4-Ingredient Super Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken
Put a pause on the take out with this simple 4-ingredient sweet and sour chicken recipe you can make in your own kitchen!
If you want Chinese food in the comfort of your own home, you’re in the right place. This super easy recipe is a quick weeknight dinner with a simple cooking process perfect for beginners.
Sweet and sour sauce is also a staple of Chinese cuisine. You can use this delicious sauce as a dip, on other proteins, and as a glaze for meatballs. This simple 2-ingredient version is one of my favorite tricks for upping the level of so many dishes!
What’s in homemade sweet and sour chicken?
You’ll need 2 ingredients for the sauce, plus a couple of kitchen shortcuts to get crispy chicken easy!
- Sweet Chili Sauce: Thai sweet chili sauce provides the perfect base for a simple sweet and sour sauce! You can find this in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores. This the only one of the sauce ingredients you should not sub.
- Apricot Preserves: This provides the sweet side of sweet and sour sauce. You can also use pineapple or peach preserves, but I prefer the smoothness of apricot.
- Chicken Nuggets: Yep, the ones you used to eat as a kid. This is one of those kitchen shortcuts that pack a punch. This is the easiest way to get crispy “deep-fried chicken” without spending ages making it from scratch.
- Rice: Gotta have a base! You can serve this chicken over white rice or brown rice. It’s just like Chinese takeout!
Making 4-ingredient sweet and sour chicken
Step 1 | Make the Rice
Rice usually takes a bit, no matter what method you use, so it’s smart to get it started before you hop into working on the recipe itself. Go ahead and prepare your rice according to the package directions so it’s warm and ready when you need it!
Step 2 | Prep the Chicken
Chicken nuggets don’t fry in a pan well, in my experience, so usually take one of two steps to get them ready before I toss them in the pan to finish things out. Method one is my favorite — air-frying. I lay my chicken nuggets in a single layer in an air fryer basket, then fry them at 400° for 5-8 minutes. This method produces crispy chicken nuggets that feel like takeout.
Method two is to microwave your nuggets according to the package. This method doesn’t produce as crispy a nugget, but they still taste excellent in the sauce!
Step 3 | Make the Sauce and Combine
In a small sauce pan, combine your sweet chili sauce and the apricot preserves. Heat your sauce on medium-high heat while whisking until it’s smooth.
To finish your meal, toss your prepared chicken in a large skillet, then pour the sauce over the chicken. Allow it to stir-fry for a few minutes until everything’s heated through and nuggets have taken on some of the sauce. You can use the side of a spatula to cut your juicy chicken into smaller, more manageable pieces, if you’d like.
You can also toss mix-ins in here. We love both pineapple chunks and chopped bell peppers (both green bell pepper and red bell pepper are excellent!). We often serve this with pineapple juice, fresh pineapple and egg rolls to make a complete meal.
Step 4 | Enjoy!
Your last step is to serve dinner! Plate the sweet and sour chicken on a bed of rice, top with sesame seeds, crushed red pepper, and chopped green onions, and enjoy!
Update
When I developed this recipe, I used my own homemade apricot preserves. I’ve since found that store-bought preserves are much sweeter, which can throw off the balance of the tangy sauce. If you’re finding your sauce too sweet, the best way to fix that is to add a tablespoon of vinegar. Apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, and regular white vinegar all work. This helps bring out the sour flavor of the sauce!
More Quick ‘n Easy Dinners
FAQs
Yes, you can use any pre-cooked chicken, such as grilled chicken, popcorn chicken, or leftover fried chicken pieces.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove before serving.
Absolutely! You can add sautéed or steamed vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas for extra flavor and nutrition.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove before serving.
4-Ingredient Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 12 oz bottle Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 cup apricot preserves
- 1 lb frozen chicken nuggets
- 2 cups rice
Instructions
- Prepare rice according to package instructions.
- In a small sauce pan, combine the sweet chili sauce and the preserves. Heat on medium heat and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat.
- Prepare the chicken nuggets: either air fry at 400 for 5-8 minutes, or microwave according to package.
- Place chicken nuggets in a skillet. Pour sauce over nuggets and heat until nuggets are saucy and everything is heated through.
- Serve with rice and enjoy!
