Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (2024)

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (1)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

My sister Anna shared this sweet and sour chicken recipe with me because her family absolutely loved it.It’s a winner indeed; the best orange chicken I’ve ever tried! Anyway, I pinned it for safe keeping and finally whipped it out.

My son’s eyes lit up when he realized he was having “Panda” for dinner – in his world, all Asianfood is “Panda.” Except, this is way way WAY better than takeout! I’m super thrilled that I know exactly what went into this sweet and sour chicken; no preservatives and I even used organic chicken. #patontheback for Mom :).

I tracked down the original recipe source and it was the talented Mel of Mel’s Kitchen Cafewhosaid it was easily the most popular recipe on her blog (yeah – I can see why!). The only thing I changed was addingan extra egg for easier coating.

This really is quite a treat. Make it tonight!

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (2)

Ingredients for OrangeChicken:

2 lbs (about 4 Medium) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 cup cornstarch
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup extra light olive oil, canola or vegetable oil to saute, plus more as needed

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (3)

Ingredients for the Sweet and Sour Sauce:

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
4 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp soy sauce
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp garlic salt

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (4)

How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken:

1.Preheat oven to 325˚F.Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and season with salt and pepper.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (5)

2. Place 1 cup cornstarch into a gallon-sized ziploc bag, add chicken and toss to coat (go on, toss it up, just make sure the bag is closed; that part is important).

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (6)

3. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large, heavy bottom pot (I used my French ovenwith nice tall walls to reduce splatterage on the stove).

4. In a shallow dish, whisk together 3 eggs. Dip the cornstarch-dredged chicken pieces into the beaten egg, coating both sides then transfer the chicken to the very hot oil.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (7)

5. Cook chicken in hot oil about 30 seconds per side or until golden. Having very hot oil is key. You don’t want to cook the chicken through, but just until golden. Transfer chicken to a 9×13 baking dish and continue dipping and sautéing remaining chicken, adding more oil as necessary.

Cooking tip: if you add oil to the pot, let it heat up a little before you add more chicken.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (8)

6. In a medium mixing bowl, stirtogether the sauce ingredients: 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 4 Tbsp ketchup, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp garlic salt.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (9)

7. Pour sauce over your sauteed chicken pieces and toss to coat. Bake uncovered at 325˚F for 1 hour, turning the chicken twice while baking to coat with sauce.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (10)

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (11)

Serve warm or hot over steamy white rice, and crisp tender broccoli for a balanced meal.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (12)

My son spotted this photo as I was putting the post together and the first words out of his mouth, “Can you make that for me?” :). Mel, thank you so much for sharing this goodness! It’s music to my ears when my son makes requests like that.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (13)

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

4.89 from 137 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Tender chicken breast in a mouthwatering homemade sweet and sour sauce. The Chicken becomes so juicy in the oven.

SavePinReviewPrint

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 6 -8

Instructions

How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken: Preheat oven to 325˚F.

  • Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and season with salt and pepper.

  • Place 1 cup cornstarch into a gallon-sized ziploc bag, add chicken and toss to coat.

  • Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large, heavy bottom pot (I used my French oven with nice tall walls to reduce splatterage on the stove).

  • In a shallow dish, whisk together 3 eggs. Dip the cornstarch-dredged chicken pieces into the beaten egg, coating both sides then transfer chicken to the very hot oil.

  • Cook chicken in hot oil about 30 seconds per side or until golden. Having very hot oil is key. You don't want to cook the chicken through, but just until golden. Transfer chicken to a 9x13 baking dish and continue dipping and sautéing remaining chicken, adding more oil as necessary. Cooking tip: if you add oil to the pot, let it heat up a little before you add more chicken.

  • In a medium bowl, stir together sauce ingredients: 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 4 Tbsp ketchup, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp garlic salt.

  • Pour sauce over your sautéed chicken pieces and toss to coat. Bake uncovered at 325˚F for 1 hour, turning the chicken twice while baking to coat with sauce. Serve warm or hot over steamy white rice, and crisp tender broccoli for a balanced meal.

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: Sweet and Sour Chicken

Skill Level: Medium

Cost to Make: $$

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (16)
Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (17)
♥ FAVORITE THINGS♥

Shownin this post: (nope, no one paid us to write this; just stuff we love):
*My favoriteFrench oven– somehow food just tastes better when you use it😉
*This covered9×12 baking dishcomes with a lid, reducing foil waste; and it’s perdy.
*My glassmixing bowlsare so versatile; everything from this sauce to your morning cereal 😉
*These cooking utensils are next to my stove always in reach on their little caddy.

What is the most requested meal in your house?

Natasha Kravchuk

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (18)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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

Mix 1/4 cup cornstarch and 1/4 cup water together in a small bowl until smooth; pour into the sauce, stirring continuously, until slightly thickened. Place flour, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, egg, salt, and white pepper in a large bowl; gradually whisk in 1 1/2 cups water to make a thick batter.

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 the difference between General Tso's 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.

Is sweet and sour chicken authentic Chinese? ›

Sweet and sour dishes, sauces, and cooking methods have a long history in China.

Do you dip chicken in egg before frying? ›

If there are any wet spots," she says, "your crust won't stick." After dipping the chicken in the egg wash and dusting it in flour (making sure to knock off any clumps or excess), let the chicken sit for about 10 minutes before putting it in the oil to fry.

How do you thicken sweet and sour chicken? ›

A corn starch slurry thickens the sauce – this sauce is a medium thickness, so depending on your preference add little more or less corn starch slurry (but go slowly – the sauce will take a little time to thicken up once the slurry is added).

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

Ingredients
  • Sugar – Granulated.
  • White Vinegar – For the sourness. Lemon or lime juice are the two most common substitutes for white vinegar. ...
  • Water.
  • Soy Sauce – I used low sodium.
  • Ketchup – I used store bought.
  • Cornstarch – Used as a thickening agent. ...
  • Pineapple Juice – Canned, boxed or fresh.
Feb 25, 2020

Is sweet and sour sauce full of sugar? ›

Sticky sweet and sour but without the added sugars. This sweet and sour may not contain sugar but you be amazed at how well this 'fakeaway' tastes! Sweet and Sour sauce contains so much sugar it is unreal!

What was sweet and sour chicken originally called? ›

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).

Is sweet and sour chicken healthier than General Tso's chicken? ›

Here, one 5.70-ounce serving of General Tso's chicken contains 330 calories and 12 grams of fat while the same-sized serving of sweet and sour chicken contains 300 calories and the same amount of fat.

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!

What ethnicity is sweet and sour chicken? ›

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.

In which country did sweet and sour chicken become popular? ›

Over the centuries, sweet and sour dishes became popular across China, with each region adding its unique twist to the recipe. However, it wasn't until the 20th century that sweet and sour dishes gained widespread popularity outside of China, particularly in Western countries.

Is sweet and sour chicken healthy at a Chinese restaurant? ›

Nutrition Facts

There are 1765 calories in a 1 order (706.000g) serving size of Restaurant, Chinese, sweet and sour chicken. The calorie breakdown is 46% fat, 38% carbs, and 16% protein.

What is chicken batter made of? ›

In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together potato starch, all-purpose flour, black pepper, baking powder, salt, paprika, and cayenne, about 30 seconds. Whisk in the water until a smooth batter forms, about 30 seconds.

What is chicken tender batter made of? ›

The coating for the tenders consists of a wet batter, which includes milk, water, egg, flour, baking soda, and seasonings. The chicken is marinated in it for up to 24 hours then dredged in seasoned flour before going into the hot oil.

What is batter? ›

batter, mixture of flour and liquid with other ingredients, such as leavening agents, shortening, sugar, salt, eggs, and various flavourings, used to make baked goods and other food products.

Does sweet and sour chicken contain egg? ›

serving (2.5 oz. chicken, 1.1 oz. sauce) provides 2 M/MA. Suggested Specification eggs, salt, white pepper powder, garlic, ginger, and green onion.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 5940

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.