Sweet and sour chicken is a beloved dish that offers the perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and savory flavors. This Chinese-American classic features crispy, golden-brown chunks of chicken coated in a sticky, flavorful sauce made from a blend of vinegar, ketchup, sugar, and soy sauce. It’s a dish that’s easy to prepare, satisfying, and perfect for a family dinner or special occasion.
The key to great sweet and sour chicken is in the chicken’s texture. Boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh pieces are cut into bite-sized cubes, then coated in a light batter before being deep-fried until crispy. The result is a crunchy exterior that contrasts perfectly with the juicy, tender chicken inside.
The sweet and sour sauce is what really makes this dish shine. The sauce is a delightful combination of sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce, creating a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Pineapple chunks, bell peppers, and onions are often added to the dish, giving it a burst of color and additional sweetness that complements the sauce. These vegetables not only add flavor but also texture, making the dish even more satisfying.
Once the chicken is fried, it’s tossed in the sweet and sour sauce until well-coated, allowing the crispy chicken to absorb the sauce’s delicious flavors. The result is a dish that’s both tangy and sweet, with the crispy chicken providing the perfect base for the vibrant, flavorful sauce.
Sweet and sour chicken is best served with steamed white rice or fried rice, which helps soak up the extra sauce. It also pairs wonderfully with vegetables like steamed broccoli or sautéed green beans for a complete, balanced meal.
This dish can be customized to your liking by adjusting the sweetness or tanginess of the sauce. You can also add extra veggies or make it spicier by incorporating chili flakes or hot sauce.
Whether you’re cooking for yourself or feeding a crowd, sweet and sour chicken is a flavorful and easy dish that’s sure to become a favorite.

Ingredients
- 200 grams chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup pineapple chunks canned or fresh
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the cornstarch and flour. Dip the chicken pieces into the beaten egg, then coat with the cornstarch-flour mixture.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the chicken pieces until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
- In a separate pan, combine the rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and minced garlic. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the pineapple chunks and diced bell peppers to the sauce. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the fried chicken to the pan and toss to coat with the sauce. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Serve the sweet and sour chicken hot, optionally with steamed rice.
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This recipe is fantastic! The sweet and sour sauce is perfectly balanced. My family loved it!
This was so good! My kids loved it, and they can be picky eaters!
Sounds good, but isn’t chicken with pineapple a bit weird? Not sure if I’ll try it.
Easy peasy chicken recipe! I added more garlic and it was delicious!
Sweet n sour chicken is my weakness! This recipe nails it. 10/10 recommend!
Really? I found it too sweet. Shouldn’t there be more vinegar in it?
Love this dish! It’s so easy to make and tastes just like in restaurants. Yum!
I tried making this but ended up burning the chicken. Not sure what I did wrong.
Honestly, too sweet for my taste. Maybe I’ll cut down the sugar next time.
I totally agree! It was way too sugary. I like a little sweetness, but this was over the top. Next time, I’ll definitely reduce the sugar too!