Description
Homemade sweet and sour chicken brings classic Chinese-American flavors to your dinner table. Crispy battered chicken pieces glazed in tangy sauce offer a delightful meal you’ll savor with each bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
Coating and Frying Ingredients:
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) canola oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) white vinegar
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 325°F (163°C), ensuring a consistent temperature for optimal cooking.
- Sprinkle chicken pieces with salt and pepper, creating a foundational flavor profile. Delicately coat each piece in cornstarch, then immerse in beaten eggs for a crisp, golden exterior.
- Warm canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken until each side develops a rich, golden-brown color, which will help seal in moisture and enhance overall taste.
- Create the signature sauce by whisking together sugar, ketchup, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic salt in a mixing bowl. The combination will deliver a complex sweet and tangy flavor.
- Transfer browned chicken to a baking dish and generously pour the prepared sauce over the pieces, ensuring complete coverage.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven. Gently stir the chicken every 15 minutes to distribute the sauce evenly and prevent burning. Bake for approximately 60 minutes until the sauce caramelizes and thickens, and the chicken becomes exceptionally tender.
Notes
- Make chicken extra crispy by double-coating with cornstarch and letting it sit for 10 minutes before frying to create a crunchier exterior.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce and reduce sugar content for a healthier version that still maintains delicious flavor profile.
- Consider using boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts for more moisture and richer taste during baking process.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace regular soy sauce with tamari and ensure cornstarch is certified gluten-free to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 94 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg