Sweet and Sour Chicken

Crispy chicken pieces, coated in a vibrant, tangy, and sweet sauce, tossed with colorful bell peppers and juicy pineapple chunks, Sweet and Sour Chicken is a beloved classic, a delightful explosion of flavors and textures that brings the excitement of takeout to your home kitchen. This is not just another stir-fry recipe; it’s a culinary adventure, perfectly balancing the zing of sourness with the comforting sweetness, creating a dish that is both incredibly easy to prepare and utterly satisfying to devour. Imagine the enticing aroma of caramelized sweet and sour sauce filling your kitchen, the vibrant colors of the bell peppers and pineapple glistening alongside the crispy chicken, and the first bite delivering a perfect harmony of crunchy chicken, tender vegetables, and a luscious, flavourful sauce, promising a culinary experience that is both quick to create and utterly delightful to share. This recipe is your passport to takeout-style deliciousness, bringing the irresistible charm of Sweet and Sour Chicken to your table, ready to be enjoyed with family and friends with its authentic taste and effortless preparation.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

Faster and Fresher Than Takeout

Appreciate the speed and freshness of homemade Sweet and Sour Chicken. Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe surpasses takeout in both speed and quality, allowing you to enjoy a vibrant and flavourful meal made with fresh ingredients right in your own kitchen. Experience the satisfaction of creating a takeout favorite at home, offering a healthier and tastier alternative to restaurant versions.

Perfectly Balanced Sweet and Sour Flavors

Indulge in the harmonious balance of sweet and sour in this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe. The sauce achieves the perfect equilibrium of tangy and sweet, coating the crispy chicken and vegetables in a luscious glaze that is neither too sweet nor too sour, but just right, creating a truly delightful flavour profile. Savour the perfectly balanced taste that makes this dish so addictive, offering a truly satisfying and flavourful culinary experience.

Customizable with Your Favorite Vegetables

Discover the adaptable nature of Sweet and Sour Chicken, a recipe that welcomes your favorite vegetables and allows for easy customization. Add broccoli florets, snap peas, carrots, or any other vegetables you enjoy to create a personalized stir-fry that caters to your taste preferences and dietary needs. Enjoy the flexibility to tailor this recipe to your liking, offering a truly versatile and customizable base for your stir-fry creations.

Crispy Chicken That Stays Crispy

Relish the satisfyingly crispy chicken in this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe. The double-frying technique ensures that the chicken remains delightfully crispy even after being coated in the sauce, providing a textural contrast that elevates the entire dish. Experience the textural perfection of crispy chicken that holds its crunch, offering a truly satisfying and enjoyable eating experience.

Budget-Friendly and Family-Friendly Meal

Embrace the affordability and family-friendliness of Sweet and Sour Chicken. Made with readily available and budget-friendly ingredients, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser that won’t break the bank, making it a perfect choice for family dinners or casual gatherings. Enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal that is both economical and universally appealing, offering a truly budget-friendly and family-friendly culinary solution.

Ingredients

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For the Crispy and Tender Chicken

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes. Chicken thighs are recommended for their juiciness and flavour, remaining tender even after frying. Chicken breasts can also be used for a leaner option. Cubing the chicken ensures quick and even cooking and crisping. Ensure to use halal certified chicken.
• 1 cup cornstarch. Cornstarch is crucial for creating the crispy coating on the chicken, providing a light and airy texture that crisps up beautifully when fried. Cornstarch is the key to achieving takeout-style crispy chicken.
• 1 egg, lightly beaten. Egg acts as a binder for the cornstarch coating, helping it adhere to the chicken and adding richness and moisture. A lightly beaten egg ensures even distribution and coating.
• ½ teaspoon salt, kosher salt or sea salt. Salt is essential for seasoning the chicken, enhancing its flavour and preventing a bland taste. Kosher salt or sea salt are preferred for their pure flavour and even seasoning. Adjust to taste.
• ¼ teaspoon white pepper, ground. White pepper adds a subtle warmth and delicate spice to the chicken, complementing the other seasonings without overpowering the dish. Ground white pepper provides a milder spice than black pepper.
• Vegetable oil, for frying. Vegetable oil is used for deep-frying the chicken, providing a neutral flavour and high smoke point suitable for frying. Use enough oil for deep-frying, about 3-4 inches deep in the pot.

For the Vibrant Sweet and Sour Sauce

• ½ cup pineapple juice. Pineapple juice provides the base for the sweet and sour sauce, adding a natural sweetness and tropical tanginess that is essential for the signature flavour profile. Unsweetened pineapple juice is recommended to control sweetness level.
• ½ cup rice vinegar. Rice vinegar is the key sour component in the sauce, providing a mild and slightly sweet acidity that balances the sweetness and creates the signature sweet and sour flavour. Rice vinegar is crucial for authentic sweet and sour flavour.
• ½ cup granulated sugar. Granulated sugar provides the sweetness in the sauce, balancing the acidity of the vinegar and creating the classic sweet and sour flavour profile. Adjust sugar level to your preferred sweetness.
• ¼ cup ketchup. Ketchup adds a tomatoey base and a touch of sweetness and tanginess to the sauce, contributing to its complexity and depth of flavour. Ketchup enhances the colour and flavour of the sauce.
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce, low sodium. Low sodium soy sauce adds umami and savory depth to the sauce, balancing the sweetness and acidity and contributing to its overall flavour complexity. Low sodium soy sauce is recommended to control salt level.
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Cornstarch is used to thicken the sauce, creating a glossy and viscous texture that coats the chicken and vegetables beautifully. Cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce to the desired consistency.
• 1 tablespoon water. Water is used to create a cornstarch slurry, ensuring smooth incorporation into the sauce without lumps. Water helps dissolve cornstarch for even thickening.

For the Colorful Vegetables and Stir-Fry

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Vegetable oil is used for stir-frying the vegetables, providing a neutral flavour and preventing sticking to the wok or pan. Use a wok or large skillet for stir-frying.
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces. Red bell pepper adds sweetness, color, and a slightly crunchy texture to the stir-fry, contributing to its visual appeal and flavour complexity. Cut bell pepper into uniform pieces for even cooking.
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces. Green bell pepper adds a slightly vegetal and slightly bitter note to the stir-fry, complementing the sweetness of the red bell pepper and adding flavour complexity. Cut bell pepper into uniform pieces for even cooking.
• 1 yellow onion, cut into wedges. Yellow onion adds a savory sweetness and aromatic base to the stir-fry, contributing to its flavour depth and complexity. Cut onion into wedges for stir-frying.
• 1 cup pineapple chunks, fresh or canned, drained. Pineapple chunks add a signature tropical sweetness and tanginess to the stir-fry, complementing the sweet and sour sauce and adding a juicy texture. Fresh or canned pineapple can be used, ensure canned pineapple is drained well.

Optional Garnishes and Serving

• Cooked white rice, or brown rice, or noodles, for serving. Cooked white rice, brown rice, or noodles are classic accompaniments for Sweet and Sour Chicken, providing a carbohydrate base for serving. Choose your preferred grain or noodle type.
• Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional). Sesame seeds add a nutty flavour and visual appeal to the finished dish, enhancing its presentation. Sesame seeds provide a simple and elegant garnish.
• Chopped green onions, for garnish (optional). Chopped green onions add a fresh, mild onion flavour and a pop of color to the finished dish, enhancing its visual appeal and freshness. Chopped green onions provide a fresh and vibrant garnish.

How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken ?

Step 1: Prepare the Crispy Chicken

In a medium bowl, combine chicken cubes, cornstarch, egg, salt (for chicken), and white pepper. Combine all chicken coating ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.

Mix well until chicken is evenly coated with cornstarch mixture. Mix until chicken is thoroughly and evenly coated with the cornstarch mixture, ensuring a crispy coating.

Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or deep fryer to 350°F (175°C). Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or deep fryer to the optimal frying temperature for crispy chicken. Use a thermometer to ensure accurate oil temperature.

Carefully add chicken to hot oil in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Carefully add chicken to hot oil in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot, which can lower oil temperature and result in soggy chicken. Fry in batches for best crispiness.

Fry for 3-4 minutes per batch, or until golden brown and cooked through. Fry chicken for 3-4 minutes per batch, or until golden brown and cooked through. Chicken should be crispy and cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Remove fried chicken with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Remove fried chicken from hot oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil and maintain crispiness.

Step 2: Make the Sweet and Sour Sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch (for sauce) and water to make a slurry. Whisk together cornstarch and water in a small bowl to create a smooth slurry, ensuring no lumps. Cornstarch slurry is used to thicken the sauce.

In a medium saucepan, whisk together pineapple juice, rice vinegar, sugar, ketchup, and soy sauce. In a medium saucepan, whisk together all sauce ingredients except cornstarch slurry.

Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Bring sauce mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens and becomes glossy, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens to desired consistency and becomes glossy and translucent. Cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce quickly.

Remove sauce from heat and set aside. Remove thickened sauce from heat and set aside while stir-frying vegetables.

Step 3: Stir-Fry Vegetables

Heat vegetable oil (for stir-fry) in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet until shimmering and ready for stir-frying vegetables. Wok or large skillet is ideal for stir-frying.

Add bell peppers and onion wedges and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, or until slightly tender-crisp. Add bell peppers and onion wedges to the hot wok or skillet and stir-fry until slightly tender-crisp, retaining some crunch. Stir-frying vegetables quickly preserves their texture and colour.

Add pineapple chunks and stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Add pineapple chunks and stir-fry briefly until heated through, being careful not to overcook and make them mushy. Pineapple is added last to retain its texture.

Step 4: Combine Chicken, Sauce, and Vegetables

Add fried chicken to the wok or skillet with vegetables. Add crispy fried chicken to the wok or skillet with stir-fried vegetables.

Pour sweet and sour sauce over chicken and vegetables. Pour prepared sweet and sour sauce over the chicken and vegetables.

Toss to coat everything evenly with sauce. Toss to combine all ingredients, ensuring chicken and vegetables are evenly coated with the sweet and sour sauce.

Cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until sauce is heated through and everything is well combined. Cook briefly until sauce is heated through and all ingredients are well combined and heated.

Step 5: Serve and Garnish

Serve Sweet and Sour Chicken hot over cooked rice or noodles. Serve immediately over cooked rice or noodles for a complete meal.

Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions for added visual appeal and flavour, if desired.

Enjoy each crispy, sweet, and sour bite.

Tips for Variations

Spicy Chili Garlic Kick

Add chili garlic sauce or a minced red chili pepper to the sauce for a spicy kick. Chili garlic sauce or red chili pepper will add a significant spicy heat to the dish.

Honey Sweetened Sauce Option

Substitute some of the granulated sugar with honey for a more natural sweetness and a slightly different flavour profile in the sauce. Honey will add a floral sweetness and a slightly different flavour dimension to the sauce.

Orange Juice Citrus Boost

Substitute some of the pineapple juice with orange juice in the sauce for a brighter and more citrusy flavour. Orange juice will add a different citrus dimension and a touch of sweetness to the sauce.

Sesame Oil Aromatic Depth

Add a teaspoon of sesame oil to the sauce or stir-fry for an enhanced nutty aroma and flavour. Sesame oil adds a distinct nutty and aromatic flavour that complements Asian-inspired dishes.

Cashew Nut Crunch Addition

Add roasted cashews or peanuts to the stir-fry for a nutty crunch and textural contrast. Roasted cashews or peanuts add a satisfying crunch and nutty flavour to the dish.

Serving Suggestions

Steamed Rice Classic Base

Serve Sweet and Sour Chicken over fluffy steamed white rice or brown rice for a classic and simple base. Steamed rice is a traditional and neutral base that complements the flavourful stir-fry.

Noodles Lo Mein Style

Serve Sweet and Sour Chicken over lo mein noodles or egg noodles for a heartier and more substantial meal. Noodles provide a different textural base and create a more filling meal.

Quinoa or Couscous Grain Alternative

Serve Sweet and Sour Chicken over quinoa or couscous for a healthier and grain-based alternative to rice or noodles. Quinoa or couscous offer a nutritious and flavorful grain base.

Lettuce Wraps Lighter Option

Serve Sweet and Sour Chicken in crisp lettuce wraps for a lighter and refreshing appetizer or meal option. Lettuce wraps provide a low-carb and refreshing way to enjoy the stir-fry.

Spring Rolls or Egg Rolls Appetizer Pairing

Pair Sweet and Sour Chicken with spring rolls or egg rolls as an appetizer for a complete takeout-style meal experience. Spring rolls or egg rolls are classic appetizer pairings that complement the stir-fry beautifully.

FAQ

Can I bake the chicken instead of frying?

While frying yields the crispiest results, you can bake the chicken for a slightly healthier option. Toss chicken with cornstarch mixture and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Baked chicken will be less crispy than fried chicken.

How do I prevent the chicken from getting soggy in the sauce?

To keep chicken crispy in sweet and sour sauce, fry it until very crispy, add it to the sauce just before serving, and avoid letting it sit in the sauce for too long. Serving immediately after tossing in sauce is key to maintaining crispiness.

Can I make Sweet and Sour Chicken ahead of time?

Sweet and Sour Chicken is best enjoyed fresh. If making ahead, store chicken and sauce separately and combine just before serving to maintain crispiness. Sauce can be made ahead, but chicken is best fried fresh.

How long does Sweet and Sour Chicken stay fresh?

Leftover Sweet and Sour Chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Reheat in a skillet or microwave, but chicken may lose some crispiness. Reheating may soften the crispy chicken coating.

Can I freeze Sweet and Sour Chicken?

Freezing Sweet and Sour Chicken is not recommended as the crispy chicken and sauce texture may change upon thawing and become soggy. Freezing may affect the texture and quality of the dish. It is best enjoyed fresh.

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