Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe Better Than Take Out!
A tangy, sweet, and savory chicken dish combining juicy chicken thighs, colorful bell peppers, and pineapple juice in a glossy homemade sauce. Quick prep and skillet cooked to perfection - a better-than-takeout favorite.
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet
- 1 Mixing bowl
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Instructions
- Mix together soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, pineapple juice, and cornstarch in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 7–10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté chopped bell peppers and onion for about 5 minutes until tender but still crisp.
- Return chicken to skillet and pour sauce mixture in. Stir to combine.
- Cook everything together on medium heat for 5–7 more minutes until the sauce thickens and coats chicken well.
- Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles.
- Enjoy immediately or store leftovers in airtight containers once cooled.
Notes
For a less sweet version, reduce brown sugar and increase vinegar. Swap in orange juice if pineapple juice isn’t available. Reheats well—add a splash of water or steam to bring it back to life.