Sweet and Sour Chicken - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

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By Chris Joe

5 from 20 votes

Aug 02, 2023

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Sweet and Sour Chicken is super popular Chinese American takeout dish! The ultra crispy chicken is nicely seasoned, juicy, and coated in a classic sweet and sour sauce that pairs deliciously with some freshly steamed rice.

If you’re a fan of Sweet and Sour Chicken, you’ll never need to order takeout again after trying this recipe!

Watch the Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe Video Below!

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Ingredients for Sweet and Sour Chicken

This Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe is such a winner and perfect for a weeknight meal with a freshly steamed bowl of rice! Here is what you’ll need for the recipe:

  • Chicken Thigh (You can also use chicken breast for this recipe)
  • Kosher Salt
  • White Pepper
  • Light soy sauce (low sodium)
  • Egg
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Cornstarch
  • Chicken Stock – I always recommend Kettle & Fire – use code CJPINS for 20% off your order here!
  • Ketchup
  • Brown Sugar
  • Distilled White Vinegar
  • Baking Powder
  • Neutral Oil for Frying (canola, avocado, or vegetable work well!)
  • Onion
  • Bell Pepper (Yellow, Green, Red)
  • Pineapple
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INGREDIENTS TIPS

CHICKEN
I like to use chicken thigh in this recipe but if you prefer chicken breast, feel free to substitute here!

NEUTRAL OIL
My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when cooking Chinese food for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. I find that the flavor profile does not usually go with the dish.

Sweet and Sour Chicken: Recipe Instructions

Cut the Chicken

The first step in making this recipe is cutting the chicken into 2″ pieces. Cut the chicken into uniform pieces so they cook evenly when we fry them.

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Next, place the sliced chicken into a bowl with light soy sauce, kosher salt, white pepper, egg, and flour. Mix well with your hands and let marinate for at least 20 minutes.

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Next, mix the sauce by combining chicken stock (I always use Kettle & Fire – get 20% off your order when you use code CJPINS!), ketchup, brown sugar, distilled white vinegar, and cornstarch. I always like to premix my sauce to have it ready to go during the fast cooking process.

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Dredge the chicken

Mix together flour, cornstarch, kosher salt, white pepper, and baking powder in a large bowl. Give the chicken a final mix to redistribute the wet batter and let any drip off the chicken. Individually coat the chicken pieces in the dry seasoning mix so that there are no dry spots!

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Be sure to pack the dry mix in to the chicken with your hands (I like squeezing it in) to properly coat the chicken so the batter sticks.

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Fry (and double fry) the chicken

Heat a few quarts of neutral oil over high heat until the temperature reaches 350F. Carefully fry the chicken in batches for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. I highly recommend a thermometer to accurately measure your oil temperature, as you do not want the oil temperature to drop below 325F.

Remove the chicken then bring the oil temperature back up to 350F and fry a second time for an additional 1-2 minutes until the chicken is dark golden brown and crispy!

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Cook Peppers and Onions

Heat 1 tbsp of neutral oil in a wok or large pan over high heat and sauté the peppers and onions for 1 minute.

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Add the premixed sauce to the peppers and onions and mix until the sauce has thickened slightly. Add back the chicken and give it a good mix to combine and the pieces are thoroughly coated!

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If you liked this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe, check out some of the most popular Chinese Take-Out recipes on the blog!

  • Chicken Lo Mein
  • Shrimp Fried Rice
  • Beef and Broccoli
  • Sesame Chicken
  • String Bean Chicken
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RECIPE TIPS

OIL TEMPERATURE
Do not let your frying oil drop below 325F when frying! I highly recommend you use a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. If you see it dropping below 325F, fry your wings in batches. Frying at a low temperature will result in too much moisture (AKA SOGGY!)

PREMIX YOUR SAUCE
The cooking process for the sauce is FAST so it’s a great idea to premix your sauce together, then add it straight into the pan! The corn starch will help thicken the sauce into that velvety texture that Chinese restaurants made so famous.

SUCCESS IS IN THE PREP
For a recipe that comes together extremely quickly, the key to pulling this recipe off successfully is having your ingredients prepped and in bowls right next to your wok or pan! Have your premixed sauce, chicken, and vegetables ready and easily accessible during the cooking process.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

By: Chris Joe

Servings: 3

Prep: 30 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Save

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This Sweet and Sour Chicken is perfectly crispy glazed in a sweet and tangy sauce and so much better than takeout!

Ingredients

Sweet and Sour Sauce

Dry Seasoning Mix

Vegetables and Fruit

  • 3 cups bell pepper, I used red, yellow and green bell pepper, cut to 2" pieces
  • 1/2 onion, cut into 2" pieces
  • 1/2 cup pineapple, cut into 2" pieces

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken thigh into similar size 2" pieces and place in a mixing bowl.

  • Season the chicken with light soy sauce, salt, white pepper, egg and flour. Mix until combined and marinate for 20 minutes.

  • In a bowl, mix together ketchup, brown sugar, white vinegar, chicken stock and cornstarch.

  • In a large bowl, mix together the Dry Seasoning Mix ingredients. Give the chicken another mix to evenly distribute the wet batter, then let any excess drip off and dredge the chicken in the dry mix. Pat the chicken pieces well to ensure there are no bald spots.

  • In a large dutch oven or wok, heat neutral oil to 350F and fry the chicken for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and remove.

  • Bring the oil temperature back to 350F and fry the chicken again for 1-2 minutes until dark golden brown and crispy.

  • In a wok or large pan over high heat, add 1 tbsp of neutral oil and cook the peppers and onions for 1 minute. Add pineapple and cook for another 30 seconds.

  • Add the premixed sauce and combine with peppers and onions until the sauce has thickened slightly. Add back the chicken and toss to combine and enjoy!

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

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About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

Read more about me

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Sweet and Sour Chicken - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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

Sweet and Sour Chicken Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make homemade sweet and sour chicken: For the sauce: water, pineapple juice from a can, white sugar, white vinegar, and orange food coloring. For the batter: cornstarch, self-rising flour, vegetable oil, an egg, salt, and white pepper.

What is the correct way to eat sweet and sour chicken? ›

Anything or nothing, but we usually have it with steamed rice, I say steamed rice because my wife NEVER boils it in water she uses a rice cooker and only puts enough water in it to make it soft and fluffy and it never needs draining also as she makes the sweet and sour chicken she makes the veggies the same way.

Where did the recipe sweet and sour chicken come from? ›

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.

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 chicken batter made of? ›

Whisk egg and water medium bowl. Whisk in flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Let the batter sit for a few minutes. Coat each piece of chicken with dry flour.

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

Honey Sesame Chicken is one of the sweeter chicken dishes in Chinese cuisine. In short, Orange Chicken is subtly sweet with a citrusy taste, while Sweet and Sour Chicken is sweeter and tangier. No Chinese takeout is complete without a delicious side of rice– try out my favorite fluffy basmati rice recipe here!

Do people in China eat sweet and sour chicken? ›

Yes, they actually do. The Chinese term for “sweet and sour” is “糖醋” (sugar-vinegar) - this is a rather common flavor in daily Chinese cooking in (many areas of) China. Sweet and sour chicken would be “糖醋鸡” (sugar-vinegar chicken).

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

General Tso's chicken and sweet and sour chicken are completely different dishes. Starting with the sauce, General Tso's chicken is a sweet, spicy, and slightly tangy while sweet and sour sauce is often served on the side and is just sweet and tangy.

Does sweet and sour chicken contain honey? ›

Add bell peppers and sauté with chicken until beginning to soften. Step 3Meanwhile, whisk together apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, honey, ketchup and garlic. Pour sauce into the skillet. Simmer together with the meat for 5 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.

Is sweet and sour good for you? ›

Sweet and sour sauce is not a good source of vitamins and minerals. It does however have 3 milligrams of vitamin C. This makes up 5% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. Sweet and sour sauce is a high-sodium food and provides 7% of the total recommended daily intake.

What is a fun fact about sweet and sour chicken? ›

The original recipe was Shanghainese and used black vinegar. It's not meant to be orange, but black. But somewhere along the way, ketchup replaced the vinegar and it turned orange in the UK. Now that dish is called Sweet and Sour Chicken—Hong Kong style.

What does Chinese sweet and sour chicken taste like? ›

The dish consists of small pieces of chicken breasts that are breaded and fried and then served in a sweet reddish orange sauce. I have seen it sometimes with pineapple pieces added into the sauce but not often. The sauce tastes similar to the sauce of the same color that is often served with egg rolls .

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. Ketchup – I used store bought.

What can I use instead of pineapple in sweet and sour? ›

From personal experience of not having canned/fresh pineapples in the kitchen, I just used a bit of lemon juice and an orange cut into large chunks. Chinese plum sweet & sour mix is one of my favorites. You can find recipes online.

What is a substitute for sweet and sour sauce? ›

Alternative Sweet and Sour Sauce

1 cup pineapple juice. 1/3 cup water. 3 tablespoons vinegar. 1 tablespoon soy sauce.

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 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.

What is the main ingredient in Mcdonald's sweet and sour sauce? ›

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Apricot Puree Concentrate And/or Peach Puree Concentrate, Distilled Vinegar, Contains 2% Or Less: Soy Sauce (water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Salt, Modified Food Starch, Sherry Wine Powder, Dextrose, Soybean Oil, Xanthan Gum, Spices, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural ...

What is sweet and sour made of bartending? ›

Sour mix (also known as sweet and sour mix) is a mixer that is yellow-green in color and is used in many co*cktails. It is made from approximately equal parts lemon and/or lime juice and simple syrup and shaken vigorously with ice. This produces a pearly-white liquid with a pronounced flavor.

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