Sweet and Sour Chicken |

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Filed under Main Dishes - Chicken

Oct 8
At my job, lunch is brought in every day. I work in the financial arena, (which hasn’t been fun the last couple of weeks!), and the majority of our office consists of brokers who need to be in the office during market hours. For this reason, the company brings in food everyday so that the brokers aren’t leaving for lunch breaks.

It’s never anything really “fancy”, usually just a step up from fast food. I have the option of eating at work, but I usually skip the work lunch and drive home for lunch since I’m not a broker, and therefore not required to be there during market hours. I enjoy my hour away, plus I know I would have a weight problem if I were to eat that food every day.

But every once in awhile, I’ll have some of the lunch that has been brought in. Especially lately. Since the brokers are there so early in the morning, they get hungry earlier – so lunchtime for them is usually around 11:30am. I don’t come in until 8:00am, and eat my breakfast right before I come, so usually take a lunch at 1pm. But when you are growing a baby, you are pretty much hungry all of the time – at least I have been lately!! I try to bring healthy snacks to snack on during the day, but sometimes now, when I smell the lunch being brought in, I can’t help but want to help myself to some of it!!

A few days ago, it was Chinese food. I was excited, because I had been craving an egg roll. I helped myself to a small plate of the food, and sat down at my desk to eat. Complete disappointment. The egg roll was not very good, and most of my sweet and sour chicken ended up in the trash. Thank goodness I had other food at home to eat that day!!

But what didn’t disappoint was this Sweet and Sour Chicken I found on Melanie’s blog – My Kitchen Café. I believe that Melanie and I would get along very well in real life because just about everything she posts on her blog is something that I would have picked out to make in my own kitchen. In fact, I’ve joked that I just want to go and eat at her house every day becasue everything she makes is right up my alley! I saw this chicken recipe, and knew it was one I had to make.

I’ve only attempted my own sweet and sour sauce once before, a long time ago, and it wasn’t very good. But this one was exactly what I was looking for! I realized that I was out of regular vinegar, so I subbed apple cider vinegar, and it still worked very well. The only problem I had was one that was my fault – I decided to make some extra sauce, and I reduced it down way too much. It ended up so sticky that we couldn’t really eat it, but the chicken really didn’t need that extra sauce. But if you do make extra, don’t reduce it too much!!

I think I’ll forget the take-out Chinese from now on and make my own!

Sweet and Sour Chicken
from My Kitchen Café

Chicken:
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

Cut boneless chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch and then in egg. Fry in a little oil until brown but not cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients (below) together and pour over chicken.

Sauce:
¾ cup sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
½ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. Turn chicken every 15 minutes. If you like extra sauce, make another batch of sauce and bring it to a boil on the stovetop. Stir constantly and let cook over medium heat until thickened and reduced – about 6-8 minutes.
54 Comments

54 Responses to “Sweet and Sour Chicken”

Melanie said on October 8th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

Deborah – I feel honored you made this, liked it and posted about it! Your pictures are always so great – I wish you could be at my house to take pictures of my food. I’m glad you liked it!

[Reply]
kat said on October 8th, 2008 at 3:57 pm

That does sound like a great version of sweet & sour

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Patsyk said on October 8th, 2008 at 4:33 pm

Don’t you love when you can make something even better at home, than take-out? This one looks so good!

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Katerina said on October 8th, 2008 at 4:44 pm

This sounds really good, I am amazed it doesn’t dry out in the oven for a whole hour!

[Reply]
Deborah said on October 8th, 2008 at 4:48 pm

Katerina, I was surprised too!! I actually cranked up the heat a bit and only had it in there for about 45 minutes because we were impatient, but it wasn’t dry at all!

[Reply]
Jamie @ Baldwin Bungalow said on October 8th, 2008 at 4:53 pm

Thank you for this recipe – I think I’m going to try it in the deep fryer.

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Maria said on October 8th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

I am sure yours was MUCH better than the Chinese at work! That is nice they provide food, but too bad it isn’t good food! Glad you are able to go home. I don’t take a lunch at work…I am on the Governor’s 4-10 work schedule so I like to save my time to go home early…I just bring food to eat at my desk. It usually isn’t that exciting:)

[Reply]
Happy cook said on October 8th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

I love sweet and sour chicken and this looks delicious.
I too am always disapointed if i get takeawya chines, so now a days i dodn’t do it.
Just try to make them myself

[Reply]
Rosa's Yummy Yums said on October 8th, 2008 at 5:18 pm

A wonderful version of that yummy classic! Delicious!

Cheers,

Rosa

[Reply]
Aggie said on October 8th, 2008 at 5:28 pm

I’m always craving Chinese food, pregnant or not. I will have to try this! Looks great!

[Reply]
Ginny said on October 8th, 2008 at 5:38 pm

Looking good! I never try my hand at Asian food and I really should!

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Patricia Scarpin said on October 8th, 2008 at 6:38 pm

Deb, sweetie! You served it with rice – something Brazilians love!
My mouth is watering.

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Colleen said on October 8th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

Oooh, I like that this is baked instead of totally fried. Definitely starred this!

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Veronica said on October 8th, 2008 at 6:50 pm

What a simple delicious sounding dish. How nice that you can go home for lunch!

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Aimée said on October 8th, 2008 at 7:14 pm

That sucks when you are craving something and then it turns out to be so blah. This looks like a recipe to try–maybe my little one will even eat it…

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Dawn said on October 8th, 2008 at 9:41 pm

Oh these look very crispy!! They came out really good. I love these crispy and greasy, ready to absorb that s&s sauce!

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noble pig said on October 8th, 2008 at 10:17 pm

I love the crispy look, so beautiful! I bet the baby loved it too!

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CECIL said on October 8th, 2008 at 10:25 pm

There is nothing like good old sweet sour chicken!! Come to think of it, this was the first dish I made for my husband when we were dating!!

You did a great job!

[Reply]
Mandy said on October 8th, 2008 at 10:41 pm

I am so glad you posted this recipe. I feel like I have Tex-Mex and Italian food down pretty well…but Asian food, thats a different story. I tried stir-fry once (I know, how can you screw that up?) and I screwed it up big time. Your recipe looks so good and sounds so straight forward. I will let you know how mine turns out.

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Sophie said on October 9th, 2008 at 12:13 am

I probably would’ve thrown it away too, especially after coming across this recipe. Thanks for posting this. I only eat this every once in a blue moon, but I’m never the one who makes it …that’s going to change now .

[Reply]
Jenny said on October 9th, 2008 at 12:53 am

Yum, I could go for some sweet and sour chicken right about now. It looks great!

[Reply]
Mrs Ergül said on October 9th, 2008 at 1:24 am

I have recently made 1 sweet and sour chicken too. The only difference is that I pan-fried the chicken chunks instead of baking them!

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Elle said on October 9th, 2008 at 2:10 am

This is a yummy sounding version of sweet and sour…a winner! Glad you are taking that hour to eat well (and maybe rest a little?)…you will have the most gorgeous baby…I just know it.

[Reply]
Lisa said on October 9th, 2008 at 3:34 am

This looks much better than take out.

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KJ said on October 9th, 2008 at 5:45 am

This looks so good. Really delicious!!

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Paula said on October 9th, 2008 at 5:52 am

Sweet and sour chicken is the one Chinese dish my oldest daughter will eat. I love what you did here. And, I had to muffle a cheer because your recipe is gluten free, too! Yipee! Great post! This will get made in my kitchen! YUM!

[Reply]
Paula said on October 9th, 2008 at 5:54 am

Guess I should clarify my gluten free comment … we only use wheat free soy sauce, so that makes it gluten free for us! The absence of wheat flour in the chicken batter is genius!

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Joe Horn said on October 9th, 2008 at 6:27 am

Looks great. I love anything with chicken because of the low calories. Thanks!!!

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Peabody said on October 9th, 2008 at 7:41 am

It’s one of the few things I never make at home. It just never seems to work out as well as my favorite Chinese place.
Yours looks like it turned out really well though. Makes me want to give it another try.

[Reply]
Emiline said on October 9th, 2008 at 9:11 am

Mmm, that looks good. Is this taken with your new camera? Your pictures are always good.

Your job sounds like fun. I would love free food. Hey, you take advantage of it.
Well, when it’s good anyway.

[Reply]
Meeta said on October 9th, 2008 at 12:18 pm

This sounds lovely. We have a University cafeteria and just like you I go there on occasions because I think I would have the same weight problem!
But I like the sound of this! Yummy!

[Reply]
LyB said on October 9th, 2008 at 12:23 pm

That sounds just delicious, and simple too, that’s always a plus! Hope things will get better at your job.

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Prudy said on October 9th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

That does sound fabulous. I love chicken just like that-batter fried and then sauced. How csn you go wrong? I love hearing about your growing baby. It’s such an exciting time. I’m never hungrier than when pregnant. Food just looks and tastes so much better.

[Reply]
Grace said on October 9th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

yum–it’s like a grown-up version of the chicken mcnuggets with sweet and sour sauce that i loved as a kid.

[Reply]
Mary said on October 9th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

I used to work (for 6 years) in energy marketing and as a trader I wasn’t allowed to leave my desk either. One firm catered our lunches every day and pretty much it was cafeteria food. blecch. (and yeah, I’m so glad to be out, but I miss that paycheck!)

The chicken looks fantastic!

[Reply]
April said on October 9th, 2008 at 2:01 pm

I love sweet and sour chicken!! Yours looks great!

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Maris said on October 9th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

I agree that sometimes takeout food is SO MUCH better when we make our own versions. I’ve never made Chinese or really any type of Asian dish so I’m definitely flagging this one to try soon!

[Reply]
kellypea said on October 9th, 2008 at 4:16 pm

I've never made S&W chicken but used to order it all the time when my family went out for Chinese when I was a kid. That sauce ingredient list has my tastebuds working. Pretty funny!

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JennDZ - The Leftover Queen said on October 9th, 2008 at 4:44 pm

Looks great! I haven’t had sweet and sour chicken in forever!

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Kelly said on October 9th, 2008 at 11:31 pm

That sounds wonderful. If only I hadn’t just BOUGHT sweet and sour chicken for dinner right before I found this recipe!

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Kevin said on October 10th, 2008 at 1:54 am

That sweet and sour chicken looks perfectly golden brown and good!

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bbaking said on October 10th, 2008 at 7:38 am

aaah who doesn’t love chines food? This recipe sounds so simple and yummy.

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Colleen said on October 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

I just made this and it is GOOD! I posted it on my blog – thanks for sharing!

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Huy said on October 24th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

Hi, Deborah! I was going to post a comment on your blog to tell you that I used your recipe but my popup blocker was acting up and wouldn’t let me!

But thanks for the wonderful recipe and for visiting my blog! I definitely share you sentiment about Chinese takeout — why order out now when you can make it BETTER at home? Thanks again for the recipe

[Reply]
ALEX & KARI said on November 4th, 2008 at 4:54 am

I made this last night and it was killer! My husband and daughter gave it an A+! It was a little labor intensive but was worth it. Thanks for the great recipe!

[Reply]
ALEX & KARI said on November 4th, 2008 at 4:54 am

I made this last night and it was killer! My husband and daughter gave it an A+! It was a little labor intensive but was worth it. Thanks for the great recipe!

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Anna at Mediocre Chocolate said on December 10th, 2008 at 7:36 am

I was searching for a good homemade sweet and sour sauce recipe, and found yours. I also found a fellow blogger who’s being led by cravings and a steadily increasing waistline! Looks yummy, I’ll have to try it–baby’s been craving Chinese!

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Anonymous said on December 31st, 2008 at 7:35 pm

This looks delicous!!

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Memória said on June 4th, 2009 at 10:52 pm

I tried this about a week ago, and it was perfect!! Wow! I had to call my mom and tell her about it lol. In Austin, there aren't many good Chinese restaurants (IMHO). So, it is nice to know that I can make my favorite, Chinese dishes on my own. Thanks!

[Reply]
Sarah said on January 8th, 2010 at 1:00 am

I made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit!
My kiddos helped me make this and they thought the sauce was going to be horrible since it had sugar, ketchup and vinegar in it (they prepared that part of the recipe). Anyways, both kids had 2 servings of this and the hubs had 2 1/2 servings. Thanks for a great recipe!!

[Reply]
Madison Marie said on November 22nd, 2010 at 6:55 pm

Thanks so much for posting this! I tried it last night and I just mentioned it in my very first blog. This is such a great recipe!

[Reply]
T and C Bakery said on March 1st, 2011 at 8:04 pm

Looks so good, I'm going to have to try it

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General Tso's Chicken | said on May 10th, 2011 at 6:01 am

[...] still have good Chinese food at home? Even though it is Americanized, I think you can!! I have a few favorites that I have posted before, and I am always drawn to Chinese recipes when I see [...]
Sweet and Sour Meatballs | said on July 18th, 2011 at 6:02 am

[...] thought about doing pork, but then the idea came to me to do meatballs instead! I used my favorite sweet and sour sauce (thanks for the killer recipe Melanie!) and added a bit of an Asian twist to the meatballs. The end [...]

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