Description
Sweet and sour chicken brings authentic Chinese-American flavors to home kitchens with crispy battered pieces glazed in tangy sauce. Home cooks can recreate restaurant-quality dishes through simple techniques and fresh ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 3 eggs (thoroughly beaten)
- 1 1/2 cups cornstarch
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F, preparing a cooking environment for a flavorful chicken dish.
- Cut chicken breasts into consistent, bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper to enhance natural flavors.
- Create two separate preparation stations: one with cornstarch and another with beaten eggs. Thoroughly coat each chicken piece first in cornstarch, then dip completely in egg mixture.
- Heat canola oil in a skillet over medium-high temperature. Fry chicken pieces until achieving a crispy, golden-brown exterior on all sides. Transfer the seared chicken to a pre-greased 9 x 13 baking dish.
- Prepare the signature sweet and sour sauce by whisking together granulated sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic salt until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken, ensuring each piece is generously covered with the tangy mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring the chicken every 15 minutes to guarantee consistent sauce distribution and prevent burning.
Notes
- Achieve a crispy exterior by ensuring each chicken piece is completely and evenly coated in cornstarch before dipping in egg, creating a perfect golden-brown crust.
- Adjust the sweetness and tanginess by slightly modifying vinegar and sugar ratios to suit personal taste preferences or dietary needs.
- Maintain medium-high heat when frying chicken to prevent burning and ensure a uniform golden color without overcooking the meat.
- Prepare the chicken and sauce in advance, storing separately in the refrigerator, then combine and bake when ready to serve for convenience and time-saving.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 604 kcal
- Sugar: 37 g
- Sodium: 437 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg