Sweet and Sour Chicken
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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
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.
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.
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.
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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Sweet and Sour Chicken
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 50 mins
Total: 1 hr 10 mins
Serves: 4
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 lb chicken breasts boneless and skinless, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- oil for frying
- 3 eggs lightly beaten
- 1/4 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp pepper or to taste
Sauce
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 tbsp ketchup
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Optional Garnish
- sesame seeds
- green onions chopped
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%)
Doreen says
Surfing the net looking for chicken recipes and found this, it was amazing! We all loved it. It’s a keeper. Thank you.
I look forward to making more of you recipes, another Calgary girl.
Jo Cooks Team says
We’re so glad you liked it! Enjoy the nice weather this week 🙂
Ellenb says
The orange sauce was amazing and so easy. I used it w fried chic fingers. Sautéed shrimp and over fried rice. Great
Jen says
This was a hit with my family!! Such an easy sauce to make. I was out of cornstarch so I used flour but the results were still delicious. This will go in my regular meal rotation!
Kim Tyson says
I made this last night and it was wonderful. I can not wait to try the recipe for the Beef Brisket Gyros. I am really enjoying you recipes.
jo says
So glad to hear it!
Ashley says
This Sweet & Sour Chicken is delicious!!!! I made it along with your Chow Mein recipe. Both are fantastic!
Thank you so much Jo! I found your websites a few months back & have made so many of your delicious recipes!
jo says
My pleasure, so glad you’re enjoying my recipes!
CindyH says
I made this tonight and it was so good! Due only to my own time crunch, I prepared the sauce while the chicken started baking and then tossed it in at the 15 minute point. It worked perfectly. Luckily I doubled the recipe—just had that feeling. 😉
I never thought about making my own sweet and sour chicken. I’m so glad I saw your post. Thanks for a keeper recipe.
Joanna Cismaru says
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!
Jackie says
Loved it!! Thank you 🙂
Jan says
Easy and tasty.
Didn’t need that much cornstarch, that’s all.
Heather says
Made this many times. Delicious
Meg K says
Is there a way to make this without eggs?!? (Kiddos allergic)
Nicole Beaulieu says
You can use milk!
Marcus says
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.
Jessica Vanderhoef says
This was so tasty! My picky eater loved it.
Lili says
This was wonderful. Keeper. Always searching for a sweet and sour and wasn’t happy until today! Thanks.
Karen says
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
Rose says
Easy nd delicious
Great that there is no gluten
Andrew Keenan says
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!
Yvette Lamothe says
It is delicious everyone loved it ❤️
Shirley says
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!
Jacqueline Bellemare says
Cette recette est la plus délicieuse que j’ai mangée de toute ma vie…Juste WOW!!!