This sweet and sour chicken recipe features tender chicken pieces coated in a tangy sauce, combined with colorful bell peppers and pineapple. It’s a popular dish that balances flavors and textures, making it a favorite for family dinners.
The recipe is simple and can be prepared in under an hour, perfect for a quick weeknight meal. Serve it over rice or noodles for a complete dish.
Quick and Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken
This dish consists of crispy chicken pieces stir-fried with vibrant vegetables and coated in a homemade sweet and sour sauce. The recipe serves about 4 people and takes approximately 40 minutes to prepare and cook.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 bell pepper, chopped (red or green)
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup vinegar (white or apple cider)
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooked rice or noodles for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then coat them in cornstarch until evenly covered.
- Cook the Chicken: In a large skillet or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the Vegetables: In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Stir-fry for about 3-4 minutes until they are tender.
- Make the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together sugar, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Pour the sauce into the skillet with the vegetables.
- Combine: Add the cooked chicken and pineapple chunks to the skillet. Stir well to coat everything in the sauce and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until heated through.
- Serve: Serve the sweet and sour chicken over cooked rice or noodles.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
Nutrition Information
- Servings: 4 servings
- Calories: 300kcal
- Fat: 8g
- Protein: 25g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
This recipe is part of my 35 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes. Just click that link to see all the amazing options!
Jeff was a leader for Whole Foods Market for over 2 decades and is now a recovering foodie. When he's not spending time in the kitchen, he can usually be found with 3 daughters, practicing martial arts, making music, or blogging on his other sites. Click Here to learn more about me. Click Here to learn more about my site. Editorial Policies.
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