Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (2024)

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (1)

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My sister Anna shared this sweet and sour chicken recipe with me because her family absolutely loved it.It’s a winner indeed; the best orange chicken I’ve ever tried! Anyway, I pinned it for safe keeping and finally whipped it out.

My son’s eyes lit up when he realized he was having “Panda” for dinner – in his world, all Asianfood is “Panda.” Except, this is way way WAY better than takeout! I’m super thrilled that I know exactly what went into this sweet and sour chicken; no preservatives and I even used organic chicken. #patontheback for Mom :).

I tracked down the original recipe source and it was the talented Mel of Mel’s Kitchen Cafewhosaid it was easily the most popular recipe on her blog (yeah – I can see why!). The only thing I changed was addingan extra egg for easier coating.

This really is quite a treat. Make it tonight!

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (2)

Ingredients for OrangeChicken:

2 lbs (about 4 Medium) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 cup cornstarch
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup extra light olive oil, canola or vegetable oil to saute, plus more as needed

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (3)

Ingredients for the Sweet and Sour Sauce:

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
4 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp soy sauce
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp garlic salt

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How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken:

1.Preheat oven to 325˚F.Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and season with salt and pepper.

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2. Place 1 cup cornstarch into a gallon-sized ziploc bag, add chicken and toss to coat (go on, toss it up, just make sure the bag is closed; that part is important).

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3. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large, heavy bottom pot (I used my French ovenwith nice tall walls to reduce splatterage on the stove).

4. In a shallow dish, whisk together 3 eggs. Dip the cornstarch-dredged chicken pieces into the beaten egg, coating both sides then transfer the chicken to the very hot oil.

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5. Cook chicken in hot oil about 30 seconds per side or until golden. Having very hot oil is key. You don’t want to cook the chicken through, but just until golden. Transfer chicken to a 9×13 baking dish and continue dipping and sautéing remaining chicken, adding more oil as necessary.

Cooking tip: if you add oil to the pot, let it heat up a little before you add more chicken.

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6. In a medium mixing bowl, stirtogether the sauce ingredients: 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 4 Tbsp ketchup, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp garlic salt.

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7. Pour sauce over your sauteed chicken pieces and toss to coat. Bake uncovered at 325˚F for 1 hour, turning the chicken twice while baking to coat with sauce.

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Serve warm or hot over steamy white rice, and crisp tender broccoli for a balanced meal.

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My son spotted this photo as I was putting the post together and the first words out of his mouth, “Can you make that for me?” :). Mel, thank you so much for sharing this goodness! It’s music to my ears when my son makes requests like that.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (13)

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

4.89 from 137 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Tender chicken breast in a mouthwatering homemade sweet and sour sauce. The Chicken becomes so juicy in the oven.

SavePinReviewPrint

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 6 -8

Instructions

How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken: Preheat oven to 325˚F.

  • Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and season with salt and pepper.

  • Place 1 cup cornstarch into a gallon-sized ziploc bag, add chicken and toss to coat.

  • Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large, heavy bottom pot (I used my French oven with nice tall walls to reduce splatterage on the stove).

  • In a shallow dish, whisk together 3 eggs. Dip the cornstarch-dredged chicken pieces into the beaten egg, coating both sides then transfer chicken to the very hot oil.

  • Cook chicken in hot oil about 30 seconds per side or until golden. Having very hot oil is key. You don't want to cook the chicken through, but just until golden. Transfer chicken to a 9x13 baking dish and continue dipping and sautéing remaining chicken, adding more oil as necessary. Cooking tip: if you add oil to the pot, let it heat up a little before you add more chicken.

  • In a medium bowl, stir together sauce ingredients: 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 4 Tbsp ketchup, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp garlic salt.

  • Pour sauce over your sautéed chicken pieces and toss to coat. Bake uncovered at 325˚F for 1 hour, turning the chicken twice while baking to coat with sauce. Serve warm or hot over steamy white rice, and crisp tender broccoli for a balanced meal.

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: Sweet and Sour Chicken

Skill Level: Medium

Cost to Make: $$

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (16)
Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (17)
♥ FAVORITE THINGS♥

Shownin this post: (nope, no one paid us to write this; just stuff we love):
*My favoriteFrench oven– somehow food just tastes better when you use it😉
*This covered9×12 baking dishcomes with a lid, reducing foil waste; and it’s perdy.
*My glassmixing bowlsare so versatile; everything from this sauce to your morning cereal 😉
*These cooking utensils are next to my stove always in reach on their little caddy.

What is the most requested meal in your house?

Natasha Kravchuk

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (18)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the batter made of in sweet and sour chicken? ›

For the batter:
  • ▢ ¾ cup cornstarch.
  • ▢ ¼ cup all-purpose flour.
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon baking powder.
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda.
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
  • ▢ ⅔ cup ice-cold water.
  • ▢ 1 large egg.
Apr 19, 2024

What is sweet and sour sauce made of? ›

While sweet and sour can be found in diverse forms in China, the American version builds upon the simple mixture of sugar, vinegar, and spices with the addition of fruit juice—most commonly pineapple—and ketchup, giving the sauce both its red hue and uniquely Western flavor.

What is the difference between General Tso's and sweet and sour chicken? ›

Difference Between General Tso and Other Chinese Dishes

I've listed out their main difference below to make it a little more clear. Sweet and sour chicken: The two are super similar. The main difference is that General Tso sauce has more ginger flavor, as well as a little more heat from the hot sauce or chili flakes.

Is sweet and sour chicken an authentic Chinese dish? ›

Sweet and sour dishes, sauces, and cooking methods have a long history in China.

Do you dip chicken in egg before frying? ›

Submerge the chicken in the egg wash. Remove the chicken from the egg wash and dredge it in the flour a second time. Shake off the excess flour and place the chicken skin-side down in the hot oil.

How do you thicken sweet and sour chicken? ›

A corn starch slurry thickens the sauce – this sauce is a medium thickness, so depending on your preference add little more or less corn starch slurry (but go slowly – the sauce will take a little time to thicken up once the slurry is added).

What is the actual Flavour of sweet and sour sauce? ›

At it's most basic, sweet and sour sauce is sugar for the sweet and vinegar for the sour. It's almost always red, and it's usually fruity.

What is a substitute for vinegar in sweet and sour sauce? ›

Lemon or lime juice are the two most common substitutes for white vinegar. You can also use rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar or malt vinegar but the taste of your sauce might be a tad different. Soy Sauce – I used low sodium.

Is sweet and sour sauce full of sugar? ›

There are 13.4 grams of carbs in a 2-tablespoon serving of sweet and sour sauce, 7 grams of those carbs come from sugar. The carbohydrates found in sweet and sour sauce are simple carbs, and it has a glycemic index of 70. The carbs are likely coming from ingredients including tomato sauce, ketchup, and added sugar.

Is sweet and sour chicken healthier than General Tso's chicken? ›

The discrepancy is likely due to the fact that while sweet and sour chicken aptly contains slightly more sugar than General Tso's, the latter contains way more protein, so despite being a bit more calorically dense, it's actually the healthier choice.

What does Chinese sweet and sour chicken taste like? ›

It tastes amazing: it's a little tangy, salty and sweet – just like eating at the restaurant! It's kid-friendly: there's no spicy heat and it even calls for a little ketchup! This is a great dish to start getting your kids to try other cuisines from around the world.

Is Chinese sweet and sour chicken the same as orange chicken? ›

Orange Chicken is crispy and light due to its thin glaze. Meanwhile, Sweet and Sour Chicken is crispy with a thicker and more indulgent sauce. Their different textures make them both a delicious choice when you are craving Chinese food.

What ethnicity is sweet and sour chicken? ›

The origin of sweet and sour chicken was in the 18th century or even earlier from China. It spread to the United States in the early 20th century after the Chinese migrant gold miners and railroad workers turned to cookery as trades. In some countries, the dish is known as Ku lo yuk.

Is sweet and sour chicken healthy at a Chinese restaurant? ›

There are 1765 calories in a 1 order (706.000g) serving size of Restaurant, Chinese, sweet and sour chicken. The calorie breakdown is 46% fat, 38% carbs, and 16% protein.

Does sweet and sour chicken contain pineapple? ›

Coat the chicken in the cornflour and add to the pan. Stir-fry for four minutes until very lightly coloured on all sides. Add the pineapple and sweet and sour sauce to the pan with the chicken and bring to a simmer over a medium heat.

What is battered fried chicken? ›

dish consisting of chicken pieces which have been coated in a seasoned batter and pan-fried, deep fried, or pressure fried. Fried chicken are pieces of chicken that have been either battered or floured and then pan fried, pressure fried or deep fried. The breading adds a crisper crust to chickens' exterior.

Does sweet and sour chicken contain egg? ›

Suggested Specification eggs, salt, white pepper powder, garlic, ginger, and green onion.

Does KFC use batter? ›

While KFC won't be revealing its famous secret herb and spices blend (not even the staff know – it's locked away in a secret vault in the US), you can use our not-so-secret blend. The spices are mixed into flour which coats the chicken and becomes the crispy batter.

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