This air fryer sweet and sour chicken recipe, makes chicken juicy and tender on the inside, and perfectly crispy on the outside.
Why you will love this recipe
You will love this recipe because not only is it easy, this delicious chicken dish is a takeout family favorite that is a perfect balance of sweet and sour! If you don't have time to make your own sauce, you can absolutely use store bought sauce too! You can also try this easy Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken!
Looking for more? Check out this article where we share our favorite top 50 air fryer chicken recipes.
Ingredients:
- Chicken strips or chicken wings cut into bite size pieces
- Cornstarch
- sugar- or brown sugar
- white wine vinegar
- soy sauce
- garlic- or garlic powder
- pineapple juice-like Dole Pineapple Juice
- water
- cornstarch
How to make Sweet and Sour Chicken in Air Fryer:
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Cut the chicken into cubes or chunks, then toss in a large bowl with cornstarch and coat the chicken evenly. Preheat the Air Fryer to 380º Fahrenheit.
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To prepare the basket, use a cooking spray and lightly cover the bottom of air fryer basket. Then lay the chicken in a single layer and be sure not to stack chicken or overcrowd the basket.
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Spritz coated chicken with a light mist of olive oil spray. Air fry at 380 degrees F for 14-18 minutes. Turn chicken pieces over halfway through cooking time.
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While the chicken is cooking, add the sugar, white wine vinegar, soy sauce, pineapple juice and garlic, into a small saucepan and whisk over medium heat until the sauce reaches a small boil.
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Once the sugar has completely dissolved in the mix, combine the cornstarch and water, then add to the sauce. Keep stirring on heat for about 10-15 seconds, then remove from heat. Allow the sauce to thicken for around 5 minutes.
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Drizzle sauce over chicken or toss in a large bowl to coat each piece. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
I make this recipe in my Cosori 5.8 qt. air fryer. Depending on you air fryer size, and wattages, cooking time may need to be adjusted 1-2 minutes.
FAQ's
Because this dish is so versatile, you can combine it with several options. A perfectly cooked chow mien or lo mien noodles, for example. Warm crispy chicken coated with sauce is rich in flavor and very tasty over a bowl of your favorite rice.
Store leftovers in airtight container or freezer storage bag. Refrigerate chicken for 3-5 days once it has completely cooled.
Sweet and sour sauce goes well with many different meats and vegetarian dishes. Egg rolls, chicken breast, or meatballs, for instance, are quick and easy snacks anytime.
Absolutely! Because the air fryer can cook chicken from frozen, this will save time on busy week nights. However, since the chicken is frozen, it will take a few additional minutes to air fry.
When cooking meat, it is important to cook to safe temperature. When possible, using a meat thermometer will be very helpful to make sure chicken is fully cooked. Internal temperature of white meat should be 165 degrees F and dark meat 175 degrees F.
MORE EASY CHICKEN AIR FRYER RECIPES:
- Sesame Chicken
- Chicken Drumsticks
- Blackened Chicken Tenders
- Chicken Fajitas
- Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken cut into strips or small pieces
- ¼ cup cornstarch
Sweet and Sour Sauce Ingredients
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into cubed chunks, then toss in a large bowl with cornstarch and coat the chicken evenly. Preheat the Air Fryer to 380º Fahrenheit.
- To prepare the basket, use a cooking spray and lightly cover the bottom of air fryer basket. Then lay the chicken in a single layer and be sure not to stack chicken or overcrowd the basket.
- Spritz coated chicken with a light mist of olive oil spray. Air fry at 380 degrees F for 14-18 minutes. Turn chicken pieces over halfway through cooking time.
- While the chicken is cooking, add the sugar, white wine vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic, and pineapple juice into a small saucepan and whisk over medium heat until the sauce reaches a small boil.
- Once the sugar has completely dissolved in the mix, combine the cornstarch and water, then add to the sauce. Keep stirring on heat for about 10-15 seconds, then remove from heat. Allow the sauce to thicken for around 5 minutes. Continue to whisk.
- Drizzle sauce over chicken or toss in a large bowl to coat each piece. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.
©AirFryingFoodie 2023
Angie
Can the white wine vinegar be substituted?... With what?
Hi Angie. You can substitute apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice. Hope that helps!