Zesty Homemade Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

Tender chicken pieces coated in a vibrant sweet and sour chicken recipe bring comfort and excitement to your dinner table.

The golden-brown exterior promises a delightful crunch with every bite.

Zesty flavors dance across your palate, creating a perfect balance of tangy and sweet.

Home cooks love how simple ingredients can create such a memorable meal.

This dish transforms an ordinary evening into a culinary celebration.

Each forkful delivers a delicious blend of textures and tastes that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Dive into this crowd-pleasing recipe and let your taste buds embark on a delicious adventure.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 400 kcal

Servings: 3

Main Ingredients In Baked Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Chicken Thighs: Succulent meat that absorbs flavors beautifully, choose boneless cuts for easier eating and consistent cooking.
• Cornstarch: Creates a crispy golden exterior, select fresh, finely ground cornstarch for smooth coating.
• Eggs: Helps cornstarch adhere to chicken, ensuring a crunchy texture, use fresh room temperature eggs.

• White Vinegar, Ketchup: Balanced tangy base that gives classic sweet and sour profile, use high-quality vinegar for brighter flavor.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and balances acidity, opt for granulated white sugar for smooth consistency.
• Soy Sauce: Adds depth and umami, choose low-sodium version to control salt levels.
• Garlic Powder: Enhances overall flavor complexity, select pure garlic powder without additives.
• Water, Cornstarch: Creates thickening slurry for silky sauce texture, mix thoroughly to prevent lumps.

• Vegetable Oil: Creates golden sear on chicken, use neutral oil with high smoke point.
• Green Onions, Sesame Seeds: Fresh garnish that adds color and extra flavor dimension, choose bright green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

What Tools You’ll Need For Baked Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Large Skillet: Essential for searing chicken to golden perfection.
• Baking Dish: Needed to bake and coat chicken with sweet and sour sauce.
• Medium Saucepan: Perfect for preparing the flavorful sauce.
• Shallow Bowls: Great for cornstarch and egg dredging station.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Cutting Board: Useful for preparing ingredients.
• Chef's Knife: Helps chop garnishes like green onions.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Ideal for stirring sauce and mixing chicken.

How To Cook Baked Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Chicken Preparation

Grab your chicken pieces and coat them in a light, airy layer of cornstarch. Give each piece a quick dip in beaten eggs, creating a delicate protective shell that’ll crisp up beautifully.

• Golden Searing

Heat up a skillet with a splash of oil. Dance those chicken pieces around until they develop a gorgeous golden-brown exterior. This quick sear locks in those amazing flavors and creates a stunning color.

• Sauce Magic

In a saucepan, whisk together a symphony of flavors – tangy vinegar, rich ketchup, sweet sugar, salty soy sauce, and a whisper of garlic. Let these ingredients mingle and dance, creating a sauce that’ll make taste buds sing.

• Baking Transformation

Pour the vibrant sauce over your golden chicken in a baking dish. Let the oven work its magic, transforming these ingredients into a mouthwatering masterpiece. Every 15 minutes, give the chicken a gentle toss to ensure every inch gets coated in that incredible sauce.

• Delicious Finale

Pull out your creation when the chicken looks glossy and the sauce has caramelized slightly. Sprinkle with fresh green onions or a handful of sesame seeds for that final touch of restaurant-quality glamour. Serve alongside fluffy rice and watch everyone’s eyes light up.

Tips For Juicy Baked Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Perfect Chicken Coating Technique: Shake off excess cornstarch before dipping chicken in eggs to prevent clumpy breading and ensure a smooth, crispy exterior.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the chicken and sauce separately up to a day in advance, then combine and bake when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace regular cornstarch with potato starch or arrowroot powder, and use tamari instead of soy sauce to make this dish completely gluten-free.
• Healthier Baking Hack: For a lighter version, use skinless chicken breasts and reduce sugar in the sauce by half, replacing with a touch of honey or monk fruit sweetener to maintain flavor without excess calories.
• Spicy Twist Option: Add a teaspoon of sriracha or red pepper flakes to the sauce for those who enjoy a kick of heat, transforming the classic sweet and sour profile into a more complex flavor experience.

Serving Baked Sweet And Sour Chicken Ideas

• Family Feast Companion: Pair this sweet and sour chicken with fluffy steamed jasmine rice and crisp stir-fried vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and snap peas for a complete balanced meal.
• Potluck Party Platter: Arrange the chicken on a large serving platter, garnish with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds, and include small bowls of extra sauce for dipping and sharing.
• Weekend Meal Prep Magic: Store leftover chicken in airtight containers and enjoy it cold in lunch salads or quickly reheated for a next-day meal, maintaining its delicious flavor and tender texture.
• Flavor Boost Technique: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds, chopped cilantro, or thinly sliced red chili peppers on top just before serving to add visual appeal and an extra layer of exciting taste dimensions.

Store Baked Sweet And Sour Chicken With Ease

• Fridge Fresh Tactics: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container, keeping it refrigerated for 3-4 days. Seal tightly to maintain moisture and prevent flavor absorption from other foods.
• Freezer Rescue Plan: Portion cooled chicken into freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating to preserve texture and taste.
• Reheating Magic: Warm chicken in the oven at 180C (350F) for 10-15 minutes. Add a splash of water or extra sauce to prevent drying out. Microwave works in a pinch, but oven maintains crispiness better.
• Batch Cooking Brilliance: Double the recipe and prep multiple meals. Separate portions before adding sauce to create versatile chicken bases for different dishes throughout the week. Label containers with dates for easy tracking.

Crispy Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 3 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Classic sweet and sour chicken delights dinner tables with crispy battered chicken in tangy sauce. Home cooks appreciate this simple Chinese-American favorite that delivers restaurant-quality flavor at minimal effort.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (500 g) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized cubes
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• ½ cup (65 g) cornstarch
• 2 tbsps vegetable oil
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• ½ cup (120 ml) white vinegar
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) ketchup
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp water

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preparation: Activate the oven to 200C (400F), positioning the rack in the center. Lightly oil a baking dish or line with parchment paper to prevent adhesion.
2. Coating: Establish two preparation zones – cornstarch and whisked eggs. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge each piece thoroughly in cornstarch, then completely immerse in egg mixture, ensuring total coverage.
3. Searing: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high temperature. Brown chicken pieces in strategic batches until exterior achieves a golden, crisp texture. Transfer seared chicken to prepared baking dish with precision.
4. Sauce Creation: Combine vinegar, ketchup, sugar, soy sauce, and garlic powder in a saucepan. Heat and stir until sugar dissolves completely. Integrate cornstarch slurry to transform sauce into a glossy, clingy consistency.
5. Baking Process: Pour sauce evenly over chicken, guaranteeing thorough coating. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, rotating chicken midway to ensure uniform cooking and flavor distribution.
6. Serving: Plate over steamed rice, garnishing with chopped green onions or sesame seeds to enhance visual appeal and flavor complexity.

Notes

• Cornstarch Coating Technique: Ensure chicken pieces are completely and evenly coated with cornstarch before egg dipping to create a crispy, light exterior that locks in moisture.
• Oil Temperature Control: Maintain medium-high heat while searing chicken to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust without burning or undercooking the meat.
• Sauce Consistency Hack: Whisk cornstarch slurry thoroughly to prevent lumps and create a smooth, glossy sauce that clings perfectly to chicken pieces.
• Baking Precision: Rotate chicken midway through baking to ensure even cooking and consistent flavor distribution, preventing dry or unevenly cooked sections.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 3
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 60 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg