Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken (Shallow Fried)
When you want Chinese takeout, make this easy sweet and sour chicken recipe in 30 minutes using simple ingredients. You just toss bite-sized pieces of crispy fried chicken, crisp peppers, and pineapple in a sweet, tangy sauce. It is a fast, family-friendly meal that tastes just like a restaurant.
Ingredients
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs
- 1 medium red bell pepper or green bell pepper
- ½ cup pineapple diced into 1-inch chunks (or thawed frozen/canned pineapple chunks, liquids strained)
- ½ medium onion sliced
- ¼ cup cornstarch or potato starch
- 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
- ¼ cup white vinegar or rice vinegar / apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon water cold
- 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or potato starch
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the listed sauce ingredients and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Set aside.
- Dice the chicken thighs into uniform 1.5-inch pieces and add to a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and garlic powder, then add cornstarch and toss until evenly coated with no dry spots.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in small batches until golden, crispy, and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil and prevent sogginess.
- Reserve 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of oil in the pan and discard the rest. Reduce heat to medium and sauté onion, red bell pepper, and pineapple for 30-45 seconds. Add the sauce and simmer until thickened, about 30-45 seconds.
- Add the chicken and toss to coat evenly. Remove from heat, garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, and serve.
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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