How To Cook The Best Sweet And Sour Chicken

Chinese food has a great influence and impact in the Philippines. Its wonderful recipes and cuisines capture the tastebuds of Filipinos. Therefore, this Chinese takeout- Sweet and sour chicken takes over the lead of most favorite and most searched Chinese dish to cook all over the internet. 

There are tons of easy recipes you can eat in restaurants. You can try beef, pork, or chicken recipes. So if you are a huge fan of Chinese dishes and love sweet flavors, then you must try to cook the featured amazing recipe. 

Sweet sour chicken is such a great recipe that is normally served in Chinese restaurants.

But this sweet and sour recipe tasted delicious among all. It is packed with succulent Asian flavors, and the kick of classic sweet yet a perfect balance of tangy taste that will definitely warm your heart. 

This delicious meal is a combination of pan fried chicken pieces over a homemade sweet and sour sauce that coats the entire dish. It is best to serve with veggies and a bowl of white rice. 

Easy recipes like this one are definitely a go-to Chinese food. This Chinese food-sweet and sour chicken recipe can be done in 30 minutes are perfect to serve with your family for a weeknight dinner date! So, let us know how to cook the sweet and sour chicken recipe in your kitchen. 

What is sweet and sour chicken? 

Crispy chicken recipes like Chinese sweet and sour chicken are cooked with corn starch chicken batter coated to bite sized pieces of chicken and deep fried. It coats deep fried chicken with a sweet and sour sauce that is made of sugar (brown sugar), lemon juice or orange juice, plum sauce, ketchup, chili sauce or red pepper flakes, and garlic salt. It serves in most Chinese restaurants. 

The meat you can use in this dish is boneless skinless chicken thighs and skinless chicken breasts. You just have to cut this chicken into bite sized pieces. These cuts are best for favorite stir fries dishes like chicken sweet and sour sauce recipes. 

To cook chicken pieces recipe- Chinese sweet and sour chicken recipe, first, put in a small bowl the corn starch and then, dip the bite sized pieces of chicken (boneless skinless chicken thighs or skinless chicken breasts ) until the corn starch coated perfectly the meat. Cook the chicken in a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Deep fried chicken pieces until both sides are golden brown. 

In another large skillet, add a little amount of vegetable oil and heat over medium high heat. Add the onions and peppers. You can also add a small amount of garlic powder to add more bold taste. Cook onions and green bell peppers until perfectly tender but not overcooked. 

Once the green bell peppers and onion are cooked, reduce to medium heat and put back the chicken pieces into the pan, and add the sauce ingredients, salt, red pepper flakes, add extra garlic powder, and pineapple chunks. Stir the spices to combine and perfectly coated the cook chicken. Remove from the pan and serve it with a small bowl of white rice, extra sauce topped with sesame seeds and sesame oil. 

What is sweet and sour chicken sauce made of?

The sweet and sour sauce ingredients include brown sugar, lemon juice, plum sauce, ketchup, chili sauce, and garlic salt.

To make a sour chicken sweet sticky sauce, heat the pan over medium heat then add the fresh pineapple juice, water, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, crushed red pepper flakes, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, corn starch, garlic salt. Gently stir until the sauce is thickened.

Ways to cook sweet and sour chicken

There are many ways to cook delicious recipes like sour chicken sweet dish. These methods to cook the Sweet and sour chicken recipe is perfect for newbies or beginner in cooking. 

Stovetop 

This method is a good way in frying chicken pieces. You can use a stovetop when you pan-fried the chicken and the other ingredients to cook the sour chicken sweet recipe. This is the most comfortable way of cooking it. 

Stir fry

Chinese cuisines are well-known for stir fry dishes. So, this method of cooking is the perfect way to cook chicken. It is the authentic way and most appropriate cooking style for a sour chicken sweet dish. 

Baked

Baked sweet and sour chicken is another method that is not easy to use but worth it! This will take some time since you have to check from time to time if the dish is cooking. Preheat the oven to 350-degree. In a baking dish spray non-sticking oil or butter, so that the baked sweet chicken and the sauce will not stick into the baking sheet. 

Variations

Discovering flavors and versions of the Sweet and sour chicken recipe is exciting. It will help you to enhance the flavor of the dish. Here are some of the popular variations of sour chicken sweet. 

Stir fry Sweet and sour chicken with pineapple

Stir fry Sweet and sour chicken thighs is perfect for those who love pineapple chunks to add to their dish. This is one of the favorite stir fries in Chinese cuisine. It is less than an hour's meal to prep and enjoy!

To cook Sweet and sour chicken thighs, prepare your vegetables and chicken thighs. Slice into the smaller sizes the breasts and boneless skinless chicken thighs. 

Open canned pineapple chunks and drain them. But reserved the pineapple juice as you can use the canned pineapple juice later on in the sauce. 

Slice into thin strips the bell peppers, then, set aside. 

Toss into arrowroot starch (cornstarch) and soy sauce the chicken strips. It will help the chicken to have a savory flavor and crisp the chicken thighs. Set aside. 

Then, make the sauce by combining the pineapple juice, water, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, onion, garlic salt. Gently stir until the sauce is thickened.

To cook the chicken, heat the oil and slowly put the chicken bites on the pan. Once cooked, toss the sliced bell peppers and onion into the pan for a few minutes. Then, add the cooked chicken. Stir it side by side, then add the pineapple chunks and the sauce. Simmer it until the sauce is thickened and cooked. Remove from the heat and you can serve in bowls over cooked rice.

Baked sweet and sour chicken thighs

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken Thighs is another perfect version of sweet and sour chicken recipe. The sauce mainly consists of orange juice and baked sweet peppers.

In order to cook the baked Sweet and sour chicken, cut the chicken into bite sized pieces. Sprinkling with garlic salt, onion salt, and pepper to it. 

Preheat oven to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

In another bowl, beat eggs to create an egg mixture, and on a baking sheet or plate put cornstarch to complete the chicken batter. Dip the meat cornstarch and then coat it in egg mixture. Do it twice or until the meat is covered with the chicken batter

Heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat to cook chicken until golden brown. Crispy chicken outside but tender and juicy inside. 

In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, white vinegar, and garlic salt.

In the baking dish, put the chicken and pour over the sauce. Then, bake for at least an hour. Every fifteen minutes stir the chicken to fully coat them with sauce. 

You can serve this with mashed potatoes, brown rice, or white rice topped with extra sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. 

Sweet and Sour Orange Chicken

Sweet and Sour Orange chicken is another variation with bold and tangy orange flavor.

In order to make this, cover the chicken with flour and dip it in the egg mixture. Dot it until the chicken is covered with batter. Set aside. 

In a wok or large pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Slowly put the chicken into the hot oil, fry it until both sides are golden brown. Set aside. 

Combine water and cornstarch in a bowl. 

In a medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients including brown sugar, ginger, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, half cup of water, ketchup, pineapple chunks, pineapple juice, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, and garlic. Simmer it and add the cornstarch mixture to the sauce so it will be thickened enough. 

Pour the sauce to chicken, mix it very well and serve the orange chicken with white rice or brown rice.

Authentic Cantonese Sweet and Sour Chicken 

Authentic Sour chicken sweet Cantonese style is one of the delicious recipes of Chinese that is perfect to serve with your family. 

In a bowl, add the sliced chicken breasts into a tablespoon of soy sauce and marinate it for an hour. 

In a wok, heat the oil, stir fry the onions, garlic, and diced peppers for two minutes. 

Add the juice or water, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, sugar, soy sauce, and salt. Simmer it until fully combined. 

Once the sauce is thickened, add tomato and pineapple juice and simmer it for three minutes. Add seasoning to adjust the taste. Remove from heat. 

Make a chicken batter. Before dipping the chicken in the batter, pat dries using paper towels, then dip the meat until fully covered. 

Cooked the chicken until golden brown. Put the cooked chicken in the wire rack or stainless steel for draining and used draining paper as well. 

On a baking sheet or a plate, pour out the sour chicken sweet sauce over the meat. Toss it very well. Then, served the Sweet and sour chicken. 

Sweet and Sour Pineapple Broccoli Chicken Stir Fry

This pineapple broccoli chicken stir fry is another must-try version of the Sweet and sour chicken. Its rich and great flavors come from the freshness of the pineapple, fresh steamed broccoli, and savory chicken will definitely give you a kick!

First, make the sauce of sweet sour chicken. Start by preparing all the ingredients and mixing them until fully combined. 

Cook the meat. You can add sesame oil to the pan and cook the chicken since it should be pan-fried.  

Stir fry the vegetables. Add all of the veggies into a batch to cook them perfectly. Make sure the broccoli is tender and crisp. However, you can also steamed broccoli to maintain its natural and sweet taste. 

Stir fry all the proteins and ingredients together. Then, gently pour the sauce on it and simmer for a few minutes. And serve the Sweet and sour chicken great recipe. 

Best served with

Sour chicken sweet is not complete without side dishes or other recipes to serve with it. 

Rice 

Serving sour chicken sweet with white rice or brown rice is the best pair. It will enhance and lift up the taste of the dish. Fried rice is the best rice dish to serve with sour chicken sweet. 

Scallion pancakes 

The savory taste will help to balance the sweet and tangy flavor of the Sweet and sour chicken great recipe. 

Mashed Potato 

The plain yet creamy taste of this great recipe is perfect for the sour chicken sweet recipe.

Vegetable Salad

The earthy flavor of this side dish will give highlight the authentic flavors of sour chicken sweet. 

Troubleshooting

Cut boneless skinless chicken thighs and skinless chicken breasts into small bite sized pieces so when you cook them, it is easy to cook yet tender and juicy inside. 

Check the cook inside the meat. 

Cook the sweet and sour sauce until it is slightly thickened. 

You can use fresh bell peppers and fresh pineapple to add flavor to the Sweet and sour chicken.

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Add crushed pepper flakes if you want a little spicy flavor on the sour chicken sweet recipe.

Avoid mixing it together when you will not serve it because it will cause sogginess in the chicken. 

Before cooking, you can put it in a baking dish or baking sheet with aluminum foil. 

Use USDA cooking standards for chicken meat. Cook the chicken to a minimum temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Avoid using the same utensils for both raw and cooked dishes. 

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Trivia

Is Orange chicken the same as sour chicken sweet? They are not the same but somehow similar. The flavor of orange chicken is a little more spicy and tangy than sour chicken sweet which is less spicy and more balanced. 

You can find sweet sour chicken in diverse flavors in Mainland China. However, since the Sweet and sour chicken is influenced by American and Western flavors. It is unique and wonderful. 

Substitution

You can add fresh pineapple chunks if you want to add sweetness and crispness to the Sweet and sour chicken. 

If using canned pineapple, make sure it’s packed in water and not syrup. Drain well before adding to the skillet at the very end of the cooking time. 

If using fresh pineapple, add to the skillet just before stirring in the sauce. You want the pineapple to heat through, but still retain some bite.

You can use breasts, but you could use boneless skinless thighs though.

You can use it as a substitute for white vinegar the apple cider vinegar. But the white vinegar and Apple Cider Vinegar combination are perfect as well. 

Make sure you first coat your chicken in the cornstarch and then in the egg mixture

Instead of using flour a coat the dish, to make the meat gluten-free, use cornstarch, 

Equipment

You have to use good equipment like a skillet, wok, stovetop, oven, knife, chopping board, bowl, plate, spoon, and frying pan in cooking the sour chicken sweet. 

Storage 

Keeping the Chicken while it is fresh and warm is much better to keep it in an airtight container.

Put the leftovers Sweet and sour chicken in an airtight container and place them in the fridge for about 4 working days. 

Do not put the fridge the dish while it is hot. 

Conclusion 

This Sweet and sour chicken is elevated, and an awesome recipe to try. You can bring the restaurant feels to your home by recreating this Sweet and sour chicken which is a well-known Chinese cuisine. Why don’t you share this amazing dish with your friends, colleagues, and neighbors? You will not get ashamed of this dish both in flavor and visually! 

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