Sweet and Sour Chicken Bites – Crispy and Tender One-Pan Recipe

Name: Sweet and Sour Chicken Bites – Crispy and Tender One-Pan Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: Chicken breast; Egg white 1; Shaoxing cooking wine; Light soy sauce; White vinegar; Sugar; Ketchup; Salt; White pepper a pinch; Cornstarch; All-purpose flour; Water; Sesame seeds; Vegetable oil for frying

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COOK TIME

Prep 15m • Cook 15m
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570

These sweet and sour chicken bites are pan-fried until lightly crisp, then coated in a balanced sauce made from ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar. The chicken stays tender thanks to a simple egg-white marinade, and the sauce thickens just enough to cling to each piece. A practical home recipe for anyone searching for “crispy sweet and sour chicken,” “homemade Chinese chicken bites,” or “easy sweet and sour sauce.”

Ingredients

Serves 2

Chicken breast

300g - Cut into bite-sized pieces for even cooking
Egg white 1
Shaoxing cooking wine

1 tbsp
Can’t find it? Try this one.
Light soy sauce

2 tbsp - 1 tbsp for marinating, 1 tbsp for sauce
Can’t find it? Try this one.
White vinegar

2 tbsp
Can’t find it? Try this one.
Sugar

1 tbsp
Ketchup

6 tbsp
Salt

1/4 tsp
White pepper a pinch

1/4 tsp
Cornstarch

2½ tbsp - Use 2 tbsp to coat chicken before frying, and reserve 1/2 tbsp to thicken the sauce
Can’t find it? Try this one.
All-purpose flour

1 tbsp
Water

1/4 cup
Sesame seeds

1 tbsp
Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the chicken

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Add salt, white pepper, cooking wine, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and egg white. Mix well and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Coat the chicken

Mix 2 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp flour. Toss chicken until each piece is lightly coated. Let rest 5 minutes so coating sticks better.
Step 3: Fry the chicken

Heat oil over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in batches until golden and crisp. Remove and set aside.
Step 4: Prepare the sauce

In a bowl, mix ketchup, sugar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, white vinegar, water, and 1/2 tbsp cornstarch. Stir until smooth.
Step 5: Cook sauce and combine

Pour sauce into a clean pan, cook over medium heat until bubbling and slightly thickened. Add fried chicken and toss until evenly coated.
Step 6: Finish with sesame seeds

Sprinkle sesame seeds on top, stir briefly, and serve warm.