Say goodbye to traditional stir fry! Sweet & Sour Chicken is a twist on the traditional stir-fry recipe, since it’s prepared in the oven for greater ease. Yet it still delivers that zesty savory flavor you want from your stir-fry. So Sweet & Sour Chicken is literally the best of all worlds! Serve this dish with your favorite rice or even some steamed broccoli for a complete meal!
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 1 pound chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup oil, plus more as needed, for frying
For the sweet & sour sauce:
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
For the garnish:
- sesame seeds, optional, for garnish
- green onions, optional, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Step 2 –Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Step 3 –Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Step 4 –Sprinkle the cornstarch over the chicken and gently toss it to make sure each piece of chicken is coated in cornstarch.
Step 5 –Dip a few pieces of the chicken into the egg, gently tossing the chicken around to make sure they are coated completely in the egg.
Step 6 –Heat the oil in a large skillet, starting with about 1/4 cup.
Step 7 –Add a few pieces of the chicken at a time and cook just until lightly golden, about 1-2 minutes. You will have to do this in batches until done.
Step 8 –Transfer the golden chicken to a paper towel-lined plate and discard the excess oil.
Step 9 –Whisk the sugar, ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes together in a large bowl.
Step 10 –Add the chicken pieces to the prepared baking dish and pour about 2/3 to 3/4 of the sauce over the chicken, tossing so that each piece is coated in the sauce.
Step 11 –Bake the chicken for 45 minutes, turning the pieces every 15 minutes.
Step 12 –Garnish with the sesame seeds and green onions.
Step 13 –Serve, using the remainder of the sauce for dipping.
