Thanks for sharing!
That sounds awesome! My kids love it too! Your recipe is a lifesaver!
I tried this, but it didn’t turn out right. The sauce was too sweet for my taste. Maybe less sugar next time?
Yum! Tasted just like takeout! I paired it with rice and it was perfect.
It was too sweet for my taste. Next time I might skip the sugar and ketchup. Not bad though!
I think the sweetness is what makes it special! Maybe try using less sugar next time? But I’m glad you liked it overall.
Nope! Wouldn’t make again. Chicken got all soggy. Not what I expected.
Soggy chicken? That’s strange… I thought the frying would keep it crisp. Maybe you added too much sauce?
I had the same issue! The chicken got mushy because of the sauce. Maybe try frying it longer next time?
Instructions are a bit confusing. I burnt the chicken because I didn’t know how long to fry it! 🙁
I totally get it! The instructions could be clearer. Maybe try frying for about 5-7 minutes next time? Keep it on medium heat!
I was skeptical about the pineapple in savory dishes, but wow! This is really good. I even added some extra veggies.
WOW I cant believe it turned out so good! Way better than takeout 🤤
This was so delicious! My family loved it, even the kids! Definitely making it again.
I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed it! It’s a hit in my house too. 🥡
I was skeptical about the pineapple in a savory dish but it was surprisingly good. I give it a 4!
I substituted mango for the pineapple. Not sure if I did it right, but it was good.
Mango sounds like a tasty twist! I might try that next time. Nice job!
I don’t know if mango’s the same as pineapple. Kinda risky, no?
Too sweet for my taste. I added some more garlic to try and balance it out, but still didn’t like it much.
I totally get what you mean! It can be too sweet sometimes. I usually adjust the sugar too, but garlic is an interesting twist! Maybe try reducing the sugar next time? Hope it helps!
Sweet and sour chicken? More like sweet and blurgh chicken! Haha!
Haha, I feel you! Sweet ain’t for everyone. I prefer my chicken not drowning in sugar! 😂