How to Make Yummy Sweet and Sour Chicken

If you are looking for an easy dinner that is flavorful, family-friendly, and does not require a long list of ingredients, this Yummy Sweet and Sour Chicken is a great recipe to try. It has tender chicken, colorful peppers, juicy pineapple, and a simple homemade sweet and sour sauce that thickens beautifully as it cooks. Serve it over jasmine rice with a side of broccoli, and you have a delicious meal that feels comforting, fresh, and a little bit tropical.

This recipe is perfect for busy nights because most of the ingredients are pantry staples. The sauce comes together with brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, cornstarch, and pineapple juice. The brown sugar gives it sweetness, the vinegar gives it that sour tang, and the pineapple adds a bright flavor that makes the whole dish taste so good. It is more of a Hawaiian-style sweet and sour chicken than a traditional Chinese takeout version, but it is absolutely delicious.

You can make this recipe with cubed chicken, like this version, or use the same sauce with homemade meatballs. Either way, it is one of those easy meals that you can put together without a lot of fuss.

Supply List

Cubed chicken breast or chicken tenderloins
Bell peppers
1 can pineapple chunks with juice
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 heaping tablespoon cornstarch
Jasmine rice
Butter
Water
Salt, optional
Broccoli, optional for serving
Large pot or skillet
Medium mixing bowl
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Spatula or spoon
Knife
Cutting board

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cook the Chicken

Start by cubing your chicken into bite-sized pieces. You can use chicken breast or chicken tenderloins, depending on what you have on hand. Place the cubed chicken into a large pot or skillet and cook it on the stove until it is fully cooked through.

You do not need to do anything fancy here. Just cook the chicken until it is no longer pink and is ready to soak up that sweet and sour sauce. Once the chicken is cooked, leave it in the pot while you prepare the rest of the recipe.

2. Start the Jasmine Rice

While the chicken is cooking or once it is finished, start your rice. Jasmine rice is a great choice for this recipe because it has a soft texture and wonderful flavor.

For a family-size amount, use 2 cups of jasmine rice and 3 cups of water. Add a couple tablespoons of butter to the pot, and add a little salt if you like. Cook according to the package directions or your usual rice method.

The rice will be the perfect base for the chicken and sauce.

3. Slice the Peppers

Next, slice your bell peppers into thin strips or small pieces. The peppers add beautiful color and flavor to the dish. They pair really well with the sweet and sour sauce and give the meal a fresh, bright taste.

You can use any color of peppers you like. Red, yellow, orange, and green all work. If someone in your family does not love eating peppers, you can still cook them in the sauce for flavor and let people pick around them.

4. Make the Sweet and Sour Sauce

In a mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar. Make sure you press the brown sugar down into the measuring cup so it is nice and full.

Next, add 1/3 cup of vinegar. Vinegar may smell strong, but it is what gives the sauce that classic sweet and sour flavor. It balances the sweetness from the brown sugar and pineapple juice.

Add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 heaping tablespoon of cornstarch. The cornstarch is important because it helps the sauce thicken as it cooks.

Open a can of pineapple chunks and pour the juice into the sauce mixture. Stir everything together until the cornstarch and brown sugar are mixed in well. Save the pineapple chunks for later so they do not overcook.

5. Add the Sauce to the Chicken

Pour the sauce mixture over the cooked chicken in the pot. Use a spatula to scrape out every bit of the sauce from the bowl because that is where all the flavor is.

Stir the chicken and sauce together until the chicken is coated. Turn the heat up enough to bring the mixture to a gentle boil. As it heats, the cornstarch will activate and the sauce will begin to thicken.

6. Let the Sauce Thicken

Once the sauce starts bubbling, continue stirring it occasionally. You will notice it getting thicker and starting to coat the chicken pieces. This is exactly what you want.

The sauce should become glossy and cling nicely to the chicken. If it looks too thick, you can add a tiny splash of water or pineapple juice. If it needs to thicken more, let it cook a little longer.

7. Add the Peppers

Add the sliced peppers to the chicken and sauce. Let them cook just long enough to soften slightly and flavor the sauce. You do not have to cook them until they are mushy. A little texture is nice in this recipe.

The peppers also make the dish look so pretty with all the bright colors mixed into the sweet and sour sauce.

8. Add the Pineapple Chunks

Add the pineapple chunks about 7 to 8 minutes before you are ready to take the dish off the heat. You do not want to add them too early because they can get too soft if they cook too long.

Stir the pineapple into the chicken and sauce so every bite has that sweet, juicy flavor.

9. Serve Over Rice

Once the sauce is thick, the peppers are tender, and the pineapple is warmed through, your sweet and sour chicken is ready.

Serve it over warm jasmine rice. Add broccoli on the side for a complete meal. The rice soaks up the sauce beautifully, and the broccoli pairs perfectly with the sweet and tangy chicken.

This Yummy Sweet and Sour Chicken is simple, colorful, and packed with flavor. It is a great dinner for those nights when you want something homemade but do not want to spend hours in the kitchen. With tender chicken, pineapple, peppers, and an easy sauce, this recipe is one your family will ask for again.