My favorite baked sweet and sour chicken recipe ever! Tastes just like what you would enjoy at a good restaurant.
The Best Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
This baked sweet and sour chicken seriously tastes like something you would buy at a restaurant. Everyone in my family loves it! Itis also a great meal to serve for guests because it is impressively delicious!
Now, while this recipe is easy to make, there is some prep and cook time involved, so plan ahead accordingly. (It is worth it!)
Getting the Chicken Ready
Cut up the chicken and season with salt and pepper. This is about 2 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast. I fed my small family and guests, plus had some leftover, sofeel free to cut the recipe in half for smaller groups
To cut this recipe in half – use two eggs,the other ingredients should be pretty easy to adjust measurements, and cook it in one 9×13 baking dish.
Cooking the Chicken
Get your apron on and be careful with the hot oil! I take a big handful of the coated chicken pieces and drop theminto the egg. Then I double-fist it – turning the pieces in the egg to coat and then transferring them into the skillet with both hands.
I end up doing 5 batches in the skillet when I do2 1/2 pounds of chicken. I can only get so many pieces coated and in the skillet before they are ready to flip and finish cooking! The chicken only takes a minute or so (flipping halfway) to cook to golden.
Making the Sauce
The sauce is super easy and flavorful – sugar, ketchup, vinegar (apple cider or rice), low sodium soy sauce, and garlic salt.
Baking the Chicken
Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken and it is ready to bake! I wish it didn’t take so long to bake, butas I said before – it is worth it.
Note: even if you cutthe recipe in half, you will still want to bake it for about an hour.
I like to serve this baked sweet and sour chicken over Jasmine rice, you could also try this homemade rice-a-roni. Enjoy!
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Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
My favorite baked sweet and sour chicken recipe ever! Tastes just like what you would enjoy at a good restaurant.
Print Rate
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Serves: 10
Adjust Servings: 10
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325°F/160°C. Lightly coat a 9x13 and 8x8 pan with cooking spray.
Cut the boneless chicken breasts into 1-inch chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in a gallon-sized resealable bag with the cornstarch, seal bag, and toss to coat the chicken.
Whisk the eggs in a shallow dish (a glass pie plate works well), then take a large handful and dip each chicken piece in the egg. Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot and rippling. Fry coated chicken pieces in the hot oil. You will need to do one single-layer amount of chicken at a time, so it ends up being about 5 batches. Cook for about 30 seconds on each side until golden, but not cooked through. Place the chicken pieces on a paper towel-lined plate; then transfer chicken to a prepared baking dish in a shallow layer. You may need to add and heat another 1/4 cup of oil about halfway through.
Whisk sauce ingredients together and pour over chicken. Bake for about 1 hour, turning chicken three times while cooking so it is evenly coated with the sauce. Serve over rice.
Nutrition
Calories: 453kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 17g | Sodium: 758mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g
Recipe Adapted From: Mel's Kitchen Cafe
FAQs
For the batter:
- ▢ ¾ cup cornstarch.
- ▢ ¼ cup all-purpose flour.
- ▢ 1 teaspoon baking powder.
- ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda.
- ▢ 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
- ▢ ⅔ cup ice-cold water.
- ▢ 1 large egg.
Difference Between General Tso and Other Chinese Dishes
I've listed out their main difference below to make it a little more clear. Sweet and sour chicken: The two are super similar. The main difference is that General Tso sauce has more ginger flavor, as well as a little more heat from the hot sauce or chili flakes.
How to make chicken very soft and tender? ›
The best tenderizer though, is a salted yogurt marinade. The salt has the same effect as in a regular brine, but the lactic acid in the yogurt further tenderizes the meat. A 15-minute marinade with one cup of yogurt and one teaspoon of salt makes for the most tender chicken breasts imaginable.
What's the difference between orange chicken and sweet and sour chicken? ›
Orange Chicken is crispy and light due to its thin glaze. Meanwhile, Sweet and Sour Chicken is crispy with a thicker and more indulgent sauce. Their different textures make them both a delicious choice when you are craving Chinese food.
What is traditional sweet and sour sauce made of? ›
While sweet and sour can be found in diverse forms in China, the American version builds upon the simple mixture of sugar, vinegar, and spices with the addition of fruit juice—most commonly pineapple—and ketchup, giving the sauce both its red hue and uniquely Western flavor.
Do KFC batter their chicken? ›
KFC has a very specific way of coating its chicken. First, fill a large tray or bowl with the flour and spice mix, then toss the raw chicken through it. Next, scoop the flour underneath the chicken, then fold it over, so the mix really sticks to the chicken.
Is sweet and sour chicken healthier than General Tso's chicken? ›
The discrepancy is likely due to the fact that while sweet and sour chicken aptly contains slightly more sugar than General Tso's, the latter contains way more protein, so despite being a bit more calorically dense, it's actually the healthier choice.
Do Chinese eat sweet and sour chicken? ›
Sweet and sour chicken is a dish frequently served in Chinese restaurants in various countries in Oceania, Europe, North America, and South America and available at some restaurants in East Asia and Southeast Asia in an essentially identical version.
What is sweet and sour chicken also called? ›
The origin of sweet and sour chicken was in the 18th century or even earlier from China. It spread to the United States in the early 20th century after the Chinese migrant gold miners and railroad workers turned to cookery as trades. In some countries, the dish is known as Ku lo yuk.
How do Chinese make chicken so tender? ›
Oil Velveting (Zǒu Yóu): Flash deep-fry chicken slices in hot oil for 1-2 minutes; a popular method in Chinese restaurants. Hot Water Velveting (With Egg White): Marinate chicken with whisked egg white, starch, and salt and pepper, followed by hot water blanching to retain tenderness.
There are three key tricks: tenderize, marinate, and controlled cooking time. When you use all three of these methods, you will have succulent, moist chicken every time, and you can apply these strategies to other cuts of meat as well.
How to keep chicken moist in the oven? ›
The secret? The parchment paper method. By covering the chicken with a piece of parchment paper, the chicken bastes in its own juices so they never dry out.
Is sweet and sour chicken from Chinese healthy? ›
Nutrition Facts
There are 1765 calories in a 1 order (706.000g) serving size of Restaurant, Chinese, sweet and sour chicken. The calorie breakdown is 46% fat, 38% carbs, and 16% protein.
Does sweet and sour sauce contain soy sauce? ›
The sour often is from white rice vinegar, but can also include soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. Garlic, clove, and ginger also can make an appearance.
What does Chinese sweet and sour chicken taste like? ›
It tastes amazing: it's a little tangy, salty and sweet – just like eating at the restaurant! It's kid-friendly: there's no spicy heat and it even calls for a little ketchup! This is a great dish to start getting your kids to try other cuisines from around the world.
What is battered fried chicken? ›
dish consisting of chicken pieces which have been coated in a seasoned batter and pan-fried, deep fried, or pressure fried. Fried chicken are pieces of chicken that have been either battered or floured and then pan fried, pressure fried or deep fried. The breading adds a crisper crust to chickens' exterior.
Does sweet and sour chicken contain egg? ›
Suggested Specification eggs, salt, white pepper powder, garlic, ginger, and green onion.
What is the main ingredient in Mcdonald's sweet and sour sauce? ›
Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Apricot Puree Concentrate And/or Peach Puree Concentrate, Distilled Vinegar, Contains 2% Or Less: Soy Sauce (water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Salt, Modified Food Starch, Sherry Wine Powder, Dextrose, Soybean Oil, Xanthan Gum, Spices, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural ...
