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–+ servings

Sweet and Sour Chicken

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A quick and comforting dish featuring tender chicken, crisp bell peppers, juicy pineapple, and a tangy-sweet sauce.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken & Vegetables
  • 1 pound chicken breast, cubed boneless makes prep faster
  • 1 cup bell peppers, chopped any color works; red gives extra sweetness
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks fresh is bright, canned is convenient (reserve juice for more flavor)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped yellow or white onions add mellow sweetness
Sauce
  • 1/2 cup vinegar rice vinegar is preferred
  • 1/2 cup sugar start with this and adjust to taste
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce low-sodium is an easy swap
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch divides into coating and sauce thickener
Cooking Essentials
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil for frying (can use canola or peanut oil)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Rice or Chinese noodles for serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cube chicken into bite-sized pieces, chop peppers and onion, and drain pineapple if using canned.
  2. Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with a pinch of salt and pepper, then toss chicken to coat.
Make the Sauce
  1. Whisk together vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, and the remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch until smooth. Set aside.
Cooking
  1. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  2. Add chicken in a single layer and sear for 3–4 minutes, flipping until lightly golden and mostly cooked. Remove to a plate.
  3. In the same pan, sauté onion and bell pepper for 2–3 minutes until they soften but still have a little bite.
  4. Return chicken to the pan, add pineapple chunks, and pour the sauce over everything.
  5. Stir constantly as the sauce comes to a simmer; it will thicken and become glossy in 1–2 minutes.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or a touch more sugar/vinegar if needed. Serve immediately over steamed rice or noodles.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 30gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 600mgFiber: 2gSugar: 20g

Notes

For gluten-free: use tamari instead of soy sauce. Want a lighter version? Use less oil and stir-fry the chicken instead of shallow-frying.
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