Description
Sweet and Sour Chicken is a classic Chinese-American dish featuring crispy chicken chunks tossed in a tangy, flavorful sauce made with vinegar, sugar, and ketchup. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart, served with vibrant bell peppers, onions, and pineapple, creating a delicious meal that’s sure to satisfy.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 pound chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken:
- In a bowl, combine chicken chunks with soy sauce and cornstarch. Mix until the chicken is well-coated.
- Fry the Chicken:
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat.
- Fry the chicken pieces in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Remove and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Make the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- In a small saucepan, whisk together rice vinegar, sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, cornstarch, water, and a pinch of salt.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens, about 3-4 minutes.
- Sauté the Vegetables:
- In the same skillet, add the red and green bell peppers, onion, and pineapple. Cook over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still crisp.
- Combine Everything:
- Add the fried chicken back into the skillet with the vegetables.
- Pour the sweet and sour sauce over the chicken and vegetables, tossing everything together until coated and heated through.
- Serve:
- Serve the Sweet and Sour Chicken over steamed rice and enjoy!
Notes
- For extra flavor, try adding a bit of ginger or garlic to the sauce.
- You can substitute chicken with shrimp or tofu for a variation.
- To make the dish spicier, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or chili sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: ~380 kcal
- Sugar: ~25 g
- Sodium: ~800 mg
- Fat: ~15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: ~70 mg