It’s no secret that I have a special place in my heart for Chinese dishes; one of them is The Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe. Popular Recipes typically consist of a perfect mixture of sweet and savoury. You get to enjoy different textures and flavour profiles in each bite. From special sauces to fresh herbs, Chinese dishes hit the mark right in my heart every time!
As much as I would love to have it every other day, let’s be real. Once the takeout bills pile up at the end of the month, even my favourite sweet and sour chicken tastes mostly sour!
So I decided to cut back on those takeouts from last month. My wallet smiled in relief, but my heart?
It’s been pining over that crispy chicken dressed up in a delicious sauce that goes oh-so-smoothly with the juicy pineapple and crunchy bell peppers! The sweet taste of the dish lingers on my fingers, urging me to find a way to recreate that magic at home. So, here we are- today, I have a homemade sweet and sour chicken recipe for you guys that’s way cheaper and a lot tastier than the takeouts!
Healthier Version Of Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
My recipe for sweet and sour chicken is made with traditional ingredients. However, you can make any adjustment to the recipe according to your preference and dietary goals. Below are some suggestions for a healthier version of sweet and sour chicken:
Bake Instead Of Deep-Frying
Oil is a great factor in weight gain. So, if you are watching your weight gain, deep-frying the chicken might not be the best option for you. Instead of deep-frying, you can bake the chicken pieces in the oven and combine them with the sauce later.
For baking, simply coat the marinated chicken pieces with cornflour or cornstarch and bake them until they turn golden brown and crispy.
Select Leaner Portion
A leaner cut of meat allows you to cut down the fatty part while still enjoying the benefit of the protein. I have used boneless skinless chicken pieces in this recipe. Although my recipe incorporates all cuts of meat including chicken thighs, drumsticks or wings, for a leaner option you should choose chicken breast to keep the fat low in this dish.
Add More Vegetables
When it comes to healthy cooking, vegetables tend to be the first choice for most of the recipes and this one is no exception!
You can add a variety of vegetables, including carrots, peas, broccoli, zucchini, baby corn, cabbage, tomatoes and mushrooms. Adding these veggies will make your meal healthier as they are loaded with antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and fiber.
Apart from being healthy, they are also game changers for introducing different textures and flavours to sweet and sour dishes. From crunchy carrots to tender broccoli, these mixed vegetables will enhance the look and feel of the original dish!
Use Low-Sodium Sauce
Salt is a big no-no for people with heart problems or strokes. Reducing the salt intake of the dish is a good way to balance out your meal and make it diabetic-friendly as well.
You can adjust the quantity of salt used in this recipe according to your preference. However, soy sauce contains a high amount of salt, which might mess with your health if you are watching your sodium intake. In that case, you can use Tamarind, a Japanese sauce as an alternative for your sauce ingredients with lower sodium and an almost similar taste.
Choose a Natural Sweetener
If you want to reduce your calorie intake then choose natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup over white sugar. Natural sweeteners contain a lot of vitamins and minerals which you won’t find in refined sugar. Also, they help control your blood sugar level as the glucose present in natural sweeteners rises very slowly.
What Pairs Well With This Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken?
Before you start cooking this delicious chicken dish, let’s give you some ideas on what goes well with it so that everything is ready once the dish is served!
Rice
If you want to fill up your tummy with a yummy main course then rice is the perfect choice for you. And the best part is that it goes well with all sorts of rice out there including fried rice, brown rice, basmati rice, cauliflower rice and plain white rice.
Noodles
Noodles absorb and complement the taste profile of the sweet and sour chicken. You can pair up a variety of noodles with this dish such as rice noodles, chow mein, egg noodles, lo mein noodles and ramen.
Soup
Soup helps balance out the flavour of the sweet and sour chicken dish. The smooth or creamy texture of the soup compliments the crispy chicken in a nice way and adds nutritional value to the meal as well. You can pair up this dish with hot and sour soup, wonton soup, vegetable soup or egg drop soup.
Recipe Card
Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe Cheaper than Takeout
Ingredients
For Marination
- 500 grams Boneless Chicken (Bite-sized Pieces)
- ½ tsp / 3 g Salt
- ½ tsp / 1 g Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp / 15 g Garlic Ginger Paste
- 1 tbsp / 15 ml Soy Sauce
- 1 large-size Egg
- 4 tbsp / 32 g Cornstarch
For Sauce
- 4 tbsp / 60 g Tomato Ketchup
- 1 tbsp / 15 ml Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp / 15 ml Oyster Sauce
- 4 tbsp / 48 g Brown Sugar
- 4 tbsp / 60 ml White Vinegar
- 4 tbsp / 60 ml Water
- 1 tbsp / 8 g Cornstarch
- 1 tsp / 2 g Black Pepper
For Cooking
- Oil for deep frying
- 2 tbsp / 30 ml Oil
- 1 tbsp / 7 g Ginger (Minced)
- 1 tbsp / 8 g Garlic (Minced)
- ½ cup / 80 g Red Onion
- 1 cup / 149 g Bell Pepper (Red and Green)
- ½ cup / 82 g Pineapple (Diced)
Instructions
Marinate Chicken
- Take a mixing bowl and place 500 grams of boneless chicken in bite-sized pieces.
- Sprinkle ½ tsp of salt and ½ tsp of black pepper over the chicken.
- Add 1 tbsp of garlic ginger paste and 1 tbsp of soy sauce into the bowl.
- Crack 1 large egg over the mixture.
- Add 4 tbsp of cornstarch into the bowl.
- Using a spatula, mix all the ingredients well and let it marinate for 15 minutes.
Prepare Sauce
- Take a small bowl to prepare the sauce and add 4 tbsp of tomato ketchup to it.
- Add 1 tbsp of soy sauce and 1 tbsp of oyster sauce to the bowl.
- Pour 4 tbsp of brown sugar and 4 tbsp of white vinegar to add sweetness and acidity to the sauce.
- Add 4 tbsp of water and 1 tbsp of cornstarch to the bowl.
- Whisk everything together until the sauce is smooth.
- Sprinkle 1 tsp of black pepper over the sauce.
- Whisk again until well mixed.
(Deep-Fry)Cook The Chicken
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat for deep frying.
- Using tongs, add the chicken pieces into the hot oil one by one.
- Fry for 6-7 minutes or until the chicken turns golden brown in colour. Keep shuffling the pieces with the tongs to ensure even cooking.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken pieces from the oil and drain them on a plate. Set the plate aside for later use.
Saute Aromatics and Pineapple
- Take a pan and put it on the stove over high heat.
- Pour 2 tbsp of oil into the pan.
- Add 1 tbsp of minced ginger and 1 tbsp of minced garlic into the pan and saute.
- Add ½ cup of red onion to the mix. Stir to combine.
- Add 1 cup of red and green bell peppers to the pan.
- Add ½ cup of diced pineapple chunks and fry for 2-3 minutes while stirring occasionally.
Combine Chicken with Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Pour the sauce you have prepared earlier into the pan and coat the vegetables with it.
- Add the fried chicken and cook for another 1-2 minutes while the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
Garnish and Serve
- Give the dish one final stir to make sure everything is well combined.
- Remove the dish from the heat and transfer it to a serving plate.
- Garnish the chicken with chopped green onion and sesame seeds.
- Serve immediately and enjoy the dish while it’s still hot!
Video
All done cooking? Grab a spoon, scoop up some rice and start munching on these delicious sweet and sour chicken bites!
There’s something so satisfying about cooking a dish that you know will turn out absolutely delicious. With every bite of the crispy chicken, you will experience the rich and tasty flavor of the caramelized sauce that clings to each piece. The crispy coating and the glossy sauce create a duo that’s unforgettable!
I hope you have enjoyed cooking this recipe as much as I do. See you next time with another one of my favorites. Till then, take care!
Recipe FAQs
Cook Chicken and prepare the sauce as I have directed in the recipe. However, keep them separate and combine them together just before serving.
Yes, of course! To add spiciness to the dish, add hot sauce or chili flakes while preparing the sauce.
To thicken the texture of the dish, make a cornstarch slurry with water and pour it into the sauce while it’s simmering. Reduce the heat to low and keep cooking until the sauce reaches desired consistency.
You can reheat the chicken in the oven to get back its crispiness. Avoid overcrowding the pan while frying to prevent the chicken from getting greasy and soggy.
