Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple

Homemade sweet and sour chicken with tender meat, crisp vegetables, and pineapple in a tangy Korean hot sauce glaze. Ready in 45 minutes with baking powder for extra-tender chicken.

By Ricky Robinson Updated January 28, 2025

This sweet and sour chicken is proper homemade food - no bright red sauce or tough, chewy meat. The chicken stays tender thanks to a trick with baking powder, which helps keep the moisture locked in while it cooks. The sauce strikes a good balance between tangy and sweet, using Korean hot sauce for a bit more depth than you might find in a takeaway version.

The sauce is what makes this special - it's not just sweet and sour, but has lovely warm notes from fresh ginger and garlic.

The whole thing comes together in about 45 minutes, and most of that is just waiting while the chicken sits in the fridge. You'll spend maybe 15 minutes actually cooking, which makes it handy for a weeknight dinner.

Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple recipe image
Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple

The pineapple juice from the tin goes straight into the sauce, so nothing goes to waste. Water chestnuts might seem like an odd addition, but they add a lovely crunch that works brilliantly with the soft peppers and juicy pineapple chunks.

You can adjust the heat level by using more or less Korean hot sauce - two tablespoons gives it a gentle warmth rather than proper heat. If you can't get Korean hot sauce, sriracha works grand too, though you might want to use a touch less as it can be spicier. It's the sort of dish that looks after itself once you get going. While your chicken's having its rest in the fridge, you can prep all your vegetables and mix up the sauce. After that, it's just a matter of getting everything in the pan in the right order. The end result is fresh-tasting and satisfying, without being heavy or greasy.

Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple

Total Time 1 hr
Servings 4 servings
Calories 385 cal
Protein 32g

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Wok or Large Frying Pan
  • Mixing Bowl

Instructions

  1. 1
    Place chicken pieces in a bowl and toss with baking powder until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. After marinating, rinse chicken in a colander to remove excess baking powder, then pat dry with paper towels.
  2. 2
    Make the sauce: In a mixing jug, whisk together Korean hot sauce, white wine vinegar, ketchup, dark soy sauce, grated garlic, grated ginger, cornflour, and reserved pineapple juice until well combined. Set aside.
  3. 3
    Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove to a plate.
  4. 4
    Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan if needed. Add onion wedges, peppers, and water chestnuts. Stir-fry for 3-5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften but still retain some crunch.
  5. 5
    Return chicken to the pan and pour in the prepared sauce. Increase heat to high and stir to coat all ingredients. Add pineapple chunks and cook for 1-2 minutes until sauce is thickened and bubbling. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. 6
    Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles, garnished with sliced spring onions.
Ricky Robinson - Recipe Author
Ricky Robinson

Home cook sharing delicious recipes with a focus on flavour and simplicity.

Serving Suggestions

Serve over steamed rice or egg noodles, garnished with sliced spring onions for a complete meal.

Variations

Swap Korean hot sauce for sriracha, but use less as it's spicier. For a sweeter version, add an extra tablespoon of ketchup.

Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple

Rate & Review

4.7 3 reviews

Did you make this? What did you think?

5★
2
4★
1
3★
0
2★
0
1★
0

Share this recipe:

Never miss a recipe

Get my latest recipes and food inspiration delivered to your inbox weekly.

Completely free. Unsubscribe at any time.