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Home / Recipes
1 hour 10 minutes
4.68 from 70 votes
61 Comments

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe
  • 460
by: Joanna Cismaru

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Sweet and Sour Chicken at home! This chicken is so delicious, equal parts perfectly sweet and tangy. Who needs take out when you can make this in the comfort of your own home?

Sweet and sour chicken in a white bowl

Sweet And Sour Chicken

This sticky sweet, sinfully delectable take out favorite usually makes an appearance on my table at least once a month. Whenever I’m tempted to pop out and grab some Chinese food, my wallet calls me back. Reminding me “really? That much $ on something you can make here at home?” and you know what, my wallet is right.

This dish will make you feel like you’re sipping green tea, struggling with chop sticks, and trying to get your share of rice before it’s snatched up.

Chinese Chicken

Now I have to tell you about one of my all time favorite foods. Chicken of course, but sweet and sour chicken is right up there at the top of the list. Sweet and sour chicken is a dish I always always order whenever I go to a Chinese restaurant.

But you know what? I used to be scared to make it thinking it’s so hard. Rubbish! It’s so easy, just like any other fried battered chicken you make. And I’ve been frying chicken for a very very long time. Stop it now. No need to guess my age.

process shots for preparing chicken to make sweet and sour chicken

Ingredients In Sweet And Sour Chicken

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Chicken
  • Chicken – Boneless skinless breast is what we need today. Thigh works as well if you want something with a higher fat content.
  • Cornstarch – This is key to make a thick sticky sauce and to crisp up our chicken while we fry it. Rather than batter our chicken we will toss it till it’s fully covered.
  • Oil – Something light with a high smoke point that’s good for frying like canola or peanut.
  • Eggs – This will be key to fry up our chicken.
  • Seasoning – Salt and pepper to taste.
Sauce
  • Sugar – We want a nice sweet sauce so we will use quite a bit of sugar.
  • Ketchup – I told you this recipe would be easy didn’t I? This ingredient gives our sweet and sour chicken some brightness and acidity.
  • Vinegar – The key to that needed hit of sour.
  • Soy sauce – Any kind you have on hand, I used full sodium as there’s no other salt in this dish.
  • Garlic powder – We want a flavor concentrate that doesn’t have the bite of raw garlic as we won’t be cooking it off.
  • Red pepper flakes – We want some heat in this sweet and sour sauce and these flakes will deliver that.
Garnish
  • Sesame seeds – Raw or toasted.
  • Green onion – Minced up fine, sprinkled liberally on top.

process shots for making sweet and sour chicken

How To Make Sweet And Sour Chicken

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

  • Preheat oven: To 325 F degrees and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
  • Prepare the chicken: Season the chicken with salt and pepper and sprinkle with cornstarch. Toss this gently to ensure the chicken is fully coated. Dip the chicken in the beaten egg and gently toss till fully coated.
  • Fry the chicken: Heat the oil in a large skillet, start with about 1/4 cup. Add a few pieces of chicken at a time and cook just until lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. You will have to do this in batches until done. Transfer the chicken to a paper towel-lined plate and discard excess oil.
  • Mix the sauce: To make the sweet and sour sauce whisk all the sauce ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the chicken pieces to the prepared baking dish and pour about 2/3 to 3/4 of the sauce over the chicken and toss so that each piece is coated in the sauce.
  • Finish the sweet and sour chicken: Bake the chicken for 45 minutes, turning it over every 15 minutes.  Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Use the remainder of the sauce for dipping.

Sweet and sour chicken garnished with sesame seeds and green onions in a white bowl

Storing Leftover Sweet And Sour Chicken

This dish will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 – 4 days, same with the sauce stored separately. If frozen properly in an airtight container you can ensure this dish will last for 3 – 4 months in the freezer.

Craving More Bite Sized Chicken? Try These Dishes:

  • Oven Fried Breaded Chicken Tenders With Maple Mustard Dipping Sauce
  • Asian Glazed Chicken Fingers
  • Bang Bang Chicken
  • Cuban Chicharrones de Pollo
  • Chicken Milanese Bites
  • Baked Honey Garlic Chicken

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chopsticks taking a piece of sweet and sour chicken from a bowl

Sweet and Sour Chicken

4.68 from 70 votes
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 50 mins
Total: 1 hr 10 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 4
Print Pin Rate
Sweet and Sour Chicken at home! This chicken is so delicious, equal parts perfectly sweet and tangy. Who needs take out when you can make this in the comfort of your own home?

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 1 pound chicken breasts boneless and skinless, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 3/4 cup cornstarch
  • oil for frying
  • 3 eggs lightly beaten
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper or to taste

Sauce

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 4 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Optional Garnish

  • sesame seeds
  • green onions chopped
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 F degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the chicken and gently toss making sure each piece of chicken is coated in cornstarch.
  • Dip a few pieces of the chicken into the egg and gently toss the chicken around making sure they are coated completely in egg. 
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet, start with about 1/4 cup. Add a few pieces of chicken at a time and cook just until lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. You will have to do this in batches until done. Transfer the chicken to a paper towel-lined plate and discard excess oil.
  • To make the sweet and sour sauce whisk all the sauce ingredients together in a large bowl.
  • Add the chicken pieces to the prepared baking dish and pour about 2/3 to 3/4 of the sauce over the chicken and toss so that each piece is coated in the sauce.
  • Bake the chicken for 45 minutes, turning it over after 15 minutes. 
  • Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Use the remainder of the sauce for dipping.

Recipe Notes

This dish will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 - 4 days, same with the sauce stored separately. If frozen properly in an airtight container you can ensure this dish will last for 3 - 4 months in the freezer.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 443kcal (22%)Carbohydrates: 65g (22%)Protein: 28g (56%)Fat: 6g (9%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Cholesterol: 195mg (65%)Sodium: 619mg (27%)Potassium: 527mg (15%)Sugar: 41g (46%)Vitamin A: 375IU (8%)Vitamin C: 2.1mg (3%)Calcium: 27mg (3%)Iron: 1.3mg (7%)
Course:Main Course
Cuisine:Asian
Keyword:chicken recipes, sweet and sour chicken
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!

 

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Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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Comments

  1. Heather says

    May 6, 2019 at 2:57 pm

    5 stars
    Made this many times. Delicious

    Reply
  2. Meg K says

    March 26, 2019 at 4:26 pm

    Is there a way to make this without eggs?!? (Kiddos allergic)

    Reply
    • Nicole Beaulieu says

      March 27, 2019 at 12:29 pm

      You can use milk!

      Reply
  3. Marcus says

    March 14, 2019 at 7:04 am

    5 stars
    This was delicious! I was worried about the amount of sugar in the sauce, but it turned out to be so tasty. I substituted real garlic (minced) for the garlic powder, but this is definitely a make again.

    Reply
  4. Jessica Vanderhoef says

    February 8, 2019 at 10:16 am

    5 stars
    This was so tasty! My picky eater loved it.

    Reply
  5. Lili says

    January 6, 2019 at 2:52 pm

    5 stars
    This was wonderful. Keeper. Always searching for a sweet and sour and wasn’t happy until today! Thanks.

    Reply
  6. Karen says

    December 18, 2018 at 6:48 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe, lots of flavor, made exactly as the recipe states, but double up on the sauce, you will want to!!!… this is a keeper in my family, thx

    Reply
  7. Rose says

    November 29, 2018 at 4:37 pm

    5 stars
    Easy nd delicious
    Great that there is no gluten

    Reply
  8. Andrew Keenan says

    November 12, 2018 at 5:05 pm

    5 stars
    Tbis is a great recipe, awesome sauce. Only change i will make is not adding the sauce to bake the chicken. So it has a chance to be crispy and i added large chuncks of greep pepper and spanish onion that i fried separately. Great sweet and sour chicken!

    Reply
  9. Yvette Lamothe says

    October 22, 2018 at 6:20 am

    5 stars
    It is delicious everyone loved it ❤️

    Reply
  10. Shirley says

    September 12, 2018 at 3:20 pm

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe – super good! I did add chopped red peppers and some pineapple pieces prior in serving! Will definitely be making this recipe again and again!

    Reply
    • Jacqueline Bellemare says

      October 26, 2018 at 3:43 pm

      Cette recette est la plus délicieuse que j’ai mangée de toute ma vie…Juste WOW!!!

      Reply
  11. Jennifer Huebner says

    August 22, 2018 at 5:40 pm

    5 stars
    I love cooking chicken always looking for new ideas. The sweet and sour chicken is one of my favorite Chinese dishes along with beef and broccoli. Thanks sooo much.

    Reply
  12. Grace says

    June 3, 2018 at 3:29 pm

    5 stars
    I was a little worried when one poster commented it wasn’t flavorful but, after making it exactly as recipe said tonight im not sure why the poster thought it had no flavor, It was fantasic, flavorful and easy to make. I roasted pineapple chunks and added them to the sweet and sour chicken. Yum

    Thanks jo…..great recipe

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      June 4, 2018 at 10:58 am

      My pleasure!

      Reply
  13. Thushani says

    April 22, 2018 at 8:12 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Jo,
    Made this for dinner tonight and it came out great. So delicious and my family loved it. Definitely will make this again. Thank you for sharing.
    Thushani

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      April 23, 2018 at 8:18 am

      My pleasure!

      Reply
  14. Shaila says

    April 7, 2018 at 2:24 pm

    5 stars
    It was really easy to make with ingredients I already had in the fridge. It tasted super good and everyone in the family enjoyed. I like that there are additional suggestions below to add pineapple…I will add them.

    Reply
  15. Susan says

    March 21, 2018 at 8:56 pm

    5 stars
    great instructions, super easy to make and delicious. i added red peppers and pineapple to the dish at the last stirring. Super good. Definitley will make again

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      March 22, 2018 at 8:27 am

      Glad you liked them, Susan! Love that you added red peppers and pineapple to them. 🙂

      Reply
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I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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