This sweet and sour chicken is full of crispy chicken, fresh pineapple and bell peppers, all tossed in a sweet and savory sauce. A classic Chinese food dish that tastes even better than the take out version.
Sweet and sour chicken is a super popular dish, because that combination of crunchy chicken, sweet juicy pineapple and crisp peppers just cannot be beat. I make this dish at home at least once a month to get my Chinese food cravings satisfied, and my kids love it too. Serve it with fried rice or cucumber salad for a complete meal!
There are always those classic dishes that seem to live on through the years because they’re just that good. Sweet and sour chicken is one of those recipes for me and I had to share my version that’s just as good as any restaurant. An easy and pleasing dish for the entire family.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN?
The first step is to fry up your chicken. The chicken breast pieces are coated in a mixture of egg and cornstarch to get that ultra crispy coating.
I used chicken thighs here, but cubed chicken breast will also work. Make sure you use a thermometer to check the temperature of your oil before you start frying, 350-375 degrees F is ideal.
You can use fresh or canned pineapple, whichever you prefer. Looking for a healthier sweet and sour chicken? Skip the breading and deep frying and simply saute the chicken in a little vegetable oil. 
WHY IS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE OIL IMPORTANT WHEN FRYING?
You want to make sure your oil is the right temperature, because if the oil is too hot, the outside may be done before the inside is cooked through. If the oil is too cold, the food will need to spend longer in the oil until it’s cooked through which means more oil will be absorbed into the food.
CAN OTHER VEGETABLES BE USED IN SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN?
I love adding vegetables to my sweet and sour chicken. Traditional sweet and sour chicken contains onions, bell peppers and pineapple. You could also try adding sliced carrots or even mushrooms into the mix!
I always get so excited making sweet and sour chicken because it’s one of my all time favorites. This dish is on our dinner rotation quite often and there are never any complaints. It’s an easy dish so it’s never a hard to make on a weeknight!
MORE ASIAN RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
- Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Pepper Steak Stir Fry
- Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
- Pineapple Chicken
Sweet and Sour Chicken Video
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- oil for frying
- 1/2 cup onion cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 green bell pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
- 3/4 cup pineapple chunks
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Place the eggs in a bowl, add salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix the flour and cornstarch together and place in a shallow bowl or on a plate.
- Heat 3 inches of oil in a deep pot to 350 degrees F.
- Dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then roll into the flour mixture. Repeat with all of the chicken.
- Fry 7-8 pieces of chicken at a time for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Repeat the process with all of the chicken.
- While the chicken is cooking, heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the bell peppers and onion to the pan and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes or until vegetables are just tender. Stir in the pineapple.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, cider vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, ketchup and cornstarch.
- Pour the sauce into the pan with the peppers, onions and pineapple and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until sauce has thickened.
- Add the fried chicken to the pan with the peppers and pineapple and toss to coat with the sauce. Serve immediately.
Marty Brewer says
Any suggestions for an alternative to deep frying the chicken? I don’t want to use that much oil!
Sara says
You can pan sear it in just a few tablespoons of oil!
Debra s says
My family loved this chicken! They thought it was take out food!
John Scardina says
We are retired and are tired of getting boring, expensive carryout food for lunch. Saw the Sweet and sour chicken recipe and decided to try it for lunch. BETTER than carry out and less expensive. Make enough for leftovers for dinner. I used a whole can of Pineapples and made a topping out of the pineapple juice. Took the juice from the can and added 1 teaspoon of Cornstarch, heated and it jelled into a savory and tart rich topping that I added to the top of the dish. We invited neighbors over and they went crazy over it and asked for the recipe. I like spicy Asian, but this is my new dish for the grandkids too.
jacq says
Tried this for lunch and my husband loved it! Yummy!!!😊
Sara says
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, thanks for reporting back!
Christine says
Hello can I just double check that you need onion and onion powder? It says in step 9 add to peppers and pineapple but doesn’t say about the onions which also went in. Do you take them out? Thanks
Sara says
Yes you use both. The onions stay in they pan they’re not removed, I just edited the recipe to clarify!
Christine says
Sorry for another question but just making this now for me and hubby but want the leftovers for my girls tomorrow. Will it be ok to reheat? I haven’t added the pineapple yet, thinking it will probably reheat better without it, is that the correct assumption. Thanks for your help Christine
Sara says
The coating on the chicken will absorb the sauce and get softer as it sits, it still tastes good but the leftovers aren’t quite as delicious since the chicken isn’t crispy.
Tamara says
I just made this for dinner. Followed the recipe exactly, and everyone, including my picky 8 year old, loved it.
Definitely a welcome addition to our dinner rotation. Thank you!
Sara says
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, thank you for reporting back!
Rachel says
This looks relly good. I never kknow how to make the batter/coating for the chicken.
Trina says
Sweet and Sour Chicken is one of my favorites! I can’t wait to try this, I am saving this recipe, thanks for sharing!
Angie says
YUM! I love Sweet and Sour Chicken. I love anything Chinese food, or any kind of Asian food… SO good.
Catalina says
This looks like the tastiest weeknight dinner! I am the chicken kind of person! 🙂 Mmmmm…
Ruth I says
Oh, yum! This looks so good and delicious! We always order out sweet and sour chicken dish because we do not know how to cook it. lol! But I’ll try this recipe.
Tami says
I treat myself to this about once a month dining out. I am definitely going to treat myself more often now that I can prepare it at home. Yum!
Lisa Favre says
This recipe actually reminds me of the sweet and sour dish we regularly order from our favorite Chinese restaurant! I will have to try and make it.
Rose Ann Sales says
Sweet and sour chicken is one of my favorite dishes and seeing this photo makes my mouth watering and makes me really hungry.
Shannan P says
Love this! I’ll be adding this one to the meal plan rotation. Sweet and sour chicken is one of our favorites!
Marcie W. says
What a delicious dinner idea! This sweet and sour chicken would be a hit with the entire family for sure.
Ann F. Snook-Moreau says
Oh yum, sweet and sour chicken is one of my favorites! Love your tip on making the chicken super crispy . . . no one wants soggy chicken that gets all gloopy in the sauce.