# Simple, Nutritious, 8-Ingredient, No Deep Fry Sweet and Sour Chicken
If you enjoyed classic sweet and sour pork as a child, you may be surprised to find that sweet and sour chicken is even more widely favored. This dish, featuring its sweet and tangy sauce, is swift and straightforward to make, presenting a fantastic substitute for takeout. With this healthier baked option, you can relish the same wonderful flavor without any remorse.
## Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken
This recipe is a twist on the traditional oven-baked sweet and sour pork, substituting chicken in its place. The chicken stays tender with a touch of crispiness due to a cornstarch coating. This technique removes the necessity for deep frying, leading to a healthier meal without the clutter and waste of oil. You can feel confident serving this dish frequently, as it tastes just as delightful as its fried counterpart.
## How to Prepare Sweet and Sour Chicken
### Instructions
1. **Preheat** your oven to 450ºF and season your chicken with salt and pepper.
2. **Coat the chicken.** Apply cornstarch for a crisp, light coating; potato starch is a good alternative.
3. **Bake the chicken.** Roast for 20 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
4. **Prepare the sauce** while the chicken is roasting. Coarsely chop your onions and pineapple.
5. **Sauce the chicken** and lightly sauté the onions and pineapples simultaneously.
6. **Savor!**
## Sweet and Sour Sauce Ingredients
– **Ketchup:** An unexpected ingredient, yet it is regularly found in many Chinese kitchens for its distinctive tangy taste.
– **Pineapple:** Classic sweet and sour recipes usually incorporate pineapple, but you may opt for other crunchy, succulent vegetables such as bell peppers or red onions.
## Tips and Tricks
– Lightly grease the wire rack to keep the chicken from adhering and enhance its crispiness.
– For added crunch, raise the oven temperature at the conclusion of the baking period to further brown the chicken, but monitor closely to prevent burning.
## If You Are a Fan of Chinese Cuisine
Pair this sweet and sour chicken with:
### Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
**Serves:** 4
**Prep Time:** 5 minutes
**Cook Time:** 35 minutes
**Total Time:** 40 minutes
#### Ingredients
– 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cubed
– 2 tbsp cornstarch
– 1/4 cup sugar
– 3 tbsp ketchup
– 2 tbsp white vinegar
– 1 tbsp soy sauce
– 1 bell pepper, cubed
– 1/2 red onion, cubed
#### Nutrition Facts (per serving, 4 oz)
– **Calories:** 307
– **Fat:** 8.5g (13% DV)
– **Saturated Fat:** 2.3g (14% DV)
– **Cholesterol:** 101mg (34% DV)
– **Sodium:** 450mg (20% DV)
– **Potassium:** 409mg (12% DV)
– **Carbohydrates:** 22.9g (8% DV)
– **Fiber:** 0.8g (3% DV)
– **Sugar:** 17.2g (19% DV)
– **Protein:** 33.7g (67% DV)
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.*
This simple, healthy sweet and sour chicken recipe is a delightful method to enjoy a classic dish without the hassle of deep frying. Ideal for a swift weeknight meal, it’s bound to become a family favorite!