Chinese
Sweet & Sour Chicken
Crisp chicken tossed with peppers and pineapple in a glossy sweet-sour sauce — the takeaway classic at home in 25 minutes.
About this recipe
Sweet & Sour Chicken is a chinese lunch for 2 that is a fast, high-heat stir-fry — have everything chopped before the wok gets hot. It’s built around chicken and egg, and it takes around 25 min start to finish. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.
Ingredients
- 300g, cubed chicken breast
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 egg
- 1, wedged onion
- 3 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 bowls, cooked rice
- 1, chopped bell pepper buy
- 1/2 cup pineapple buy
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar buy
Equipment
Method
- 1
Coat the chicken in egg, then cornstarch; pan-fry in oil until golden and cooked, 8 min. Set aside.
~9 min
- 2
Stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → onion and pepper 2 min; add ketchup, vinegar, sugar and a splash of water to a glossy sauce.
~4 min
- 3
Toss the chicken and pineapple through the sauce; serve over rice.
~3 min
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Chicken breast
- chicken thigh (more forgiving), prawns, or firm tofu.
- Rice vinegar
- cider vinegar or white vinegar cut with a little water.
Cook's notes
- Dice the onion before anything heats up so it’s ready when the pan is — a even dice cooks evenly. How to dice an onion →
- Slice the pepper flat-side down on the board — it’s steadier and your knife stays in control. How to cut a bell pepper →
- Slice chicken thinly across the grain — it cooks faster and stays tender. How to slice chicken thinly →
- Rinse the rice until the water runs (mostly) clear for fluffier, less gummy grains. How to wash & cook rice →
Storage & leftovers
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
Frequently asked
How long does Sweet & Sour Chicken take to make? +
Around 25 min from start to finish, almost all of it hands-on.
How many people does this recipe serve? +
As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.
What equipment do I need? +
You’ll want: induction hob, frying pan / wok. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.
What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +
Common swaps for this dish: Chicken breast → chicken thigh (more forgiving), prawns, or firm tofu; Rice vinegar → cider vinegar or white vinegar cut with a little water. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make Sweet & Sour Chicken ahead of time? +
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
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