Description
Make this easy Sweet and Sour Chicken at home in just 30 minutes! Crispy fried chicken coated in a tangy, sweet, and savory sauce—better than takeout. Serve with rice for a delicious meal!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs, beaten
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
Optional Add-ins:
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into chunks
- ½ cup pineapple chunks
- ½ small onion, sliced
Instructions
-
Prepare the Chicken
- In a bowl, combine the cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper.
- Dip the chicken pieces into the beaten eggs, then coat them in the dry mixture.
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy (about 4-5 minutes per batch). Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
-
Make the Sweet and Sour Sauce
- In a saucepan, combine ketchup, rice vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and pineapple juice. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook until the sauce thickens (about 2 minutes).
-
Combine Everything
- In a large pan or wok, heat a little oil and stir-fry the bell peppers, onion, and pineapple chunks for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the fried chicken and pour in the sweet and sour sauce. Toss to coat everything evenly.
- Cook for another 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
-
Serve
- Serve immediately over steamed white rice, fried rice, or noodles.
Notes
- Baked Version: Bake the chicken at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Air Fryer Method: Cook the coated chicken in an air fryer at 375°F for 12-15 minutes, shaking halfway.
- Spicy Twist: Add a dash of sriracha or red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free flour and tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-Fry, Deep-Fry
- Cuisine: chinese-american
Keywords: sweet and sour chicken, crispy chicken, homemade takeout, easy chicken recipe, Chinese food at home