Description
This Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe features tender bite-sized pieces of chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection and tossed in a tangy, flavorful sweet and sour sauce with colorful bell peppers and pineapple chunks. It’s a quick and delicious weeknight dinner that delivers all the classic flavors of sweet and sour chicken without the fuss.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Vegetables and Fruit
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (for thickening)
Instructions
- Coat the Chicken: In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 2 tablespoons cornstarch, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated to prepare for frying.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same skillet, add chopped red and green bell peppers and onion. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until vegetables become slightly tender but remain crisp.
- Add Pineapple: Stir in the pineapple chunks to the skillet with the vegetables to warm through.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and soy sauce until well combined.
- Combine Sauce and Chicken: Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and stir well to coat all pieces in the sauce.
- Thicken the Sauce: Add the cornstarch and water mixture to the skillet and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens to your preferred consistency.
- Serve: Serve the sweet and sour chicken hot over steamed rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs for a juicier, more flavorful option.
- For extra vegetables, add broccoli florets or snap peas during the sauté step.
- Adjust the amount of sugar or vinegar in the sauce to make it sweeter or tangier according to your taste.
- Use gluten-free soy sauce to make the dish gluten-free.
