Description
This Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken is crispy, tangy, and sweet—just like your favorite takeout, but even better homemade. Bite-sized chicken is pan-fried and baked in a sticky, flavorful sauce that caramelizes beautifully in the oven. A family-friendly recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests!
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Cornstarch
- Eggs
- Salt
- Pepper
- Vegetable oil (for pan-frying)
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- Granulated sugar
- Ketchup
- Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish.
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
- Coat chicken in cornstarch, then dip in beaten eggs.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, pan-fry chicken in batches until golden (not fully cooked through). Transfer to baking dish.
- In a bowl, whisk together sugar, ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic powder.
- Pour sauce over the chicken.
- Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to help the sauce thicken and coat the chicken.
Notes
- Add chopped bell peppers and pineapple chunks before baking for a takeout-style version.
- A splash of sriracha or red pepper flakes adds heat.
- You can substitute pork or shrimp for the chicken.
- Use gluten-free soy sauce to make the recipe gluten-free.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as the sauce thickens more in the fridge.
