Sweet Sour Chicken Pineapple (Printable)

Tender chicken sautéed with bell peppers and pineapple in a flavorful sweet and sour sauce.

# What You’ll Use:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
03 - 0.5 tsp salt
04 - 0.25 tsp black pepper
05 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil

→ Vegetables and Fruit

06 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
07 - 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
08 - 1 small red onion, cut into wedges
09 - 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

→ Sweet and Sour Sauce

12 - 0.33 cup rice vinegar
13 - 0.25 cup ketchup
14 - 0.25 cup brown sugar
15 - 3 tbsp soy sauce
16 - 2 tbsp pineapple juice
17 - 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water

# How-To:

01 - In a bowl, toss the chicken cubes with cornstarch, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
02 - Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes, turning to brown all sides. Remove to a plate and repeat with remaining chicken and oil.
03 - In the same skillet, add garlic, ginger, onion, and bell peppers. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until just tender.
04 - Add pineapple chunks and return the browned chicken to the skillet.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and pineapple juice. Pour over the skillet mixture.
06 - Bring to a simmer, then stir in the cornstarch slurry. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through, about 2-3 minutes.
07 - Serve hot, optionally garnished with green onions or sesame seeds.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one skillet, which means less cleanup and more time actually enjoying your meal instead of standing at the sink.
  • The sauce is glossy and clings to each piece of chicken, making every bite feel indulgent without any heavy cream.
  • Ready in about 35 minutes, perfect for those nights when you want something that tastes restaurant-quality but doesn't demand hours of your attention.
02 -
  • Don't skip the batch searing method, even though it feels like extra steps, because trying to cook all the chicken at once will steam it instead of browning it, and you'll lose that caramelized flavor that makes the dish shine.
  • Make your cornstarch slurry right before you need it so the cornstarch doesn't settle to the bottom, and stir constantly while adding it so you don't end up with lumpy sauce.
03 -
  • Drain canned pineapple thoroughly and reserve that juice for the sauce, it's liquid gold that adds authentic flavor without extra ingredients.
  • The sauce thickens as it cools, so if you're serving immediately, err on the side of it being slightly thinner than you think it should be.
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