Sweet and Sour Chicken

I’ve been trying to perfect this dish for years. I’ve used and combined several recipes and added some ingredients, subtracted ingredients and it has eventually ended up like this. It is delicious and tasty and exquisite all in the same bite. Not so sweet that it makes your mouth pucker, but just sweet enough to be called ’sweet and sour’ chicken. I like to make my chicken a little crunchier, so I flour it and fry it in just a bit of olive oil before adding it to the sauce. I think it adds a better texture this way. Although you can omit the flour and just brown the chicken if you choose and let it finish cooking while simmering in the sauce. I normally like to add a red bell pepper mostly for the flavor and color, but this particular time, I only had an orange pepper on hand, and it worked just fine. There’s no need to go to a Chinese restaurant, just make it at home. It is just as tasty if not tastier!

serves 4

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes

6 tablespoons flour seasoned with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 cup olive oil

1/8 cup cornstarch

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup vinegar

1 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits (reserve juice)

1/2 pineapple juice (use reserved juice)

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1/4 cup onion, sliced

Coat chicken in flour and fry in olive oil until browned. Drain and set aside. In same skillet, combine cornstarch, salt, pepper, brown sugar, vinegar, pineapple juice, chicken broth and soy sauce. Cook and stir until boiling. Reduce heat and cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken, peppers, onions, and pineapple. Cook until heated through. Serve over rice. Enjoy!

Baked on April 11, 2008 | Recipe Card: chicken, main dishes | 10 Bites Print | |

Bites

10 Bites to “Sweet and Sour Chicken”

Deborah on April 11th, 2008 3:28 pm

Oh my goodness – I have SO been craving some good sweet and sour lately. This sounds perfect!
RecipeGirl on April 11th, 2008 4:13 pm

This is what I order each and every time I go out for Chinese. And you know… I’ve never made it at home!! This looks great
Melanie on April 11th, 2008 4:50 pm

We LOVE sweet and sour chicken at our house – and that is probably an understatement! I’m so excited to see this recipe…I’ve have one that I love but I’m always looking to try a new one (and I agree, the chicken tastes better fried a bit in oil!).
Patsyk on April 12th, 2008 11:39 am

We love Chinese food, so I am always looking for ways to make it at home. This looks like a winner for us.
Kevin on April 12th, 2008 3:25 pm

That sweet and sour chicken looks really good. I like the use of the pineapple.
Jenny on April 12th, 2008 8:23 pm

Mmmm! There’s nothing like a good sweet and sour chicken. This is one dish I’m afraid to try and recreate in fear I’d totally ruin it! Yours looks beautiful! Great picture!
Anonymous on April 15th, 2008 1:47 pm

Your recipe didn’t include what to do with the chicken broth. I’m assuming you are supposed to put it in the sweet and sour sauce, but i’ve never seen a s&s recipe with chx broth in it before. could you please let all us drooling people know
thanks
Melanie on April 17th, 2008 1:32 pm

Stephanie – I tried this the other night and we loved it! I guessed on what to do with the chicken broth and just added it with all the other “sauce” ingredients. The only mistake I made was I let the chicken cook in the sauce too long and the crispy coating got a little soggy. But the flavor was delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Leigh Anne on May 15th, 2008 8:52 pm

Stephanie,

I have fixed this twice in the last month and we love it! I just featured it on my blog too. Thanks for sharing – it is definitely one of our Family Favorites now!
Roo on August 20th, 2008 7:28 pm

I made this for dinner tonight and it was very good. I will be making this again for sure! Thanks Stephanie.