Bright and colourful, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is super fast to make! The sweet and sour sauce is truly like what you get at good Chinese restaurants, but not tooth-achingly sweet. This is not a deep fried version of Sweet and Sour Chicken, it’s a much healthier stir fry.
Make this using whatever veggies you have, switch up the chicken with prawns/shrimp, pork, beef or even fish. This is a winner!
I know my local supermarkets pretty well. I know exactly where to go for most items (except cling wrap, which, for some reason, I always forget which aisle it’s in and Woolies people tell me it’s the single most asked question) and I know the aisles pretty well.
At least, I thought I did. It dawned on me the other day that there is one whole section of the supermarket that I don’t know at all – the prepared meal base aisle. You know the section of the supermarket that sells things like Honey Mustard Sauce in jars and vacuum seal packs?
I am honestly not trying to sound snobby because I don’t judge. She who does the drive through of shame through KFC and Maccers on the odd occasion cannot judge. 😉
Anyway, I actually stopped to take a look the other day and was quite astonished at the range of meal bases that are on offer. Everything from Chow Mein, to Chicken Cacciatore, Goulash, Chilli Con Carne – all the favorites. Including Sweet and Sour Sauce.
I have no idea what the jar stuff tastes like, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be as nice as homemade. And it’s so darn fast to mix together!
PS It looks watery but once simmered, it thickens. 🙂 See? Look how nicely it coats the stir fry?
Oooh – quick little tip for you for chopping capsicum / bell peppers. Doesn’t it annoy you when the seeds inside fly around all over the place?
Well, maybe it doesn’t annoy you, but it annoys me! So this is how I chop capsicum. Fast and mess free!
I like to use chicken thigh for stir fries because it’s juicier than breast and tenderloin. If I make this with chicken breast, I always tenderise it using a Chinese restaurant technique using baking soda (bi-carb). It’s super simple, see directions here: How to Velvet Chicken.
Now, when it comes to stir fries, I am very generous with my sauce. Because the 7 year old inside this 30 something year old body still thinks that the best part of stir fries is scooping up the rice soaked in the delish sweet and sour sauce.
So as with all my stir fries, there is plenty of sauce. Plenty!! – Nagi x
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Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1/2 cup white sugar (Note 1)
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp pineapple juice (from the canned pineapple pieces)
- 3 tbsp ketchup (Australia: tomato sauce)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (Note 2)
- 1 tsp soy sauce , light or all purpose (Note 2)
- 1 tsp Oyster Sauce (Note 2)
- 1/4 tsp salt
Thickener
- 1 tbsp cornflour / corn starch + 2 tbsp water , mixed together
Stir Fry
- 1 1/2 tbsp peanut oil (or vegetable)
- 1 garlic clove , minced or finely chopped
- 1 onion , halved and sliced (brown, yellow or white) (see photo in post)
- 400 g / 13 oz chicken thigh fillets , cut into bite size pieces (Note 3)
- 1 red capsicum / bell pepper , cut into bite size pieces
- 1 green or yellow capsicum / bell pepper , cut into bite size pieces
- 1 can (8oz/250g) canned pineapple pieces in natural juice. Separate pineapple from juice.
- Sliced shallots / scallions , for garnish
Instructions
- Mix together Sauce ingredients. Mix together Thickener in a separate small bowl.
- Heat oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 1 minute.
- Add chicken and stir fry until it it is white all over but still pink inside.
- Add capsicum and stir fry for 2 minutes.
- Add Sauce ingredients. Stir until sugar has dissolved and the sauce begins to bubble.
- Add Thickener. Bring to simmer, stirring constantly. Then cook until it thickens to a syrup consistency - about 3 minutes.
- Stir through pineapple pieces (just to warm) and remove from stove.
- Serve immediately with rice - or for a low carb, low cal option, try Cauliflower Rice! Garnish with shallots if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More Stir Fries
Life of Dozer
I can’t help but think that if he was just 10 cm / 4 inches shorter, he wouldn’t be able to see what’s on the table and he wouldn’t suffer so much……
Margaret Johnston says
I make sweet & sour dishes a lot , & found adding the Worcestershire sauce was a huge improvement– thank you, Nagi !
Kirsten Fox says
Simple enough for my teenage daughter to cook – the whole family loved it! We used a third of a cup of sugar and that was sweet enough. Thanks for this super recipe Nagi!
Maria says
Love this food… thx
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Maria! N x
Sabrina says
Another delicious recipe! And so fast! Honestly, the longest time was waiting for the frozen veggies to heat up in the wok. I used a pound of stir fry veggies, half pack of tofu, and added some onions (scallions and Vidalia), and also subbed tapioca starch. The sauce is perfect! Served with red rice. The hubby went back for seconds 🙂 Nagi, I love your recipes because it’s so easy to convert to vegetarian. Thank you!
Carys says
I’m interested in doing this for my sil. Did you sub the oyster sauce and Worcestershire sauce to make it veggie friendly? Many thanks.
Sabrina J says
Hi Carys, I used vegetarian oyster sauce (I think it’s mushroom based) and omitted the Worcestershire.
Jane says
Made this last night. Sauce is what makes it! Great tasting and made from pantry items. Any combo of protein and vegetable would work. Honestly, I could eat just the sauce with rice!
Nagi says
Wahoo, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much for letting me know Jane! N x
El says
Can I make this in the slow cooker?
Nagi says
Not this one sorry El! N x
James says
I only used the sauce, but it was so fantastic that I had to write it down in my recipe book straight away! <3
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved it James!! N x
Michele says
Yummy! Thanks for recipe. Cut sugar to 1/4 cup & used brown sugar. Sweet enough for me but family wanted sweeter. No peppers but used onions & sliced carrots. Still amazing
Michele Scott-Akanbi says
I have sachets and no oyster sauce so will be using those plus your twist because your recipes always taste great ams next time, I will get some oyster and Worcestershire sauce and see if it’s even better. Also using pork, looking forward to it.
Nagi says
Love to know how it turns out Michele!
Natalie says
Can you substitute brown sugar for the white sugar? Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Nagi says
You can Natalie, it will have a slightly more caramelised flavour and colour however 🙂
Gord says
Great recipe as usual. I used the 1/4 cup of sugar and still found it a little too sweet for my taste. I’m thinking 1/8th cup will do the job. I used red and green peppers from my greenhouse for this as they were just ripe enough. They are so much better than store bought and made a wonderful recipe even better.
Nagi says
Sounds perfect Gord!
Michelle says
This is soo good! I’ll definitely be making this recipe again, although I only used one red capsicum, which was plenty for me.
Nagi says
Hi Michelle, I’m so glad you loved it!
Karen L Claudino says
Excellent! I’ve tried a couple other recipes for sweet & sour chicken, but your’s is the best. You didn’t call for carrots, and I’ve always had them in this dish so I added some along with the onions.
Diana H says
Delicious and so easy to make!! My husbands favorite dish when we order out! …No need to now!! 🙂 Thanks again!!
Nagi says
You won’t look back now, you can make it better at home! – N x
Noreen says
I thank you so much for this recipe. Especially the sauce. I wanted to find an alternative to sauce in a jar. Now i know what needs to go in…i can make it myself. Its my daughter’s favourite.
Nagi says
You’ll never look back now you can make something even better than anything jarred!
Michal says
Wow
I’m 14 just cooked this with yesterday’s chicken nuggets, first time cooking and I LOVE this. Easy and quick to make with great results! Thanks so much Nagi!
Shawn from Canada says
Wow, just wow! I cant believe it took me this long to find such an easy to follow recipe blog for Asian cooking! Thank you so much for sharing your AMAZING recipes and tips and tricks! Ive subscribed to your YouTube channel and cant wait to scour the rest of your blog! Thanks again!
Nagi says
HI Shawn! So glad you found me and I hope you enjoy many more of my recipes ❤️
Catherine says
Loved, loved this meal! Big hit with the family. Only change I made was to include some broccoli – another vehicle for that delicious sauce 🙂 Thank you Nagi! As always, your recipes are perfect and simple.
Nagi says
Glad you enjoyed it Catherine!! Thanks for sharing your feedback 🙂 N x
Marie says
You do say you answer all questions but I have posted mine twice and received no response. I’m wondering if my question was somehow inappropriate.
Nagi says
Hi Marie! Not at all. I work very hard to respond to all questions but sometimes when I am travelling, I can miss some accidentally. 🙂 I’m afraid I am not familiar with cooking with xylitol so I could not tell you. Sorry!
John says
This is really, really nice. Just like our Chinese restaurant. Yum. Thx Nagi.
Nagi says
Love hearing that John! Thanks for letting me know – N xx