Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken Bites (Air Fryer or Oven)

Recreating our favourite takeaway dishes at home lets us control the ingredients and stick to our healthy eating goals. Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls with Egg Fried Rice is a family favourite, especially with its crispy batter and sticky, tangy sauce.

Achieving that perfect, crunchy exterior without deep frying was a challenge, but the results from cooking in an air fryer or oven were amazing and just as good as takeout.

My kids devoured the chicken pieces, happily dunking them into the sweet and sour sauce. When my eldest said, "Mum, this is sooo good," I knew I had a winner. There's nothing better than seeing my kids enjoy my cooking!

Calories in Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken

This Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken serves 4 and is 250 calories per serving.

If you're looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you'll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 200+ calorie recipes.

If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie intake using a reliable calorie calculator. Please note that the calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes. Personalizing your calculations is essential to meet your individual needs. By using a calorie calculator, you can make informed choices and stay on track with your dietary goals.

Ingredients Needed

To make this Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken, you will need the following ingredients:

• Boneless Chicken Breast: A lean protein that provides a tender and juicy base for the sweet and sour chicken bites. It's easy to cut into bite-sized pieces and cooks quickly.
• Plain Flour: Essential for creating a light coating that helps the cornstarch adhere to the chicken, resulting in a crisp texture when cooked.
• Cornstarch: A key ingredient for achieving that perfect crispy exterior. It creates a light, crunchy coating when fried or baked.
• Egg White: Acts as a binding agent that helps the flour and cornstarch mixture stick to the chicken, ensuring an even, crisp coating.
• Water: Used to thin out the batter mixture, making it easier to coat the chicken evenly without becoming too thick or clumpy.
• Sea Salt: Enhances the flavour of the chicken and the coating, ensuring every bite is deliciously seasoned.
• Spray Oil: A healthier alternative to deep frying, it helps achieve a golden, crispy exterior when cooking the chicken in an air fryer or oven.
• Tomato Paste/Puree: Provides a rich, tangy base for the sauce, adding depth and colour to the dish.
• Light Soy Sauce: Adds a salty, umami flavour that balances the sweetness of the sauce and gives it an authentic Chinese taste.
• Rice Vinegar: Contributes a mild acidity that enhances the tangy element of the sauce, balancing the sweetness from the jam.
• Apricot or Pineapple Jam: Brings a fruity sweetness to the sauce, perfectly complementing the tangy and salty components.
• Pinch of Garlic Powder: Adds a subtle hint of garlic flavour, enhancing the overall savouriness of the sauce.
• Pinch of Onion Powder: Provides a mild onion flavour that rounds out the taste of the sauce, adding an extra layer of depth.

Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.

See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.

Essential Equipment for Cooking Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken Bites

To craft Sweet and Sour Chicken Bites to perfection, you'll need a few key pieces of equipment. Firstly, a large baking tray lined with parchment paper is indispensable. This setup ensures the light-battered chicken achieves a delightful golden hue while preventing any sticking issues.

Additionally, a small non-stick saucepan is essential for bubbling the sauce. Its non-stick surface allows for gentle heating, preventing the sauce from heating too quickly and risking burning. This ensures the sauce maintains its perfect balance of sweet and sour flavours, ready to drizzle over the crispy chicken.

For those using an oven:

A large baking tray lined with parchment paper is indispensable. This setup ensures the light-battered chicken achieves a delightful golden hue while preventing any sticking issues.

For those using an air fryer:

Opt for a model with a large capacity of at least 5.7 litres. This size allows you to cook all the chicken in one go, avoiding the need for multiple batches and ensuring each piece comes out perfectly crispy. Additionally, use parchment paper designed for air fryers to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.

With these tools on hand, you're all set to create mouthwatering Sweet and Sour Chicken Bites, whether you choose the oven or air fryer method.

Suggested Side Dishes

Here are some great sides to accompany the sweet and sour chicken

• Fragrant jasmine rice
• Classic egg fried rice
• Low-carb option: Egg fried cauliflower rice
• Stir-fried vegetables: Shredded cabbage, Carrots, Bell peppers, Onions, Snap peas, Broccoli and Mushrooms

These versatile sides add texture, flavor, and nutritional value to your meal, making it a truly satisfying dining experience.

More Slimming Eats Chinese Recipes

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