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a white bowl filled with white rice and topped with sweet and sour chicken
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Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple

This is an easy chicken recipe that is ready in less than 35 minute! Serve it with rice or quinoa for a full meal.
Course Dinner
Cuisine Chinese
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 460kcal
Author Ashley C.

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts (about 1.25 pounds), cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped into 1" pieces
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped into 1" pieces
  • 1/2 white onion chopped into 1" pieces
  • 1 cup chopped pineapple
  • Green onions sliced into thin rounds for garnish
  • Sesame seeds for garnish

For the sauce:

  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, add all of the ingredients for the sauce except for the water and cornstarch. Whisk together and bring to a boil.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the water and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Add to the pan, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Your sauce should thicken as it simmers. Remove it from the heat and set it aside while you make your chicken.
  • Add the chicken, cornstarch and salt and pepper to a Ziploc bag and shake to coat.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet and add the chicken. Cook over medium-high heat for about 7 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Add additional olive oil if the chicken begins to stick to the pan.
  • Add the chopped bell peppers and onion to the pan and stir to combine. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the veggies are just barely tender.
  • Add the pineapple chunks to the pan.
  • Pour the sauce into the pan. Stir to combine. Bring the pan to a boil over medium high heat and cook until heated through. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Notes

  • Less sugar or substitute: You can cut back on the sugar or use honey. Keep in mind that you need some kind of sweetener to create the sweet flavor for the sauce.
  • Prevent chicken from sticking to pan: Heat the oil and pan until it's hot before adding your chicken to prevent chicken from sticking. 
Nutritional information does not include rice for serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 460kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 540mg | Potassium: 683mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1176IU | Vitamin C: 85mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg