My kids love sweet and sour chicken–and this recipe is easy.
You get easy sweet and sour chicken that’s also healthier than takeout!
Every time we order Chinese, sweet and sour chicken is our kids’ go-to request.
But all that deep fried chicken and food coloring isn’t my favorite thing to serve for dinner, so I came up with a new recipe for sweet and sour chicken they like even better.
I’m talking scrape the plate clean.
This is the easy sweet and sour chicken kids love! In fact, scroll down for tips on getting kids excited, including a hilarious video of other kids trying “Chinese” food prepared from all over the world.
This recipe is so good, and so easy, you’ll want to add it to your regular rotation. I already have.
How to make easy sweet and sour chicken
PrintEasy Sour Chicken: A Takeout Recipe Makeover!
It’s also possible to make this easy sweet and sour chicken in the oven! Put your chicken in a casserole dish and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Mix the sweet and sour sauce together, including the cornstarch, and pour over the top. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. The chicken should be cooked through and the sauce thickened.
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil
- 1 pound chicken (cut into bite size pieces)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 cup honey or sugar
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar (any vinegar will work but this is my favorite)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- In a large skillet, saute chicken in olive oil with salt, pepper, and garlic powder until browned, stirring as needed. About 8 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, combine honey or sugar, ketchup, garlic powder, vinegar and soy sauce. Stir then pour into chicken pan.
- Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Ladle about 1/2 cup of the sweet and sour sauce into the same medium bowl you used earlier. Whisk in the cornstarch, then pour the mixture back in the pan. Simmer for another 2 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Serve over brown rice with steamed veggies.
That’s our favorite easy sweet and sour chicken, ready in minutes. Need a fool-proof recipe for brown rice? We’ve got it right here!
Get kids excited
- Use small plates, dipping bowls (like these below) OR just serve tiny portions to start. Only put one or two bites on your kids’ plates. That gives them confidence. No one wants to make their way through a heaping serving of something mysterious. That’s scary! Instead, let kids CHOOSE what they want more of. Allow them to eat the small serving first, then get more of whatever they liked. Even if it’s just rice. The idea is building comfort. We’re making eating fun!
Watch other kids try “Chinese” food, from all around the world! While our Sweet & Sour Chicken recipe may not be authentic Chinese food, it’s a delicious dish in America. And we’re not the only ones who’ve taken the idea of Chinese food and run with it.
Made this for my family the other day, and my husband loved it. I was so glad he liked this, when he usually likes the take-out version so much (much healthier!!!). My kids, however, did not like ‘the sauce’. What? It’s loaded with honey and ketchup, what’s not to love? I will serve it again and maybe they’ll come around. Add this to the list of super easy, healthier dinners!
Yay for husbands who like it! The sauce can get REALLY tangy so I can understand why it might have been a bit much for kids on a first try. I did try to cut back on the sugar/honey called for in most traditional S/S recipes, you know so dinner didn’t accidentally become dessert. But I suspect that if you cut a little vinegar or ketchup (or both) the flavor might be a bigger hit with them. They don’t call it SWEET and sour for nothing!
You have garlic powder in the recipe twice. What is the correct amount please?
Oh dear. That’s not helpful. Fixed above and thanks for letting me know!
It will shows garlic twice. Do you use it when browning the chicken or in the sauce?
I made this tonight for my family and mom who is visiting. It was a huge hit. I can’t believe my six year old twins ate it!!! Thank you!
I’m SO happy to hear this! Three cheers for a winner dinner. Thanks so much for reaching out, Christine.