Name: Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 28 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of soy sauce; 4 tablespoons of rice vinegar; 3 tablespoons of brown sugar granulated sweetener; 3/4 cup (180ml) of passata (or crushed tomatoes); 1 cup (240ml) of water; 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder; 1.5 tablespoons of cornstarch; 400g of boneless and skinless Chicken Thighs (uncooked), trimmed of visible fat; 1 large onion, chopped; 1 red bell pepper, chopped; 1 zucchini (courgette), chopped; 1 cup of fresh chopped pineapple; 2 spring onions, chopped; cooking oil spray (I used avocado); salt and black pepper

Jump to Recipe

Sweet and Sour Chicken - a classic Chinese inspired dish made with tender pieces of chicken thigh, colourful vegetables, pineapple, and a delicious sweet and tangy sauce. It's one of those takeout favourites that's surprisingly easy to make at home and tastes just as satisfying.

chinese sweet and sour chicken in metal handled pan with wooden bowl of rice and teal plate with forks in background

Most of us are familiar with either the heavily battered sweet and sour chicken balls or the lighter version with vegetables and pineapple. For this recipe, I've gone with the unbattered version to keep it lighter while still packed with flavour. The sauce is sweet, sticky, and full of flavour and honestly, my family can barely tell the difference from takeout.

Calories in Sweet and Sour Chicken

This recipe serves 4 and is 232 calories per serving.

If you're looking for more recipes by calories, you'll find plenty of options grouped by calorie range here: Slimming Eats Low Calorie Recipes

If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.

See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.

close up of chinese sweet and sour chicken in pan

Ingredients Notes

To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:

Boneless Skinless Chicken thighs: Chicken thighs stay juicy and tender and work perfectly in this dish. Trim any visible fat and cut into evenly sized pieces so they cook evenly.
Onion: Adds sweetness and savoury flavour as it softens in the pan.
Red bell pepper: Adds colour, sweetness, and a little crunch to the dish.
Zucchini (courgette): Adds extra vegetables and texture without overpowering the sauce.
Fresh pineapple: Fresh pineapple adds natural sweetness and balances the tangy sweet and sour sauce beautifully.
Spring onions: Add freshness and a little crunch when scattered over before serving.
Cooking oil spray:Helps lightly brown the chicken and vegetables while keeping the recipe lighter.
Salt and black pepper: Used to season the chicken and balance the flavours in the dish.
Soy sauce: Adds savoury umami flavour and balances the sweetness of the sauce.
Rice vinegar: Gives the sauce its classic tangy sweet and sour flavour.
Brown sugar granulated sweetener: Adds sweetness without needing regular sugar. Adjust to taste if preferred.
Passata (or crushed tomatoes): Creates the tomato base of the sauce and gives it that classic sweet and sour flavour.
Water: Helps thin the sauce slightly so it coats everything evenly.
Garlic powder and onion powder: Add extra savoury flavour throughout the sauce.
Cornstarch: Helps thicken the sauce into that glossy sticky coating once heated.

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.

Variations and Substitutes

There are plenty of easy ways to adapt this sweet and sour chicken depending on what you have on hand.

Swap the chicken thighs for chicken breast, pork, prawns, turkey, or tofu.
Add extra vegetables like baby corn, water chestnuts, mushrooms, broccoli, snap peas, carrots, or bamboo shoots.
Red pepper can be replaced with yellow or orange peppers for a sweeter flavour.
Pineapple can be swapped for canned pineapple if preferred.
Use tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free option.
Add chilli flakes or sriracha if you like a little heat in the sauce.
Honey or maple syrup can be used instead of granulated sweetener if preferred.
Fresh garlic and ginger can be added for extra flavour.

chinese sweet and sour chicken in metal handled pan with wooden bowl of rice in background

Sides Suggestions

Wondering what sides to serve with this sweet and sour chicken?

I usually just go for some plain cooked rice, keeping it nice and simple.

But it is also delicious with this Egg Fried Rice Recipe or if I want a low carb option then I serve with this Roasted Cauliflower Rice. There are plenty of vegetables in the dish, so I don't both with extra vegetables, but any stir fried vegetables would be a great addition. Cabbage, broccoli, beansprouts etc.

Storing, Freezing and Reheating

Storing

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavours become even better as the sauce sits.

Freezing

Allow the sweet and sour chicken to cool completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating

Reheat in a pan over a medium heat or in the microwave until piping hot throughout. Add a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce slightly while reheating.

More Chinese Fakeaway Recipes

Looking for some other Chinese Fakeaway recipes? Check out these:

or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.

All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.

close up of chinese sweet and sour chicken in teal bowl with rice

Let's Connect!!

Come and follow me on:

You can also Subscribe to Slimming Eats so that you never miss any new updates.

Need some support on your weight loss journey? Maybe you need advice or tips on a recipe, or just general meal ideas.

Come join the friendly and supportive Slimming Eats Community on Facebook.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, Rate It and Tag us in your Photos @SLIMMINGEATS on INSTAGRAM

Recipe Card

Yield: SERVES 4

Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken - a classic Chinese recipe you can make in your own home, with tender pieces of chicken thigh, fresh vegetables and pineapple in a delicious sauce.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 18 minutes

Total Time 28 minutes

Ingredients

400g of boneless and skinless Chicken Thighs (uncooked), trimmed of visible fat
1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 zucchini (courgette), chopped
1 cup of fresh chopped pineapple
2 spring onions, chopped
cooking oil spray (I used avocado)
salt and black pepper

For the sweet and sour sauce

2 tablespoons of soy sauce
4 tablespoons of rice vinegar
3 tablespoons of brown sugar granulated sweetener
¾ cup (180ml) of passata (or crushed tomatoes)
1 cup (240ml) of water
½ teaspoon of garlic powder
½ teaspoon of onion powder
1.5 tablespoons of cornstarch

Instructions

Heat a frying pan over a medium high heat, spray with cooking oil spray
Add the chicken and season with a pinch of salt and black pepper, fry until lightly golden, remove and set aside.
Add in the onion and red bell pepper and fry for a couple of minutes to soften.
Add the zucchini (courgette) and add the chicken back into the pan.
Add all the sauce ingredients to a bowl or jug and whisk to combine, pour this into the pan with the chicken and vegetables and allow to bubble until it thickens into a glossy sauce (approx 5-8 minutes for it to thicken). Then stir through the pineapple just until heated.
Sprinkle with the chopped spring onions.
Serve and enjoy!!!

Notes

Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:

Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.

If you wish to share this recipe, then please do so by using the share buttons provided at top of this post.

DO NOT COPY AND/OR PASTE FULL RECIPES OR SCREENSHOTS OF ANY CONTENT FROM SLIMMING EATS TO ANY SOCIAL MEDIA OR WEBSITE, IT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

ALL IMAGES AND CONTENT ON SLIMMING EATS ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED

Nutritional information etc are an estimate and are to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary in values from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate values yourself by the ingredients you use and the tools provided to you as a member of the programme you are following.

It is the responsibility of the Reader to assure the products or ingredients they use in any recipes from Slimming Eats are allergen-free (gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free and/or dairy-free, for example). Slimming Eats assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatement about products, opinions or comments on this site.

Check Legal section, for Full Disclaimer, Disclosure and Privacy Policy.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1 SERVING
Amount Per Serving Calories 232Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 122mgSodium 571mgCarbohydrates 19gFiber 2gSugar 10gProtein 22g

Nutritional information, values, points etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.

Comments