EASY 15-MINUTE SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

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 Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken — This sweet and sour chicken recipe takes just 15 minutes to make and tastes way better than takeout. Perfect for a weeknight dinner!

Easy Recipe for Sweet and Sour Chicken 

I’m all about a 15-minute dinner. Especially when it tastes better than what I’d get in a restaurant, it’s healthier, less expensive, and faster than calling for takeout. Score on all fronts.

This recipe features a simple sweet and sour sauce that’s packed with the perfect balance of sweet yet sour Asian flavors. Soy, sesame, garlic, and more.

The homemade sweet and sour sauce coats the chicken beautifully and really makes this dish what it is. You’ll likely have extra, which I could eat by the spoonful. It’s great over rice or veggies.

Before cooking the chicken it’s tossed with cornstarch, which helps keep it moist, tender, juicy, and provides a very lightly ‘breaded’ exterior without actually breading it.

The flavor profile reminds me of Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken with Pineapple and Sweet and Sour Asian Noodles. Serve it with rice and you’re set.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Ingredients

For both the chicken and the homemade sweet and sour sauce, you’ll need the following:
  • Sweet and Sour Sauce
  • Granulated sugar
  • Brown sugar
  • Apple cider vinegar 
  • Ketchup
  • Low-sodium soy sauce
  • Sesame oil
  • Garlic
  • Cornstarch

Chicken

  • Chicken breasts
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Cornstarch
  • Green onions (optional, for serving)
  • Sesame seeds (optional, for serving)
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.

How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken

Making homemade sweet and sour chicken is so much easier than you may think! If serving with rice, be sure to get it started first so it’s done by the time the chicken is ready to eat.  
  1. Make the sweet and sour sauce: It consists of sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic, corn starch, and water. Add everything but the water and cornstarch to a saucepan. 
  2. Bring the sauce to a boil, then combine the water and cornstarch in a separate bowl before adding it to the homemade sweet and sour sauce.
  3. Let that bubble away for a few minutes until it thickens up. 
  4. Make the chicken: Add the diced chicken into a baggie with the cornstarch, salt, and pepper and give it a good shake to coat the chicken pieces fully. 
  5. Fry the chicken in a skillet with a few tablespoons of olive oil (no need to deep fry!).
  6. Once the chicken is cooked, stir in the sweet and sour sauce and continue cooking until the chicken is coated in sauce and heated through. 
I like to serve my homemade sweet and sour chicken with rice and sprinkle chopped scallions and sesame seeds on top. I adore the contrasting textures! 

What to Serve with Sweet and Sour Chicken 

Now that you know how easy this recipe for sweet and sour chicken is to make, it’s time to dish it up! Here are some great sides for sweet and sour chicken: 
  • White or brown rice
  • Cauliflower rice (omit the chicken in this recipe) 
  • Fried rice (omit the chicken in this recipe) 
  • Steamed broccoli 
  • Fresh spring rolls

INGREDIENTS

SAUCE

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, packed
  • 3 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

CHICKEN

  • about 1.25 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more if necessary
  • 2 green onions, sliced into thin rounds, optional for garnishing
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional for garnishing

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