Sweet and Sour Chicken is a classic Chinese dish, known for its sweet, sour, and flavorful taste. The dish typically consists of chicken, bell peppers, pineapple, and aromatic ingredients, all stir-fried in a delicious and vibrant sweet and sour sauce.
This homemade Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe is one of the best stir-fry dishes that comes together in under 30 minutes. It is perfect for both lunch and dinner and pairs exceptionally well with rice, noodles, and any side vegetables of your choice.
The recipe provided includes step-by-step instructions, making it easy for you to recreate this dish in the comfort of your own home. In addition, a detailed video is included to simplify the process and ensure a clear understanding of each step. Enjoy the tantalizing taste of Sweet and Sour Chicken with this must-try recipe.
Jump to:
What is Sweet and Sour Chicken?
Sweet and Sour Chicken is a classic and popular Chinese dish, renowned for its bold flavors. Made with tender chicken, crisp bell peppers, and juicy pineapple, this dish is stir-fried in a mouth-watering sweet and sour sauce. Perfect for both lunch and dinner, Sweet and Sour Chicken is typically served over rice or noodles.
As one of the signature take-out-style dishes found in most Asian restaurants, Sweet and Sour Chicken offers a unique blend of sweet and sour flavors, along with a satisfying crunch from the fresh vegetables and pineapple.
Whether you're in the mood for some classic Asian recipes or searching for a flavorful and easy chicken dinner recipe, this Sweet and Sour Chicken is sure to satisfy you. With the whole process taking just under 30 minutes, especially if you have pre-made sweet and sour sauce on hand, this dish is the perfect solution for a quick and delicious meal.
Ingredients and Substitutions
The ingredients required to make this delicious Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken are commonly found in most Chinese pantry items. These ingredients can easily be procured from Chinese grocery stores. Here's a list of what you'll need:
- Chicken: Boneless chicken thighs or breasts are typically a great option for stir-fry recipes, so use whichever is more convenient for you
- Aromatics: Ginger, garlic, and onion provide a warm, garlicky, and mildly sweet flavor profile, and adding fresh aromatics greatly enhances the dish's overall flavor.
- Bell Peppers: Red, green, or a combination of colors adds vibrancy, crunch, and flavor to the dish
- Pineapple: It provides a tropical sweetness and tanginess to the dish
- Seasoning Powders: Basic spices such as black pepper, chili flakes, and salt add flavor to your dish
- Sweet and Sour Sauce: I've used a homemade sweet and sour sauce but you can also use store-bought if it's more convenient for you
- Sesame Seeds: To garnish and provide a nutty, crunchy flavor in every bite
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken at Home?
The recipe I have shared here is Sweet and Sour Chicken, a classic Chinese takeout-style dish. This classic Chinese dish packs a punch of flavor, with tender chicken, crisp bell peppers, juicy pineapple, and homemade sweet and sour sauce that will tantalize your taste buds. It's the perfect meal for both lunch and dinner and is sure to become one of your favorite dishes. . Give it a try and see for yourself!
Below are the high-level instructions for this recipe, but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and a video, please see the recipe card below.
Prep Chicken
- Season the chicken - In a large bowl, mix the boneless chicken pieces, garlic powder, black pepper powder, cornstarch, and salt. Use a spatula or spoon to make sure that all the chicken pieces are well coated with the spices. The cornstarch will help the spices adhere to the chicken and also create a crispy texture when fried
- Add the chicken - In a large pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned chicken pieces one by one, making sure to not overcrowd the pan. Overcrowding will cause the temperature of the oil to drop, resulting in soggy, rather than crispy, chicken
- Fry the chicken - Fry the chicken pieces for 3-5 minutes on each side until they are fully cooked and golden brown. Once they are done, remove the pan from heat and reserve the chicken for later use
Prep Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Stir fry the aromatics - In a large wok, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the minced ginger, garlic, chili flakes, and sliced onions. Stir-fry for 1 minute or until the ingredients become crispy and fragrant
- Stir fry veggies and bell peppers - Add the diced red and green bell peppers, and pineapple chunks to the wok and continue to stir-fry for an additional minute until the ingredients are crispy. Season with salt to taste, and mix well to ensure that all the ingredients are evenly coated
- Add the sauce - Pour in the sweet and sour sauce and add the cooked chicken to the wok. Use a spatula to mix everything until the sauce evenly coats the chicken, vegetables, and fruit.
- Garnish and remove - Finally, garnish with sesame seeds and remove the wok from heat. The sesame seeds add crunch and nutty flavor to the dish. Enjoy your sweet and sour chicken hot and fresh
Tips
- Incorporating Cornstarch: The addition of cornstarch to the boneless chicken, along with other aromatics, is an essential step in creating a delicious and crispy exterior. The cornstarch helps to form a light coating that will crisp up as it cooks, giving the chicken a satisfying crunch with each bite
- Optimizing Flavor: For the best flavor, it is recommended to use fresh ingredients such as bell peppers, onions, and pineapple chunks. The sweetness of the pineapple perfectly balances the tanginess of the sauce, while the crunch of the peppers and onions provides a pleasant texture contrast to the tender chicken
- Maintaining Temperature: In the world of Chinese stir-frying, heat is everything. To achieve the best results, it is important to maintain high heat throughout the cooking process. This allows the ingredients to cook quickly and evenly, sealing in their flavors and retaining their crispiness
- Sweet and Sour Sauce: This recipe calls for a sweet and sour sauce, which can be made at home using a separate recipe or purchased from the store. Regardless of your preference, the sauce is what gives the dish its distinctive flavor and is the key to creating a satisfyingly sweet and sour chicken experience
Storage Suggestions
You can safely store this Sweet and Sour Chicken for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, simply place it on the stovetop or in the microwave, ensuring that it heats evenly.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the Sweet and Sour Chicken over white rice, jasmine rice, brown rice, or basmati rice for a filling lunch or dinner. Alternatively, serve it with noodles or any other side of your choice.
Related Recipes
You can also discover similar chicken recipes below and more at Chinese recipes and Asian recipes.
- Chicken Stir Fry
- Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Orange Chicken
- Honey Garlic Chicken
- General Tso's Chicken
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Szechuan Chicken
- Chilli Chicken
- Hot and Sour Soup
Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe Video
I have also included a video tutorial of this Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe below, which I hope will assist you in creating a delicious Chinese takeout-style dish. You can also find this recipe in story format.
📖 Recipe
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients
- 1½ lb Boneless Chicken, breast or thighs
- ¾ tsp Garlic Powder
- ¾ tsp Black Pepper, ground
- 2 tbsp Cornstarch
- ¾ tsp Salt, + more to taste
- 1 tbsp Ginger, chopped
- 2 tbsp Garlic , chopped
- 1 tsp Chili Flakes
- 4 tbsp Oil, 2 tbsp for frying chicken + 2 tbsp for stir frying
- ¼ cup Red Bell Peppers, diced
- ¼ cup Green Bell Peppers, diced
- ¼ cup Onion, layered
- ¼ cup Pineapple Chunks
- ½ cup Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Sesame Seeds, to garnish
Instructions
To make Sweet and Sour Chicken
- In a large bowl, mix the boneless chicken pieces, garlic powder, black pepper powder, cornstarch, and salt until the spices evenly coat the chicken
- In a large pan over medium heat, pour 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the seasoned chicken pieces one by one, without overcrowding the pan, and fry for 3-5 minutes on each side until fully cooked
- Remove them from heat and reserve them for later use
- In a large wok over high heat, pour 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the ginger, garlic, chili flakes, and onions. Saute for 1 minute or until they turn crispy
- Add the diced red and green bell peppers, pineapple chunks, and stir fry for an additional minute until the ingredients are crispy. Season with salt and mix well
- Pour in the sweet and sour sauce and add the fried chicken to the wok
- Mix everything until the sauce evenly coats the chicken, vegetables, and fruit. Garnish with sesame seeds and remove from heat
To Serve
- Serve the Sweet and Sour Chicken over white rice, jasmine rice, brown rice, or basmati rice for a filling lunch or dinner. Alternatively, serve it with noodles or along with other Chinese recipes or sides of your choice
Video
Notes
- Incorporating Cornstarch: The addition of cornstarch to the boneless chicken, along with other aromatics, is an essential step in creating a delicious and crispy exterior. The cornstarch helps to form a light coating that will crisp up as it cooks, giving the chicken a satisfying crunch with each bite
- Optimizing Flavor: For the best flavor, it is recommended to use fresh ingredients such as bell peppers, onions, and pineapple chunks. The sweetness of the pineapple perfectly balances the tanginess of the sauce, while the crunch of the peppers and onions provides a pleasant texture contrast to the tender chicken
- Maintaining Temperature: In the world of Chinese stir-frying, heat is everything. To achieve the best results, it is important to maintain high heat throughout the cooking process. This allows the ingredients to cook quickly and evenly, sealing in their flavors and retaining their crispiness
- Sweet and Sour Sauce: This recipe calls for a sweet and sour sauce, which can be made at home using a separate recipe or purchased from the store. Regardless of your preference, the sauce is what gives the dish its distinctive flavor and is the key to creating a satisfyingly sweet and sour chicken experience
Nutrition
FAQ
Sweet and Sour Chicken is a classic and popular Chinese dish known for its bold flavors. It is made by stir-frying tender chicken, crisp bell peppers, and juicy pineapple in a delicious sweet and sour sauce. This dish is typically served over rice or noodles and is suitable for both lunch and dinner.
Yes, you have to season the chicken with spices, coat it with cornstarch, and fry it until it is crispy before stir-frying it with the other ingredients.
While homemade sauces are the best in flavor, you can also use store-bought sweet and sour sauce if it is convenient for you.
I hope you found the recipe enjoyable and I would appreciate hearing about your experience with it.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and I will do my best to respond promptly. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!
Leave a Review