Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

Sweet and Sour Chicken with crispy chicken, pineapple and bell peppers that taste just like your favorite takeout place without the food coloring. The perfect balance of sweet yet sour Asian flavors that the whole family will LOVE. You will love this Simple and Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe.

Simple and Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken!

In our house, we LOVE Asian inspired foods. We don’t do Chinese takeout often (and for many, many reasons). I came up with this recipe, Simple and Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken as an experiment. Which is how I mainly like to cook. Adding in a little of this and a little of that can be a lot of fun. Some recipes turn out as duds, while others make the “make again” cut. This made the cut, and I have been making it for years.

This recipe calls for a simple sauce that’s packed with the perfect balance of sweet, yet sour Asian flavors. Soy, sesame, garlic, and more. The sauce coats the chicken nicely and really makes this dish what it is. You’ll likely have extra which I could eat by the spoonful. Seriously, no lie!  I always keep a spoon nearby for “tasting” purposes. That is at least what I tell everyone.

Let’s Get Cooking

You can print the ingredient list and the full recipe for Sweet and Sour Chicken below.

Ingredients Needed

For Chicken

• 1 lb Chicken (Cut up into bite-size pieces)
• 1 cup Tempura Batter (we use Dynasty Gluten Free – Much cheaper in-store)
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 tbsp Sesame Seed oil

For The Sauce

• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 1/4 tsp garlic
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 4 oz can or 4 pineapple rings chopped into chunks

First, in a large non-stick skillet or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat. Coat chicken with tempura batter and add to the pan. Cook chicken until browned on all sides.

After the chicken is fully cooked, I like to get as much oil off as I can. Using a paper towel, drain grease from the chicken. Then set chicken aside. 

To prepare the sweet & sour sauce; Put all ingredients listed below (for sauce) in a saucepan (dissolve cornstarch in water), stir and bring to a boil. Stir frequently until thickened.

Add your crispy chicken to your sweet and sour sauce. (hmmm, can you just smell that Sweet and Sour Chicken)

Once thick, add in pineapple chunks. Remember your “tasting” spoon? Pull that out and let your taste buds enjoy your cooking. I like to serve this recipe with a side of vegetables. However, I have added my veggies right into the sauce with the chicken. Either way, you serve it up, it will be delicious.

See the full recipe below.

Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

Once you make this recipe, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to mimic Chinese takeout food. I personally think it tastes fresher and a lot healthier than takeout. In fact, after I eat Chinese food takeout I end up feeling quite bloated and my fingers always swell up as a result. I prefer making my own versions at home.

Don’t forget to serve it with a side of steamed white rice and some veggies

Also, investing in a good wok will help with cooking. It isn’t necessary, but it does make cooking this dish easier. I love using my wok and actually use it for non-Asian inspired meals.

If you made this recipe, we would love to hear all about it. We get so excited when we learn that you have chosen to make one of our recipes featured on Inspiring Savings. Please leave us a comment below.

Other Easy Weeknight Dinner Meal Ideas

Fajita Style Easy Chicken And Rice Recipe

Apple Raisin Smothered Pork Chops

Weeknight Barbecue Meatloaf

Eating out is easy, and it usually tastes delicious, but it’s expensive. Making this meal at home will save you money. Add this recipe to your weekly meal plan.