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Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken pairs crisp battered bites with juicy pineapple and tender green bell pepper in a bright, tangy-sweet sauce of pineapple juice and vinegar. The contrast of crunch and glossy, sticky glaze delivers classic takeout vibes perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner or sharing with friends.

  • Prep30 mins
  • Cook20 mins
  • Serves8
  • DifficultyMedium
Sweet and Sour Chicken

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Sweet and Sour Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

52 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
43 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
34 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
83 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

52
Heart Health
58
Metabolic
54
Digestive
40
Inflammatory
61
Performance
51
General Wellness
  1. 1

    In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 ½ cups water, the reserved pineapple juice, sugar, vinegar, and orange food coloring; bring to a boil. Set aside.

  2. 2

    In a small bowl, whisk ¼ cup cornstarch with ¼ cup water until smooth; stir this into the sauce, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.

  3. 3

    In a large bowl, combine the flour, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, egg, salt, and white pepper; gradually whisk in the remaining 1 ½ cups water to form a thick batter.

  4. 4

    Add the chicken pieces and stir until they are well coated.

  5. 5

    Heat 1 quart oil in a large, deep skillet or wok to 360 degrees F (180 degrees C). Fry the chicken pieces in the hot oil until golden, about 10 minutes; transfer to paper towels to drain.

  6. 6

    Arrange the bell peppers, pineapple chunks, and chicken pieces on a platter; pour the hot sweet and sour sauce over the top.

  7. 7

    Serve hot and enjoy!

About This Recipe

Sweet and Sour Chicken is made with 13 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Chicken Breast, Cornstarch, Eggs, and Green Bell Pepper. Each serving provides about 648.79 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Sweet and Sour Chicken made of?
The main ingredients are Chicken Breast, Cornstarch, Eggs, Green Bell Pepper, Orange Food Coloring. The full list of 13 is above.
How long does it take to make Sweet and Sour Chicken?
About 50 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 648.79 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Sweet and Sour Chicken easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 13 ingredients and 7 steps.
Is Sweet and Sour Chicken healthy?
Sweet and Sour Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 52/100. Per serving, it provides 648.79 calories and 59.84 g of protein, or 120% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 684.12 mg (30% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 1.41 g (7% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Wheat, Gluten, Corn and Food Dyes, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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