Sweet Sour Chicken with Pineapples

a close up of a bowl full of Sweet and sour chicken with white rice in the background

4.94 from 16 votes

Sweet Sour Chicken with Pineapples

This fantastic homemade Chinese dish is flavored with rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce for the ultimate sweet and sour flavor profile.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Chinese

Keyword sweet and sour chicken, Sweet Sour Chicken, Sweet Sour Chicken with Pineapples

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 399

Author Erren Hart

Ingredients

For the Chicken

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Vegetables & Aromatics

2 bell peppers any color, roughly chopped
1 large onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced

Sweet & Sour Sauce

½ cup brown sugar
½ cup Chinese rice vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
¼ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons pineapple juice optional

Add-Ins

6 Peppadew Piquante Peppers
1 cup canned pineapple chunks drained
2 green onions thinly sliced (for garnish)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Coat the Chicken

Add the chicken to a bowl with the cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Toss until the chicken is fully coated.

Cook the Chicken

Heat the vegetable oil in a large wok or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and stir-fry for five to six minutes until lightly browned and mostly cooked through.

Add the Vegetables

Add the onion and bell peppers. Cook for two minutes, stirring often so they soften while keeping some texture.

Add the Garlic

Add the minced garlic and cook for one minute until fragrant.

Make the Sauce

Add the brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, and ketchup. Stir well to coat everything. Simmer until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce begins to thicken. Taste and add pineapple juice if you'd like more tang.

Add Pineapple and Peppadews

Stir in the pineapple chunks and Piquante Peppers. Cook for one to two minutes until warmed through.

Season to Taste

Taste the sauce and adjust if needed. Add soy sauce for salt, vinegar for brightness, or a pinch of sugar if the vinegar is sharp.

Serve

Serve immediately over rice or noodles. Garnish with sliced green onions.

Notes

Prepare all your ingredients before heating the wok. Things move quickly when making a stir-fry, so have everything cut and measured before you start cooking.
Use high heat. Heat the wok on high before adding the oil (unless you are using nonstick cookware). This will help prevent sticking to the pan.
Once you add the oil, spread it around the pan to coat well and use oil with a high smoke point such as Vegetable or Peanut oil.

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