Quick & Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken
Crispy chicken coated in a sweet, tangy, and sticky sauce! This quick and easy Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe is made with simple ingredients - ready in 30 minutes. A great main that's family-friendly, cheaper and better-than-takeout!
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 12 min
- Yield
- 3 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs
- 1 medium red bell pepper (or green / yellow / orange bell pepper - large diced)
- 1/2 cup pineapple (diced)
- ½ onion (sliced)
- ¼ cup cornstarch (or potato starch)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil (or any neutral oil)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp sesame seeds (optional garnish)
- 1 green onion (finely chopped for garnishing)
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (or cane sugar or white sugar)
- 1/4 cup white vinegar (or rice vinegar / apple cider vinegar)
- 2 tbsp water (cold)
- 1 tbsp regular soy sauce (or light soy sauce)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (or potato starch)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients as listed above and dissolve the sugar. Set aside.
- 2
Dice chicken thighs into 1.5-inch pieces and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and garlic powder. Then add cornstarch and toss to evenly coat, ensuring no bald spots.
- 3
Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Fry chicken in batches until cooked, golden and crispy on both sides, or about 3-4 minutes per side.
- 4
Transfer fried chicken to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil or it can get soggy.
- 5
Reserve 1 tsp or 5 ml of the residual oil in the pan and discard the rest. Reduce to medium heat and sauté onions, red bell pepper and pineapple for 30-45 seconds.
- 6
Add the sauce and simmer to thicken it, about 30-60 seconds.
- 7
Add fried chicken and toss to evenly coat in the sauce. Remove off heat. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!