Description
Discover the best crispy sweet and sour chicken recipe! Perfectly golden, tender chicken is paired with a tangy, sweet, and savory sauce, delivering restaurant-quality flavor at home.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup cornstarch (divided)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
Vegetables (Optional):
- 1 cup bell peppers (red, green, or yellow), chopped
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken
- Pat chicken pieces dry with a paper towel.
- Set up a dredging station:
- Bowl 1: Cornstarch
- Bowl 2: Beaten eggs
- Bowl 3: Cornstarch and flour mixture (1/2 cup each).
- Coat each chicken piece in cornstarch, then egg, and finally the cornstarch-flour mixture.
Fry the Chicken
- Heat oil in a deep skillet or wok to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry chicken in batches until golden and crispy, about 4–5 minutes per batch.
- Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Prepare the Sauce
- In a saucepan, mix sugar, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and water.
- Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. For a thicker sauce, dissolve 1 tsp cornstarch in water and stir it in.
Cook the Vegetables
- In a separate skillet or wok, sauté bell peppers, onion, and pineapple chunks until tender-crisp.
Combine and Serve
- Add fried chicken to the sautéed vegetables.
- Pour sauce over the top and toss to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately over steamed rice or noodles.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a skillet or air fryer for best results. Avoid microwaving to maintain crispiness.
- Variations:
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free flour and tamari.
- Baked: Bake coated chicken at 400°F for 20–25 minutes.
- Spicy: Add chili flakes or sriracha to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian, Chinese-American
Keywords: crispy sweet and sour chicken, homemade sweet and sour sauce, restaurant-quality chicken recipe, tangy Asian chicken, easy sweet and sour chicken recipe