Looking for a recipe for a delicious dinner that’ll delight the whole family? The answer is simple: sweet and sour chicken recipe.
Crunchy vegetables and tender chicken is tied together by a silky, well-seasoned sauce, making this sweet and sour chicken a staple in many family tables.
What Is Sweet and Sour Chicken?
Sweet and sour chicken consists of deep-fried chicken of bite-sized chunks that are coated in a special sauce made of sugar, salt, ketchup, and vinegar. Other add-ins such as bell peppers, onions, pineapples, or broccoli are also stir-fried in this delicious sauce.
The origin of sweet and sour chicken began in the 18th century in China. With the arrival of Chinese immigrants in the 20th century, the dish then spread to America.
Traditionally, pork is the main protein in the dish, however, chicken has become a more common choice since it is easier to buy and is acceptable to everyone. The classic blend of sugar and vinegar is complemented by ketchup— an American favorite. This helps the recipe evolve even more with the American palate.
Substitution
Apart from the sweet and sour sauce, another important ingredient needs to be carefully chosen: chicken. Not to worry, we are here with some simple breakdowns to help give you guidance and clarity.
1. Chicken Breast
Skinless boneless chicken breast— one of the most versatile meat— works nicely in the recipe. With very little fat contained, this white meat can be easily cut into bite-sized chunks and deep-fried in oil without resulting in a greasy taste.
2. Chicken Thigh
Containing a little more fat, the chicken thigh is slightly more tender than the whole chicken breast. We recommend buying chicken thighs as fillets with skin and bones removed.
This way you can reduce the fat content in the dish, making it more appetizing and healthier.
3. Chicken Wings
Chicken wings are a cheaper part of a chicken, but this doesn’t make them less tasty than others. The higher percentage of skin even creates the succulent mouthfeel in every bite, making this sweet and sour chicken wings a great appetizer.
Our favorite way to eat the dish is to serve it hot over cooked rice and pair it with some green salads for a fulfilling and satisfying dinner.
Is Sweet and Sour Chicken Healthy?
With a list of fresh ingredients including white meat, vegetables, and herbs, this sweet and sour chicken is undoubtedly healthy.
1. Calories
One serving of our sweet and sour chicken with rice combined delivers 505 calories. We recommend having the dish with a hearty soup or light salad to get a fulfilling 750-calories meal.
2. Carbs
With 68.9 grams of carbohydrate in each serving, our sweet and sour chicken recipe might not be for low carb dieters. That number might sound a lot, however, we carefully tested and calculated the nutritional value to ensure the recipe satisfies the US dietary guidelines.
How Long Does Sweet and Sour Chicken Last?
Over time this sweet and sour chicken will deteriorate in quality, so the best time to eat the dish is when it is fresh from the pan after frying. The chicken is still juicy and the crispy outer is coated with the goodness from the sweet and sour sauce.
Since our sweet and sour chicken doesn’t contain any preservatives, it should be consumed within the first 2 hours. In case you want to prolong the shelf life of the leftover, follow these steps.
Store your chicken and the sauce separately in different airtight containers, and place them in the refrigerator.
Can You Freeze Sweet and Sour Chicken?
Yes, sweet and sour chicken is quite freezer-friendly. Store the dish in an airtight container for up to 3-4 months.
When ready to use, thaw the chicken in the refrigerator the night before. Then reheat in a microwave or a saucepan over medium heat.
Protip: You can store the sauce separately from the chicken to preserve the crispiness of the fried chicken.
What to Serve with
1. Rice
The combination of sweet and sour chicken with steamed rice is a classic dinner for most Asian families. If you are trying to cut down on the daily carbohydrates, simply switch the regular white rice to cauliflower rice for a similar mouthfeel.
2. Noodles
Another common starchy option to go with this recipe is noodle. The best way to cook noodles is to stir fry them in the same pan with other ingredients. This allows noodles to absorb the sauce and beautifully blend with flavors.
One thing to note about this sweet and sour chicken noodles is that the leftover will continue to soak up the liquid even when it sits in the fridge. So you should add a tablespoon of water or chicken broth to the pan when reheating the dish.
3. Soups
Comforting Asian soups like cabbage soup or egg drop soup can wonderfully pair with sweet and sour chicken. Those soups can be made from scratch with only some available ingredients in your fridge within 30 minutes.
We serve this sweet and sour chicken with Vietnamese egg rolls and pineapple ginger juice for a delightful 750-calorie meal. The following tables will give you more details about the nutrition of the meal.
More Sticky, Gorgeous Chicken Filets Over Rice
Starting off this list is our Thai-style grilled chicken: spicy, umami, and tangy. The plate is finished with toasted peanuts and a quick carrot pickle.
This one, on the other hand, really does chicken breasts great justice. The skin is crisp, the meat is juicy, and the flavorful spice mix is complemented by a side of mango salad. We think they’re best served with cooked rice.
Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
Today's sweet and sour chicken is going to introduce a healthier take on the restaurant version. Serve with a light soup or salad and you'll have a nutritious, yet tasty dinner within an hour.
- cook TIME 15 mins
- prep TIME 10 mins
- total TIME 40 mins
- INACTIVE TIME 15 mins
- COURSE Main Course
- CUISINE Chinese
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 505 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 12 oz skinless boneless chicken breast (1-inch cube)
- 8 oz bell pepper (red, yellow, and green)
- 6 oz onion
- 4 oz pineapple
- 1 cup olive oil (for frying *)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsalted chicken broth
- 1 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 4 tbsp Heinz ketchup
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
- 1 egg white
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp garlic (chopped)
- 1 tsp ginger (minced)
- 2 tbsp green onion
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 3 cups cooked medium-grain rice
INSTRUCTIONS
In a big clean bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp ground pepper, and 1 white egg until resulting in a smooth batter.
Coat each piece of 12 oz chicken in the batter. Then let the bowl sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
For the sauce: In a small bowl, stir together 4 tbsp tomato ketchup, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 cup chicken broth, and 1 tbsp white wine vinegar. Set aside.
Take the chicken out of the refrigerator. Deep-fry chicken in 1 cup of olive oil over medium-low heat until they are golden brown and cooked through. Reduce the heat if needed so that the chicken is not over brown. Remove the chicken and drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper. Refry the chicken for the crispier texture.
In a nonstick pan, add 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Stir fry 2 tsp garlic, 1 tsp ginger, 6 oz onion, 8 oz bell pepper, and 4 oz pineapple over medium heat for about 3 minutes.
Add in the sauce, fried chicken, 2 tbsp green onion, and 1 tsp sesame seeds and mix through heat.
Serve hot with cooked rice.
(*) Only part of these ingredients will end up in the final product, and we have calculated nutritional values based on those amounts. The whole amount is needed for the frying process, but what actually ends up being consumed is 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary Consultant
Luna Regina
Writer, Author
Emily Rogers, MPH, RDN
Nutrition Reviewer
- PerkinsTurned out really good!