Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken

Looking for a quick dinner recipe? This Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe is the answer. The entire meal comes together in under 40 minutes and is jam packed with flavor.

Perfect for busy nights when you want a hot and tasty meal on the table fast. Plus, once your family tries this recipe, weeknight take-out will be a thing of the past.

If you love this recipe try my Homemade Hibachi Style Chicken or this Tahini Pasta with Crispy Tofu.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Tastes better than takeout. This recipe is so good you’ll feel like you are having takeout at home. Expect its homemade and even more delicious.
• Made from simple ingredients. This recipe is made from simple ingredients that pair together perfectly.
• Easy to make. In a few simple steps, this easy chicken takeout recipe comes together in under 40 minutes!

Recipe Ingredients

CHICKEN AND RICE

• Chicken – You’ll need chicken breast for this recipe. Option to use thighs or tenderloins instead.
• Seasoning – Season the chicken with kosher salt and cracked black pepper.
• Oil – You’ll need avocado oil to saute the chicken.
• Rice – Cook the rice according to the package.

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT

• Vegetables – This recipe calls for diced red bell pepper, diced red onion, and minced garlic.
• Fruit – You’ll also need pineapple chunks with the juice for this recipe.

SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE

• Pineapple Juice – Use the juice from the canned pineapple.
• Sugar – This recipe calls for light brown sugar.
• Vinegar – You’ll need rice vinegar for this recipe.
• Ketchup – Ketchup adds some sweet and sour flavor to the sauce.
• Soy Sauce – This recipe calls for low sodium soy sauce.
• Cornstarch – The cornstarch helps thicken the sauce making it silky and sticky.

Expert Tips

For this easy sweet and sour chicken recipe, I used chicken breasts. I simply cut the chicken breasts into evenly sized cubes using poultry scissors. You will want the chicken cubes to be about one cubic inch. That way, you can easily eat the bite-sized chicken.

I also used canned pineapple chunks with the juice for this recipe. The canned chunks are easy to work with since they are already cut. Also, the juice is used in the sauce as well. Making this a total “no food waste” win! I used Del Monte’s deluxe gold pineapple chunks and they were delicious.

When dicing the onion and red bell pepper, try to cut them about the same size as the pineapple. This will ensure everything cooks evenly and quickly.

How to Make

Cook the Rice

• Cook rice according to the package. Set aside.

Make the Sauce

• In a mixing bowl, combine the pineapple juice, low sodium soy sauce, ketchup, light brown sugar, rice vinegar and cornstarch slurry mix well and set aside.

Prep the Chicken

• Cube the chicken breasts and season with kosher salt and black pepper. Add avocado oil to a saute pan over medium hight heat. Saute the chicken until golden-brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan.

Prep the Vegetables and Fruit

• In the same pan, add the diced onion and diced red bell pepper. Saute for 3-4 minutes. Next, add minced garlic and saute.Next, add the chicken back into the pan along with the sweet and sour sauce. Let the sauce simmer and reduce, then add the pineapple chunks.Simmer everything together over low heat, and once the sauce reduces to your liking, you can assemble the dish. If the sauce gets too thick add a splash of chicken broth.

Assemble

• Add cooked rice to the bottom of your bowl, Top with the sweet and sour chicken. Garnish with cilantro, crushed peanuts and sesame seeds. Enjoy.

Storage

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last for 4-5 days. I like to store my rice in a separate airtight container, so it doesn’t absorb too much sauce. The rice will also need refrigerated.

• Reheat in the microwave until warmed through. You can also reheat it in a nonstick skillet as well. Add a splash of water or chicken broth to help reconstitute the sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Asian Inspired Recipes to Consider Trying

• Hibachi Style Chicken
• Easy Egg Fried Rice
• Baked Spicy Salmon
• Spicy Tahini Pasta with Crispy Tofu
• Asian Inspired Roasted Broccoli with Spicy Peanut Sauce
• Saucy Asian Meatballs