Name: The Best Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 3 chicken breasts; 2/3 cup flour; 2 eggs; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 3 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 cup canned pineapple, chunks; 1 bell pepper, chopped; 1 red onion, chopped; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/4 cup rice vinegar; 1/3 cup ketchup; 2 tablespoon soy sauce; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tablespoon olive oil; Vegetable Oil or Peanut Oil; 3 scallions, chopped

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If you love takeout, you will adore this easy sweet and sour chicken recipe. Tender chunks of chicken cooked with a sweet sauce that has just enough sour and salt to satisfy are paired with your favorite rice for a perfect copycat Chinese takeout dish at home. Simple ingredients you already have in your pantry make this a great choice for any weeknight meal.

Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken

My very first memory of takeout Chinese was the bright red sauce for The Wok Express in my home town. This delicious dish is not really authentic in the least, but a wonderful dish that is found at almost every Chinese restaurant, and certainly the local Chinese buffet. With tender fried chicken pieces and tons of sweet sauce on top, it's a crowd-pleaser. This homemade version is a simple way to make it at home.

If you like this recipe then you will probably also love this super easy 30-minute bourbon chicken recipe. It's another great Americanized recipe commonly found on takeout menus or buffets nationwide. It's easy to make, flavorful, and sure to please a crowd.

Should I Use Chicken Breasts or Chicken Thighs?

In this recipe, I used chicken breasts as that is what my family prefers. You can easily use chopped chicken thighs instead if you prefer. This same recipe can even be made with pieces of pork chops, or my husband loves this with shrimp. The key elements are the batter, frying, and then the sauce itself to pour over the chicken after cooking. So, choose the protein you prefer and enjoy!

What Can I Use if I Don't Have Rice Vinegar?

If you don't have rice vinegar on hand, I would reach for white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. These are the closest for the flavor, but it is okay to use a basic distilled white vinegar if necessary. While the flavor is a bit different, and brighter with white vinegar, it will work fine in this recipe.

What to Have with Sweet and Sour Chicken

In our house, the obvious rice is the go-to, but that doesn't mean it works for everyone. Below are some of the choices we enjoy when making sweet and sour chicken with pineapple. You can mix and match or do whatever works best for your family.

White rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice
Rice noodles, lomein noodles, soba noodles, zucchini zoodles, or spaghetti squash
Garlic Parmesan zucchini, garlic green beans, steamed broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots
Egg rolls or spring rolls

Can You Freeze Sweet and Sour Chicken?

While you can definitely freeze sweet and sour chicken, there are a few things you should consider when doing so. Because you are deep frying the chicken, when frozen then reheated, you may have some texture changes. It is my recommendation that if you choose to freeze this dish, you do so by cooking the chicken, letting it cool, then bagging it separately from the sauce. When you are ready to serve it, simply toss the frozen chicken pieces into the oil to heat through and crisp again before serving.

You can alternately not deep fry the chicken, but simply saute it without the batter. This won't be as traditional but is a healthier and probably faster version that would freeze much better for texture and flavor. Regardless of how you prepare, when freezing, make sure it is in an airtight freezer container or bag with the proper date and label affixed.

Ingredients

Chicken breast
Flour
Eggs
Salt
Black pepper
Cornstarch
Pineapple
Bell pepper
Red onion
Sugar
Rice vinegar
Ketchup
Soy sauce
Garlic
Olive oil
Peanut or vegetable oil for frying

Handy Kitchen Tools

How Do You Make Sweet and Sour Chicken From Scratch?

In a small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and minced garlic then set aside.

Prepare the chicken by cutting into 1" cubes and placing it into a large Ziploc bag or container with a lid.

Add the salt, pepper, and cornstarch to the chicken and shake until it is fully coated with a thin layer of cornstarch.

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until combined and place the flour into a shallow bowl.

Heat a pan with at least 2" of vegetable or peanut oil to 350°F.

Dip the prepared chicken pieces into the egg, then the flour, and drop into the hot oil cooking for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, turning as needed. Make sure to not overcrowd the pan and do this in batches if necessary.

Remove the chicken from the oil and drain on a paper-lined plate.

In a large skillet or wok, add olive oil and cook the peppers, onions, and pineapple until tender and golden. Approximately 2-3 minutes.

Pour the sweet and sour sauce over the vegetables and cook stirring regularly until bubbly.

Add the chicken to the sauce and stir then turn off the heat to serve.

Serve over rice and top with chopped scallions.

More Copycat Recipes

If you enjoy a copycat recipe, then you may like some of our other popular recipes. These are sure to please your family with delicious flavor and easy preparation. Bookmark or print the recipes below to add to your menu.

Chef's Tip

When frying chicken, work with one wet hand and one dry hand. This will help prevent messes and make sure you don't batter your hand in the process.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 4