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Fried Sweet and Sour Chicken

5 reviews
Contest Ribbon Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time

Prep: 40 min. Cook: 10 min.

Makes

4 dozen appetizers

Updated: Nov. 08, 2023
Meet the Cook: Since you can chop up all the ingredients the night before, this fried sweet and sour chicken can be ready in about 30 minutes. So, it's a great after-work dinner. You can also serve it as a snack or an appetizer...similar to chicken nuggets. I've even substituted quail for the chicken, and it was delicious. Next, I may try it with pork! —Kari Caven, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
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Ingredients

  • 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • BATTER:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1-1/3 cups cold water
  • Oil for deep-fat frying
  • 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks

Directions

  1. Drain pineapple, reserving juice. In a large saucepan, combine sugar, tomatoes, vinegar, onion, green pepper, soy sauce, ginger and pineapple. Simmer for 20 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine cornstarch and the reserved pineapple juice until smooth; add to tomato mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; set aside.
  3. For the batter, in a small bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and water until smooth.
  4. In a deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Dip chicken pieces in batter; drop into oil and fry about 3-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown and juices run clear. Serve immediately with sweet-sour sauce.
Fried Sweet and Sour Chicken Tips

How can you make sure each chicken nugget fries evenly?

To make sure each chicken nugget fries evenly, begin by making sure to cut each piece of chicken to a uniform size. Then, use a frying thermometer to make sure the oil is heated to 375°F before adding the nuggets to the oil. The temperature will drop as the chicken cooks, so bring the oil back up the 375° in between batches. Get more deep-frying tips.

How do you store fried sweet and sour chicken?

To store fried sweet and sour chicken, let it cool and refrigerate in an airtight contain for 1 to 2 days. To reheat, place the nuggets on a wire rack over a baking sheet and bake at 400° for about 10 minutes.

What can you serve with fried sweet and sour chicken?

Serve fried sweet and sour chicken with fried rice and steamed broccoli to make it a complete meal! Check out our other Chinese takeout copycat dishes and other 5-star chicken recipes!

—Julie Schnittka, Taste of Home Senior Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 piece with 4 teaspoons sauce: 79 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 113mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.