Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sweet and Sour Crispy Chicken coated in delicious, tangy-sweet, sticky sauce. A takeout style Chinese chicken dinner at home without the wait for delivery. Gluten Free.

Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

So excited to share this Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe. Chinese Crispy Chicken is a lite and crispy fried chicken coated in sweet and sour sticky sauce. Recipe takes just 25 minutes start to finish. It comes together quicker than time to order a takeout and wait for the delivery. Pair with home cooked Jasmine rice for a delicious dinner at home. Gluten free.

Oh, Pineapple shell is only used for the pictures. You don't need it for cooking the recipe.

Let's get started with the recipe. Shall we?!

Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken

We have a big Asian community around us. Sweet sour chicken often makes to the community buffet/get togethers. There are so many variations of this recipe that I have tried. Everyone has signature sauce and their family's personal touch but one thing is common - crispy chicken and savory finger-licking sauce.

With this recipe, I have tried to create the same crispy fried chicken with a sweet and sour sauce with very lite breading of corn starch. Sauce is flavored with pineapple juice. You can use canned pineapple juice. Or buy a fresh ripe pineapple and extract juice from it.

Delicious better than takeout Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe via @chefdehome | chefdehome.com

Sweet and Sour Sauce

Chinese/Indian Chicken recipes are more about sauce than protein. In my opinion, a perfect tasting sauce is the important step for getting any Asian recipe... actually any recipe, right. Don't you think?

Likewise, the heart of best tasting sweet and sour chicken is in it's sauce. Sauce is very very simple. If you follow the recipe exactly, sauce will be ready in just 3 minutes.

Ingredients to make Sweet and Sour sauce include tomato ketchup, Asian staple ginger and garlic, soy sauce, vinegar and honey. I was after pineapple flavor, so I also added pineapple juice. You can also use orange juice or apple juice based on flavor preference.

Once all these ingredients marry together... a delicious bright, and shiny finger-licking sweet and sour sauce surfaces in the pan. See step pictures in the recipe card.

Crispy fingerlicking good Sweet and Sour Chicken pineapple rice via @chefdehome | chefdehome.com

Tip: Sweet and Sour sauce also goes great on tofu. In-fact, I even use it to brighten-up stir-fried veggies and rice.

Once the sauce is ready, rest recipe is as simple as cooking chicken.

Traditional sweet n' sour chicken has fried chicken. I wanted to share the traditional version today so went for fried. However, when not in mood to bread and fry chicken, I often sauté it in little oil and seasonings until it is crisp, caramelized and fully cooked. Next, mix in sauce.

Cooking fried chicken is optional. If you are after that traditional crispy fried chicken coated in sweet and tangy sauce.. go ahead, fry the chicken. If you want to avoid frying and still want to enjoy homemade Chinese-takeout! Simply sauté the chicken. It tastes delicious either ways.

Don't forget to serve rice on the side. To me, Chinese food does not feel complete without a serving of rice or noodles. You can opt for brown rice or whole grain noodles such as quinoa or buckwheat noodles.

Crispy Sweet and Sour Chicken served in pineapple bowl via @chefdehome | chefdehome.com

Pineapple Shell as Serving Bowl

I can't finish this post without saying few words about the humble pineapple severing platter. I saw this pineapple bowl last year in Delmar Fair. Vishal had shrimp and pineapple fried rice served in a pineapple bowl. It does look pretty. Thanks to Fair for the inspiration.

Tip: Did you know pineapple shells freeze well? If you buy some pineapple, scoop out the flesh and save the shell to use later.

I hope you will enjoy this bowl full of takeout favorite as much as we did. Try something different for dinner tonight! Bring home ingredients and make Sweet and Sour Chicken with pineapple and rice. Enjoy!

Few more delicious chicken recipes from my recipe repertoire:

Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Skewers Crispy Baked Chicken Wings with Kimchi Caramelized Honey Sauce Baked Popcorn Chicken with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Dip

Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken

Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: Asian () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 2-3 Servings - Serves: 3
(No. of servings depends on serving size.)

Ingredients

Sweet and Sour Chicken Sauce
Crispy Chinese (Breaded) Chicken
For Serving

Directions

  • Step for Recipe - Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken 1. Prepare Ingredients In a wide bowl, mix all of the Sweet and Sour Chicken Sauce ingredients. Whisk to combine well. Make sure honey/agave is fully mixed with other ingredients. Set aside. In a medium bowl, add eggs, and beat slightly. Add 2 tbsp of sweet and sour sauce in egg mixture, add a generous pinch or two of salt and black pepper. Mix well.
    Step for Recipe - Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken 2. Batter Chicken Add cubed chicken pieces and coat well. On a large plate, or a paper bag add corn starch. Season with generous pinch or two of salt and black pepper. Add egg coated chicken and toss well to bread evenly. Additional Notes: I like to add 2 tbsp of sweet and sour sauce in egg mixture that makes chicken crust very flavorful.
  • Step for Recipe - Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken 3. Fry Chicken Start by heating oil for frying in a heavy bottom cast-iron pan. When oil is hot but not smoking, add battered chicken. Working in batches, shallow fry breaded chicken in oil until crispy from all sides and is fully cooked.
    Step for Recipe - Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken 4. Fry in Batches I fried chicken in two batches, 5-6 minutes each batch. Remove fried chicken on a paper lined plate to drain excess oil.
  • Step for Recipe - Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken 5. Cook Sauce In a pan, add remaining of Sweet and Sour mix (saved in step 1). Bring the sauce to boil, then simmer for 1-2 minutes or until sauce get little thick.
    Step for Recipe - Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken 6. Coat Chicken in Sauce Add in cooked chicken and coat well in the sauce.
  • Step for Recipe - Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken 7. Season and Serve Sweet and Sour Chicken is ready. Remove in a bowl. Serve over rice with garnish of fresh pineapple and rice. Enjoy!
Savita's Notes:
  1. Cooking fried chicken is optional. If you are after that traditional crispy fried chicken coated in sweet and tangy sauce.. go ahead, fry the chicken. If you want to avoid frying and still want to enjoy homemade Chinese-takeout! Simply sauté the chicken. It tastes delicious either ways. Only make sure that chicken is fully cooked before adding to the sauce.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @SAVITACHEFDEHOME on Instagram and hashtag it #SAVITACHEFDEHOME

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3 Responses

  1. delicious recipe...
  2. I am from Kiribati,I like this recipe and it taste so good, delicious. Add one more please so I can try from here.
    Hi Keiti, thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed sweet and sour chicken. I post one more Chinese chicken recipe today. I hope you will like it.