This sweet and sour chicken is crunchy, salty, colorful, and full of family-friendly flavor. It makes a great weeknight dinner because it comes together quickly and has a special flavor!
Why you love this sweet and sour chicken
This is a homemade sweet and sour pork that has all the taste of takeout, but can be easily made at home with simple ingredients. The sauce is the perfect balance of sweet, tangy and umami, and the pepper flakes add a gentle warmth that’s easy to handle for kids or spice-sensitive eaters.
- Sweet, tangy and flavorful
- Easy enough for a weeknight
- Better than takeout
- Family friendly and customizable
- It’s delicious when served over white rice.
- Easy to adjust spiciness level
Tips for the Best Sweet and Sour Chicken
Don’t clutter the fan
Cooking the chicken in batches will help it brown instead of steam. This will give the chicken a better texture and flavor.
Adjust the seasoning
Red pepper flakes add a bit of warmth, but for younger children you can use less or skip them altogether. Add extra food to the table for anyone who wants more heat.
Use pineapple juice for flavor
Pineapple juice adds a natural sweetness and tanginess to the sauce. If you don’t have pineapple juice, you can substitute orange juice.
Make the sauce shiny
The cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce so it coats the chicken beautifully. Boil for 1 to 2 minutes until shiny and slightly thickened.
Serve right away
Sweet and sour pork is most delicious when it is fresh, the chicken is hot and the sauce is glossy.
easy transformation
Add Vegetables
Stir in chunks of bell peppers, broccoli, peas, carrots, pumpkin, or pineapple for extra color and nutrition.
make it gentle
For a kid-friendly version, leave out the chili powder and use a little more honey.
Make it spicier
Add additional red pepper flakes, sriracha, chili garlic sauce, or sliced jalapenos.
Use chicken legs
In this recipe, the chicken thighs retain more of their juices and work beautifully.
Make it a bowl
Serve over white rice, topped with steamed broccoli, cucumber, shredded carrots and additional green onions.
Kid-Friendly Tips
For children who prefer a milder taste, start with a little chili powder or leave it out at all. You can also serve the sauce on the side at first so the kids can dip the chicken into it instead of coating it completely.
Cut the chicken into small, easy-to-eat pieces and serve with rice and familiar vegetables such as broccoli, peas, and carrots.
Asian-inspired weeknight dinner recipes:
Simple sweet and sour chicken
This sweet and sour chicken is crunchy, salty, colorful, and full of family-friendly flavor. It comes together quickly and has a special flavor, so it makes a great weeknight dinner!
Serving Size: 6
- 1 1/2 pound Boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs Cut into bite size pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoon Avocado oil or olive oil plus more as per your need
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/3 cup Rice or apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup honey or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes gustation
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons of water
