Bright and colourful, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is super fast to make! The sweet and sour sauce is truly like what you get at good Chinese restaurants, but not tooth-achingly sweet. This is not a deep fried version of Sweet and Sour Chicken, it’s a much healthier stir fry.
Make this using whatever veggies you have, switch up the chicken with prawns/shrimp, pork, beef or even fish. This is a winner!
I know my local supermarkets pretty well. I know exactly where to go for most items (except cling wrap, which, for some reason, I always forget which aisle it’s in and Woolies people tell me it’s the single most asked question) and I know the aisles pretty well.
At least, I thought I did. It dawned on me the other day that there is one whole section of the supermarket that I don’t know at all – the prepared meal base aisle. You know the section of the supermarket that sells things like Honey Mustard Sauce in jars and vacuum seal packs?
I am honestly not trying to sound snobby because I don’t judge. She who does the drive through of shame through KFC and Maccers on the odd occasion cannot judge. 😉
Anyway, I actually stopped to take a look the other day and was quite astonished at the range of meal bases that are on offer. Everything from Chow Mein, to Chicken Cacciatore, Goulash, Chilli Con Carne – all the favorites. Including Sweet and Sour Sauce.
I have no idea what the jar stuff tastes like, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be as nice as homemade. And it’s so darn fast to mix together!
PS It looks watery but once simmered, it thickens. 🙂 See? Look how nicely it coats the stir fry?
Oooh – quick little tip for you for chopping capsicum / bell peppers. Doesn’t it annoy you when the seeds inside fly around all over the place?
Well, maybe it doesn’t annoy you, but it annoys me! So this is how I chop capsicum. Fast and mess free!
I like to use chicken thigh for stir fries because it’s juicier than breast and tenderloin. If I make this with chicken breast, I always tenderise it using a Chinese restaurant technique using baking soda (bi-carb). It’s super simple, see directions here: How to Velvet Chicken.
Now, when it comes to stir fries, I am very generous with my sauce. Because the 7 year old inside this 30 something year old body still thinks that the best part of stir fries is scooping up the rice soaked in the delish sweet and sour sauce.
So as with all my stir fries, there is plenty of sauce. Plenty!! – Nagi x
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Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1/2 cup white sugar (Note 1)
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp pineapple juice (from the canned pineapple pieces)
- 3 tbsp ketchup (Australia: tomato sauce)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (Note 2)
- 1 tsp soy sauce , light or all purpose (Note 2)
- 1 tsp Oyster Sauce (Note 2)
- 1/4 tsp salt
Thickener
- 1 tbsp cornflour / corn starch + 2 tbsp water , mixed together
Stir Fry
- 1 1/2 tbsp peanut oil (or vegetable)
- 1 garlic clove , minced or finely chopped
- 1 onion , halved and sliced (brown, yellow or white) (see photo in post)
- 400 g / 13 oz chicken thigh fillets , cut into bite size pieces (Note 3)
- 1 red capsicum / bell pepper , cut into bite size pieces
- 1 green or yellow capsicum / bell pepper , cut into bite size pieces
- 1 can (8oz/250g) canned pineapple pieces in natural juice. Separate pineapple from juice.
- Sliced shallots / scallions , for garnish
Instructions
- Mix together Sauce ingredients. Mix together Thickener in a separate small bowl.
- Heat oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 1 minute.
- Add chicken and stir fry until it it is white all over but still pink inside.
- Add capsicum and stir fry for 2 minutes.
- Add Sauce ingredients. Stir until sugar has dissolved and the sauce begins to bubble.
- Add Thickener. Bring to simmer, stirring constantly. Then cook until it thickens to a syrup consistency – about 3 minutes.
- Stir through pineapple pieces (just to warm) and remove from stove.
- Serve immediately with rice – or for a low carb, low cal option, try Cauliflower Rice! Garnish with shallots if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More Stir Fries
Life of Dozer
I can’t help but think that if he was just 10 cm / 4 inches shorter, he wouldn’t be able to see what’s on the table and he wouldn’t suffer so much……
Maybe add sesame oil.
Hi Juana, you can if you like but it isn’t an ingredients traditionally used 🙂 N x
Have made this dish several times. My husband loves it (and so do I). Tonight I added some cashews as a special treat. Delicious. Thank you Nagi!!
What would you recommend to do with the pineapple pieces if I use a can? (besides salads I mean) 🙂
Hi Chris, do you mean with leftover pieces? You could always make a carrot cake and finely chop them to add in! N x
I love every one of your dishes, but this one was a little too sweet for me. Wondering if i miss-read the ingredients, I get easily confused with cups 🙂
People, this is a extremely high sugar content meal!! Its not healthy at all. Try substituting some sugar for stevia.
Hi Sam, it’s not supposed to be a “healthy” meal. But everything in moderation is fine! N x
This meal, like all meals on this site was delicious. I added two stalks of celery as well,
This was spectacular ! It tasted just like the shop and the whole family loved it. Thank you so much !!!
You’re so welcome Jasmine!! N x
OMG!!! Amazing! Thank you Nagi xx
Great recipe! First time trying it and I doubled the recipe for 4 adults. Everyone loved it. Had maybe 2 servings left which is perfect for tomorrow.
I make sweet & sour dishes a lot , & found adding the Worcestershire sauce was a huge improvement– thank you, Nagi !
Simple enough for my teenage daughter to cook – the whole family loved it! We used a third of a cup of sugar and that was sweet enough. Thanks for this super recipe Nagi!
Love this food… thx
You’re so welcome Maria! N x
Another delicious recipe! And so fast! Honestly, the longest time was waiting for the frozen veggies to heat up in the wok. I used a pound of stir fry veggies, half pack of tofu, and added some onions (scallions and Vidalia), and also subbed tapioca starch. The sauce is perfect! Served with red rice. The hubby went back for seconds 🙂 Nagi, I love your recipes because it’s so easy to convert to vegetarian. Thank you!
I’m interested in doing this for my sil. Did you sub the oyster sauce and Worcestershire sauce to make it veggie friendly? Many thanks.
Hi Carys, I used vegetarian oyster sauce (I think it’s mushroom based) and omitted the Worcestershire.
Made this last night. Sauce is what makes it! Great tasting and made from pantry items. Any combo of protein and vegetable would work. Honestly, I could eat just the sauce with rice!
Wahoo, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much for letting me know Jane! N x
Can I make this in the slow cooker?
Not this one sorry El! N x
I only used the sauce, but it was so fantastic that I had to write it down in my recipe book straight away! <3
I’m so glad you loved it James!! N x
Yummy! Thanks for recipe. Cut sugar to 1/4 cup & used brown sugar. Sweet enough for me but family wanted sweeter. No peppers but used onions & sliced carrots. Still amazing
I have sachets and no oyster sauce so will be using those plus your twist because your recipes always taste great ams next time, I will get some oyster and Worcestershire sauce and see if it’s even better. Also using pork, looking forward to it.
Love to know how it turns out Michele!
Can you substitute brown sugar for the white sugar? Can’t wait to try this recipe!
You can Natalie, it will have a slightly more caramelised flavour and colour however 🙂
Great recipe as usual. I used the 1/4 cup of sugar and still found it a little too sweet for my taste. I’m thinking 1/8th cup will do the job. I used red and green peppers from my greenhouse for this as they were just ripe enough. They are so much better than store bought and made a wonderful recipe even better.
Sounds perfect Gord!