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Sweet and sour chicken garnish with sliced green onions on a plate. Bowl of rice on the side.
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5 from 16 votes

Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken

This easy Sweet and Sour Chicken is one of my family’s favorite meals. Tender chicken combined with an AMAZING sauce, pineapple, onions, and peppers is a WIN. 
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chicken, sweet and sour chicken
Servings: 8
Calories: 526kcal
Author: Erica Walker

Equipment

  • 9x13 baking dish

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 3/4 cup cornstarch
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 20 ounces pineapple chunks or tidbits
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1/2 onion

SAUCE:

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 4 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1-2 teaspoon chili paste (optional, use if you want to kick up the spicy heat in the sauce)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut chicken, onion, and bell pepper into bite-size pieces. Drain pineapple tidbits and reserve pineapple juice for another use.
    Cutting board with cubed chicken, cut bell peppers, cut onions and pineapple chunks.
  • Place cornstarch in a shallow dish. Dredge each chicken piece in cornstarch then dip in beaten egg.
    Cut pieces of chicken in a bowl of cornstarch and a bowl of whisk eggs with a fork.
  • Heat oil to medium heat in a large skillet. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned. It doesn't need to be cooked through.
    Pieces of chicken in a frying pan with oil.
  • Place drained pineapple tidbits, pepper, and onion in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Position chicken tenders evenly over pineapple and vegetables.
    Glass baking dish with cut red bell pepper, onion, pineapple chunks and golden chicken pieces.
  • In a medium bowl, stir sauce ingredients together with a whisk.
    Glass mixing bowl with sweet-and-sour sauce. Whisk on the side.
  • Pour over chicken. Toss chicken and vegetables lightly until covered with sauce.
    Glass baking dish with mixed sweet and sour chicken.
  • Bake for 50 minutes, turning once after 25 minutes.
    Baking dish with baked sweet and sour chicken with red bell pepper and pineapple chunks.

Video

Notes

FOR EXTRA DIPPING SAUCE

  • Double the sauce recipe.
  • Pour half over the chicken (as the recipe calls for) and simmer the other half in a small saucepan for 10-15 minutes.
  • If you want to thicken the sauce, combine 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water. About 5 minutes before serving, SLOWLY whisk in cornstarch mixture to simmering sauce until the consistency is where you want it. You may not need all of the cornstarch mixture.

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 492mg | Potassium: 401mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 755IU | Vitamin C: 28.3mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1.7mg