Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken (30 Minutes)
Sweet, tangy, and savory, this Chinese takeout favorite hits the spot! This easy sweet and sour chicken recipe is ready in just 30 minutes for a quick family dinner. Crispy chicken, juicy pineapple, and crunchy bell peppers get coated in a sticky, tangy-sweet sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs
- 1 medium red bell pepper or any color works
- ½ cup pineapple diced into 1-inch chunks (or use drained canned pineapple chunks)
- ½ medium onion cut into 1-cm slices
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sesame seeds toasted kind
- 1 green onion finely chopped
Sweet and Sour Sauce
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoon water cold
- 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Whisk together the listed sauce ingredients until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
- Dice the chicken thighs into even 1.5-inch pieces. Don't pat them dry; the natural surface moisture helps the cornstarch stick. Season with salt and garlic powder, then coat well with cornstarch. If any areas remain uncoated, add 1-2 tablespoons more cornstarch as needed.
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat to 350°F. Fry the chicken in small batches for 2.5-3.5 minutes per side, until golden and crispy with the thickest pieces reaching 165°F. Leave the chicken undisturbed until the crust sets before flipping. Between batches, remove any browned bits and let the oil return to 350°F.
- Transfer the fried chicken to a wire rack to keep the crust crisp.
- Remove all but 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of oil from the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and sauté the onion, red bell pepper, and pineapple for 30-45 seconds. Whisk the sauce again, pour it in, and simmer for 30-45 seconds until thickened.
- Add the fried chicken and toss until evenly coated in the sauce. Remove from the heat and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
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Nutrition
Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 1506mg | Potassium: 669mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 1473IU | Vitamin C: 67mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 2mg