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Home Collections Asian Takeout

Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry

By:Nagi
Published:26 Sep '16Updated:1 Aug '20
157 Comments
Recipe v Dozer v

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!

Bright and colourful, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is made with a sauce that rivals the best Chinese restaurants! recipetineats.com

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!

Bright and colourful, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is made with a sauce that rivals the best Chinese restaurants! recipetineats.com

Bright and colourful, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is made with a sauce that rivals the best Chinese restaurants! recipetineats.com

Bright and colourful, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is made with a sauce that rivals the best Chinese restaurants! recipetineats.com

PS It looks watery but once simmered, it thickens. 🙂 See? Look how nicely it coats the stir fry?

Bright and colourful, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is made with a sauce that rivals the best Chinese restaurants! recipetineats.com

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!

Bright and colourful, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is made with a sauce that rivals the best Chinese restaurants! recipetineats.com

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

Bright and colourful, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is made with a sauce that rivals the best Chinese restaurants! recipetineats.com

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Bright and colourful, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is made with a sauce that rivals the best Chinese restaurants! recipetineats.com

Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Dinner, Stir Fry
Chinese
4.92 from 56 votes
Servings4
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 134
This bright and colourful stir fry is made with a classic Sweet & Sour Sauce which is truly like what you get at good Chinese restaurants. This is not made by deep frying the chicken - it's tasty enough as it is without adding more calories!! Also see Baked version of the fried Sweet & Sour Chicken - recipe here. I know 1/2 cup of sugar sounds like a lot, but it works out at 1 1/2 tbsp per serving, which isn't too bad!

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:

1. I know 1/2 cup of sugar sounds like a lot, but it works out at 1 1/2 tbsp per serving, which isn't too bad!
I use 1/4 cup when I'm trying to be healthy. 🙂 It's still quite sweet, but not restaurant sweet. Using 1/2 cup makes it closer to restaurant sweet, but definitely not tooth-achingly sweet. I use less sugar than many recipes you'll find on the internet - some use 1 cup of sugar!!
2. These 3 ingredients are what makes this sauce more like the Sweet & Sour sauce that is served at Chinese restaurants. They are my "secret ingredients"! You can omit one (substitute with more of one of the others) and it will still taste similar. But please don't leave out all 3! The sauce will taste quite flat and bland.
3. If you are using chicken breast which is leaner, I would recommend tenderising it to make it juicier - see How to Velvet Chicken the Chinese restaurant way.
4. Nutrition per serving, stir fry only. If the sugar is reduced to 1/4 cup, then it reduces to 351 calories per serving.Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry nutrition

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 290gCalories: 398cal (20%)Carbohydrates: 44.7g (15%)Protein: 28.3g (57%)Fat: 12.2g (19%)Saturated Fat: 2.8g (18%)Cholesterol: 82mg (27%)Sodium: 455mg (20%)Potassium: 511mg (15%)Fiber: 2.1g (9%)Sugar: 38g (42%)Vitamin A: 500IU (10%)Vitamin C: 107.3mg (130%)Calcium: 40mg (4%)Iron: 1.8mg (10%)
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

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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……

dozer-sweet-and-sour-chicken-stir-fry-12

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

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157 Comments

  1. Lyn says

    September 27, 2016 at 10:13 am

    Can’t wait to make this…Thanks for another delicious looking recipe…:)

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 11:12 am

      Thanks Lyn! I do hope you try it, the sauce is DELISH! 🙂

      Reply
  2. ann says

    September 27, 2016 at 7:13 am

    I sincerely hope that you were not having those thoughts about Dozers legs while you were wielding that knife?!
    The chicken looks good but I don’t do sweet and sour, too sweet for my savoury palate.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 9:54 am

      Honestly, I have a photo of Dozer where he is lying in a position where I swear to you, he looks like butterflied chicken!! Next chicken recipe, I’ll share it….!!

      Reply
  3. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says

    September 27, 2016 at 6:20 am

    5 stars
    I’m sorry but I could not refuse Dozer anything. Those eyes just touch my heart. Anyway, the recipe looks so good. I love a good stir fry – I could eat it every night. There are so many great flavors to combine. Have a great day!!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 9:51 am

      It takes great restraint not to give him everything he wants. When he was younger, I had less self control and he got a bit pudgy……

      Reply
  4. Julia @ HappyFoods Tube says

    September 27, 2016 at 6:08 am

    Love it and trying it out pretty soon (once I get the chicken 🙂 )!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 9:51 am

      Hope you do Julia!!! Love the colours in this stir fry – and the sauce is so good! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Dorothy Dunton says

    September 27, 2016 at 5:54 am

    Hi Nagi! How do you do it? I have chicken thawing and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it and now I do! This is the same way I do mine, as I don’t like the texture once the deep fried chicken is sauced. I’m going to add broccoli and water chestnuts just because I have them. I don’t think it would help poor Dozer if he were shorter, he could still smell all the wonderful things you prepare!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 9:50 am

      Oooh YES to water chestnuts! I love them 🙂 Do you use them for anything other than Asian cooking?? Here in Australia it’s only sold in the Asian section of supermarkets!

      Reply
      • Dorothy Dunton says

        September 27, 2016 at 11:30 am

        Hi Nagi! Actually I add them to chicken and tuna salad for crunch and I sometimes put them in stuffed mushrooms. 🙂 BTW Gary loved this! I did add mushrooms also.

        Reply
        • Nagi says

          September 29, 2016 at 10:39 am

          Oooh! And guess what? I’m making stuffed mushrooms today – ha ha ha! 🙂 N x

          Reply
        • Nagi says

          September 27, 2016 at 5:24 pm

          woah – what?? You made this sauce for dinner???

          Reply
          • Dorothy Dunton says

            September 28, 2016 at 3:52 am

            Hi Nagi YES I made this for dinner! And we have enough left to have for another dinner! Next time I’m going to make it with pork tenderloin. One other thing I do with water chestnuts (whole ones) is give the a little soak in soy sauce, wrap them in a little piece of bacon and sprinkle them with brown sugar. Then I bake them on a rack until the bacon is crispy. 🙂

          • Nagi says

            September 29, 2016 at 10:44 am

            I can safely say I have never tried that nor ever thought too, but YUM!!!! I know that will be DELICIOUS!

  6. Laurie says

    September 27, 2016 at 5:52 am

    This is being made for dinner! I have all the ingredients and that’s a good thing since it will be 100 degrees out today.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 9:50 am

      I hope you have air conditioning!!!!

      Reply
  7. Bryn says

    September 27, 2016 at 3:26 am

    Your sauce comment made me laugh. I have made so many of your Asian dishes and love the extra sauce that is always left for the rice. I should have remembered this important fact when I made your Salisbury steak with mushroom sauce this weekend. I know my family loves lots of sauce over noodles so…I doubles it. Oh My Gawd! It was soooo much sauce. I had to pour some into a separate pan just to allow room for the steaks to simmer. Luckily it was super super delicious and my husband ate the left overs over chicken breasts and rice. We love your recipes!!!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 9:49 am

      I know….I am a sauce maniac!!! I would rather too much than too little sauce 🙂 Also I find that the quantity of sauce a recipe makes really varies depending on whether people like their sauce super thick or thinner, so I err on the side of caution in terms of quantity. So glad you enjoy my recipes, thanks Bryn! N x

      Reply
  8. Lynn says

    September 27, 2016 at 2:50 am

    Hello! I am new to your website and recipes.
    What do the numbers in parentheses mean after some ingredients? THANK YOU!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 7:09 am

      Hi Lyn! I was being lazy, instead of writing (Note 1) etc! Changed back to my usual way! N x

      Reply
      • Lynn Brandt says

        September 27, 2016 at 8:46 am

        Ahhhh, I see! THANK YOU so much for explaining!

        Reply
  9. mila says

    September 27, 2016 at 2:33 am

    This looks so fabulous Nagi!!! There is only ONE sweet and sour sauce I buy at Whole Foods and I really like it. I jazz it up a bit…but sometimes I just need to have an easy sauce on hand 🙂 BTW off topic…mildly…how do you do your action shots? Do you set the timer on?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 7:15 am

      Hi hun! Depends on what. If I’m doing a pour shot, I’ll have the camera close enough to click while I do it. Actually, I do that most of the time. The only time I do a timer is if both hands are in the shot – like chopping the bell peppers in this post 🙂 N x

      Reply
  10. Kevin | Keviniscooking says

    September 27, 2016 at 1:36 am

    5 stars
    Saucy deliciousness and Dozer is more patient than I would be. 🙂 Nice pineapple juice touch in this!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 7:14 am

      He just silently drools. Dreaming of doing a face plant in it!

      Reply
  11. Amy @ Pressure Cook Recipes says

    September 26, 2016 at 8:14 pm

    Hi Nagi,
    What a lovely stir fry. Look at that yummy sauce!
    We love making Chinese stir fries at home too.
    Oh, and I’m with you when it comes to the sauce. I just couldn’t stop myself from “taste-testing” it as I cook. hehe~
    Anyways, have a wonderful week! 🙂
    Amy

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 27, 2016 at 7:11 am

      Oh believe me, I do lots and LOTS of taste testing!!! 😉 N x

      Reply
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