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
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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