Sweet And Sour Chicken Better Than Takeout Wellplated Com

(Don’t you hope people say that about you too? I do!) Sweet and sour chicken is a homemade riff on the Chinese-American take-out favorite.

Like its takeout cousins Healthy Orange Chicken and General Tso Chicken, sweet and sour chicken is made of pieces of crispy chicken thighs or breasts, tossed in a sticky, sweet sauce.The sauce has both more vinegar (the sour) and more sugar (the sweet) than either orange chicken or General Tso, and it features the addition of pineapples, bell peppers, and onion.

With the right ingredients, stir fry recipes make stellar all-in-one meals, because they provide servings of protein and vegetables (and here even fruit!) in a single large skillet. The hang-up is that many takeout-style stir fries (like most other recipes for Bourbon Chicken) are high in sugar.

Many “from scratch” versions of sweet and sour chicken I saw called for ketchup (which contains a good amount of sugar) and brown sugar in the sauce.When I’m cooking for myself, I prefer to keep the ingredients simple and nutritious…all without losing the pleasure and spirit that is a yummy bowl of sweet and sour chicken, of course!

That’s where this healthy sweet and sour chicken with pineapple comes in. It’s still sweet and sticky but uses better-for-you ingredients where possible (like my Sesame Chicken).

How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken

This easy, from-scratch sweet and sour sauce is made with rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, and a little tomato paste (my trick to making it without ketchup), plus garlic and ginger to give it plenty of fresh flavor. You can stick to the traditional sweet and sour vegetables (bell pepper, onion, and pineapple), or mix it up by adding any vegetables that are in season or that you have on hand. (Is it summer? Try Zucchini Stir Fry.)

The Ingredients

Chicken. Whether you choose to make sweet and sour chicken breasts or thighs, the meat will be deliciously tender and coated in the flavorful sauce. Chicken is a wonderful lean protein to use for recipes like this. No need to deep fry this one!Sweet and Sour Chicken Marinade. Rice vinegar, soy sauce, salt, and pepper help flavor and tenderize the chicken. Cornstarch creates a crispy sweet and sour chicken crust that mimics your favorite takeout fried sweet and sour chicken. Pineapple. One of the sweet components in the dish. Be sure to look for canned pineapple in 100% juice (we’ll be using both the juice and the chunks).Rice Vinegar. Rice vinegar is the sour component in the dish. It has a slight sweetness that makes it a good choice for this recipe. You can not use apple cider vinegar in this recipe.Honey. Sweet and sour chicken is healthy when you use lightened-up swaps like honey in moderation.Tomato Paste. Gives the sauce body without the need for ketchup. Soy Sauce. For that must-have umami goodness. Sambal Oelek. Also known as garlic chili paste, this ingredient adds spice and a touch of acidity.

Cornstarch. Helps thicken the sauce so it’s luscious and delicious. Allspice. Although Chinese 5 spice powder is more traditional for sweet and sour chicken, it’s not an ingredient many in the U.S. regularly stock. Allspice is a decent five spice substitution. If you have five spice powder on hand, absolutely feel free to use it here.Veggies. Bell peppers and onion are scrumptious vegetables to use in this dish. They add color, nutrition, and crunch. Garnishes. Green onions are my go-to garnish. You could also try some red pepper flakes and sesame seeds.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave. To Freeze. Freeze chicken in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Non-Stick Skillet. Perfect for making this chicken recipe.Small Whisk. This small whisk keeps me from splashing sauce all over the counter. Measuring Spoons. I adore these because they’re double-sided and magnetic.

Whether you’re feeling sweet or sour when dinner rolls around, this easy, healthy sweet and sour chicken is a mood booster, guaranteed!