This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy.
Sweet and sour chicken is a popular Chinese recipe. This healthy and crispy sweet and sour chicken recipe is so delicious with sweet and sour sauce. It's better than takeout!
Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe
Sweet and sour chicken is one of the most popular Chinese recipes.
Chinese sweet and sour is a cooking style that is easy, delicious and everyone’s favorite.
The dish comes complete with crispy fried chicken cubes with mouthwatering sweet and sour sauce. It goes well with steamed rice, fried rice or chow mein.
Sweet And Sour Sauce
How do you make sweet and sour chicken sauce?
You will need the following simple ingredients to make the sauce:
- Ketchup.
- Chili sauce.
- Plum sauce.
- Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce.
- Chinese rice vinegar.
- Sugar.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
My recipe is healthy with no red food coloring in the sauce.
You can make the sweet sour sauce in advance, store in an air-tight container and keep in the refrigerator.
How To Make Sweet And Sour Chicken
The recipe is easy and simple. First, cut the chicken into bite-sized cubes.
Then make the sweet and sour chicken batter and coat the chicken with the batter.
Next, deep fry the chicken and stir fry with the sweet sour sauce.
Cooking Tips
For the best sweet and sour chicken, please following my cooking tips below:
- The combination of plum sauce, Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce and Chinese rice vinegar make the sauce tastes like the best Chinese restaurants.
- DO NOT double the sauce. The sauce should lightly coat the chicken cubes so the chicken remain crispy and not soggy.
- Use baking powder in the batter. The baking powder makes the batter light and airy and the chicken will be extra crispy and crunchy.
- DO not use red coloring in the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you sure can. Just opt out the tomatoes in the recipe and replace with pineapple.
You may use fresh pineapple or canned pineapple with syrup. If you use canned pineapple, remember to discard the syrup before cooking.
Cut the pineapple into bite-sizes pieces before cooking.
Yes, you can use air fryer. Just lightly coat the chicken with the batter and air fry in an air fryer.
This recipe is only 345 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Sweet And Sour Chicken
Serve this dish with steamed rice or other rice and noodle dishes. For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 oz. (230g) boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size cubes
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine, optional
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and cut into squares
- 1 small tomato, cut into wedges, optional
- 1 stalk scallion, cut into 2-inch (5cm) lengths
- oil, for deep frying
Batter:
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Lingham brand hot sauce , or other chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon plum sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon Chinese rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 3 dashes white pepper powder
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized cubes and marinate them with 1 tablespoon of wine for 10 minutes. In a bowl, mix the batter, then add the chicken cubes to it. In a separate small bowl, mix the Sweet and Sour sauce and set aside.
- Heat cooking oil in a wok and deep-fry the chicken cubes, shaking off any excess batter before frying. Once golden brown, transfer the chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Discard the remaining cooking oil, leaving only 2 tablespoons in the wok.
- Add the garlic to the wok and sauté until light brown, then add the green bell peppers. Stir-fry until fragrant. Pour in the sweet and sour sauce and bring it to a boil.
- Toss in the chicken and tomatoes, then add the chopped scallions. Stir quickly, then dish out and serve immediately with steamed white rice.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I recomend a cornflour and egg batter when used it keeps the chicken crunchy without the sauce making it soggy put the chicken in the corn flour then egg then cornflour again☺
Hi..am from the Philippines ..I cannot find plum sauce .. Any substitute?
Just add more ketchup
Just tried this today, very yummy and a balanced taste, even though i did not have plum sauce, Thanks for the great recipe!
I made this 2 nights ago and it was absolutely wonderful! I have Celiac disease so I always have to sub out anything containing gluten. I did and the recipe was still completely successful. Family had no clue they were eating gluten free. Batter fried up very crisp and light. I just love your website and thank you for teaching me how to make these dishes. I can’t safely go out for Chinese food with having Celiac and now I can have food at home that tastes even better. I am not missing out. Big hug to you!
I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Hi there. Just a suggestion – you should put the “Cook’s Note” about using Sriracha chill sauce right in the ingredients list. I used Sriracha because that’s all I had and cut it back to 2 tbsp because I knew it was spicy but it was still very spicy. Ok for me but too spicy for my daughter. If the note had been in the ingredient list right after the Lingham sauce listing, I would have know to only use 1/2 tbsp.
Otherwise, very good recipe.
The sauce taste superb ! However my batter turns out to be very watery, I wonder what’s wrong? Should I use less water instead, adjust it so that it’s just enough to cover the back of a spoon ? Thanks !
Yes you can adjust the water.
just like to check for your recipe the ingredients quantity is based on how many people?
Thanks for your recipes, i’ve tried yesterday it’s very delicious, I love it so much :-P
Can’t wait to try this dish on the coming weekend! I might even put a little twist to it too :)
Thanks for sharing!