Irresistibly Crispy Oven-Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

My kitchen always buzzes with excitement when I prepare this delectable oven-baked sweet and sour chicken recipe that combines tangy flavors with crispy textures.

Savory aromas fill every corner as the dish slowly roasts to golden perfection.

Carefully selected ingredients dance together, creating a symphony of taste that surprises and delights.

Each bite promises a remarkable culinary journey through balanced seasonings and tender meat.

Succulent chicken pieces gleam with a glossy, caramelized coating that signals deliciousness awaits.

Home cooks looking for a simple yet impressive meal will adore this straightforward approach to classic comfort food.

Absolutely worth every minute of preparation, this recipe guarantees smiles around the dinner table.

FAQs

• What's the purpose of coating chicken in cornstarch before frying?

Cornstarch creates a crispy exterior that helps seal in moisture and prevents the chicken from becoming soggy. It also helps the egg mixture adhere better to the chicken, resulting in a more even and crunchy coating.

• Why do I need to brown the chicken in a skillet before baking?

Browning the chicken in a skillet first adds a delicious golden color and develops rich flavor through the Maillard reaction. This step also helps create a protective layer that keeps the chicken juicy during the baking process.

• Can I make this recipe spicier?

Yes, you can add red pepper flakes, sriracha sauce, or a dash of cayenne pepper to the sweet and sour sauce to increase the heat level. Start with a small amount and adjust to your preferred spice tolerance.

• Is this recipe gluten-free?

To make it gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure your cornstarch is certified gluten-free. Double-check all ingredient labels to avoid any potential gluten contamination.

Sweet and Sour Chicken That Bakes Up Just Right

• Effortless Cooking Adventure: No complicated techniques required, making this recipe perfect for home cooks of all skill levels.
• Flavor Explosion: The combination of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors creates a mouthwatering dish that will excite taste buds and impress family and friends.
• Versatile Meal Option: Easily pair with rice or vegetables, making it a flexible dinner choice for busy households or casual gatherings.
• Simple Ingredient Lineup: Uses common pantry staples, eliminating the need for hard-to-find or expensive ingredients, which saves time and money.

Oven-Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken Ingredients

• Chicken Pieces: Protein base for the recipe.

• Cornstarch: Helps create crispy exterior.
• Eggs: Binds the coating to the chicken.

• Salt, Pepper: Basic flavor enhancers.
• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Add depth to the dish.

• Sugar: Provides sweetness.
• Distilled White Vinegar: Adds tanginess.
• Ketchup: Contributes to sweet and sour flavor.
• Soy Sauce: Brings umami and saltiness.

• Vegetable Oil: Used for browning chicken.
• Rice or Steamed Vegetables: Optional serving suggestion.

Oven Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken Full Recipe Method

Step 1: Prepare Baking Station

Warm up your oven to 325°F. Grab a spacious baking dish and give it a light coating of cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Season and Coat Chicken

Sprinkle salt and pepper over chicken pieces. Create a crispy exterior by rolling each piece in cornstarch, then dipping thoroughly in beaten eggs for a golden-brown finish.

Step 3: Create Crispy Exterior

Fire up a skillet with vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Carefully place chicken pieces in batches, browning each side for 2-3 minutes. The goal is a beautiful golden color, not complete cooking.

Step 4: Arrange Chicken in Baking Dish

Transfer those beautifully browned chicken pieces into the prepared baking dish, spreading them out evenly.

Step 5: Whip Up Flavor-Packed Sauce

• White sugar
• Distilled white vinegar
• Ketchup
• Soy sauce
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder

Whisk these ingredients until they transform into a smooth, glossy sauce.

Step 6: Sauce the Chicken

Pour the tangy sauce all over the chicken, making sure every piece gets a generous coating.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Slide the dish into the oven, leaving it uncovered. Bake for one hour, giving the chicken a gentle stir every 15 minutes. This helps the sauce thicken and ensures even flavor distribution.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Plate your masterpiece over fluffy rice or alongside steamed vegetables for a complete, mouthwatering meal.

Tips for Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

• Crisp Chicken Coating: Use cornstarch for a light, crispy exterior that holds sauce beautifully.
• Batch Browning Technique: Fry chicken in small batches to prevent overcrowding and ensure even, golden-brown coloring.
• Sauce Distribution Trick: Stir chicken every 15 minutes during baking to guarantee each piece gets perfectly coated with sweet and sour sauce.
• Low and Slow Baking: Maintain 325°F temperature to keep chicken tender and allow sauce to slowly caramelize without burning.
• Prep-Ahead Strategy: Chicken can be browned and sauced in advance, refrigerated, then baked when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.

Sweet And Sour Chicken How To Store The Oven Baked Way

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, the chicken will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Transfer cooled chicken to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air and seal tightly. Frozen sweet and sour chicken can last up to 3 months.
• Place chicken in a microwave-safe dish, sprinkle a few drops of water to prevent drying. Cover and heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even warming.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chicken in a baking dish, add a splash of water or extra sauce to maintain moisture. Cover with foil and warm for 10-15 minutes until heated completely through.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Companion Picks

Savor Complementary Flavors: Crisp Riesling Pairing – A light, slightly sweet Riesling cuts through the tangy sauce and balances the chicken’s richness, creating a harmonious taste experience that enhances every bite.

Refresh with Jasmine Rice Companion – Fluffy jasmine rice absorbs the sweet and sour sauce perfectly, providing a soft, aromatic base that elevates the dish’s complex flavor profile and adds textural contrast.

Brighten with Asian Slaw Side – Crunchy Asian-style coleslaw with rice vinegar and sesame oil offers a zesty, cool counterpoint to the warm chicken, introducing a refreshing element that cleanses the palate between bites.

Complement with Steamed Broccoli Accent – Lightly steamed broccoli adds nutritional value and a subtle green freshness that balances the dish’s sweet and tangy notes, creating a well-rounded meal with varied textures.

Sauce Combinations for Sweet and Sour Chicken

• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace cornstarch with arrowroot powder or potato starch. Use tamari instead of soy sauce to make the recipe completely gluten-free.
• Low-Carb Version: Substitute sugar with erythritol or stevia. Serve over cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice to reduce carbohydrate content.
• Air Fryer Alternative: Cook chicken pieces in air fryer at 375°F for 12-15 minutes instead of oven-baking. Reduce sauce ingredients proportionally to prevent burning.
• Vegetarian Option: Replace chicken with firm tofu or seitan. Press tofu to remove excess moisture before coating and baking. Adjust cooking time to prevent overcooking.

Oven-Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

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4.7 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Crispy Oven-Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken delivers a perfect balance of tangy flavors and golden-brown crunch. Homemade comfort meets restaurant-quality deliciousness, offering you a healthier alternative to deep-fried classics that satisfies without compromise.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 lb (454 grams) chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

Coating and Binding:

• 1/2 cup (64 grams) cornstarch
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Sauce and Flavor Ingredients:

• 1 cup (200 grams) sugar
• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) distilled white vinegar
• 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) ketchup
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) vegetable oil

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 325°F and lightly lubricating a spacious baking vessel to prevent sticking.
2. Meticulously season chicken fragments with salt and pepper, then generously dust with cornstarch, creating a crisp protective layer before immersing each morsel into whisked eggs for complete coverage.
3. Activate a large skillet with vegetable oil at medium-high temperature, carefully introducing chicken portions in strategic batches to achieve a golden-brown exterior, approximately 2-3 minutes per side without fully cooking the protein.
4. Carefully relocate the seared chicken fragments into the prepared baking receptacle, arranging them in a single layer for uniform cooking.
5. Craft the signature sweet and sour elixir by thoroughly blending sugar, distilled white vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder until achieving a harmonious, smooth consistency.
6. Generously cascade the vibrant sauce across the chicken, ensuring comprehensive and even coverage of each piece.
7. Position the baking dish in the preheated oven, leaving uncovered and rotating the chicken every quarter-hour to promote sauce thickening and consistent flavor distribution during the one-hour roasting process.
8. Present the glazed chicken atop fluffy rice or alongside steamed vegetable medley for a complete, tantalizing culinary experience.

Notes

• Achieve a golden, crispy exterior by thoroughly coating chicken in cornstarch before frying, which creates a perfect texture that locks in moisture.
• Control oil temperature when browning chicken to prevent burning and ensure even, light golden coloration for optimal flavor and appearance.
• Modify sauce sweetness by adjusting sugar levels or substituting with honey or agave for a healthier alternative that suits different dietary preferences.
• Enhance dish versatility by using gluten-free cornstarch and tamari sauce to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 600
• Sugar: 35 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 75 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 140 mg