Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken

Published October 12, 2015. Updated March 11, 2020

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Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken without the extra fat and mess of deep frying!

Bite size chicken pieces are tossed with cornstarch and seared then veggies are sautéed until tender crisp, and to finish both are tossed with flavorful sweet and tangy sauce.

So tasty and healthier than the deep fried alternative!

Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken | Cooking Classy

Sweet and Sour Chicken Made a Little Lighter

I love Chinese take-out but isn’t it just that much better when you make it at home?

I do love all the different kinds of fried Chinese chicken but I prefer not to eat fried foods very often so I’ve started making lighter versions of the classics that aren’t deep fried in oil.

Instead they are sautéed in small amounts of oil and I also work to cut back on the sugars in the sauces. This Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken is the perfect example that lighter versions of Chinese take-out can be just as good as the calorie heavy, high fat versions.

Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken | Cooking Classy

This version is dredged in a egg and cornstarch mixture before it’s cooked which gives it a light crust and helps the sauce stick.

It’s packed with veggies and fruit to make it healthier and of course you’ll get plenty of protein from the chicken.

Who could resist this easy sweet and sour chicken? It has just the right amount of sweet and tart to it and it will leave you craving more! This is my idea of a delicious weeknight dinner the whole family can enjoy!

How to Make Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken

  1. Prepare the sauce.
  2. Dredge the chicken.
  3. Cook the chicken.
  4. Saute veggies.
  5. Toss everything with sauce.

Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken | Cooking Classy

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5 from 2 votes

Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken

Deliciously flavorful sweet and sour chicken without the deep frying! Bite size chicken pieces are tossed with cornstarch and seared then veggies are sautéed until tender crisp, and to finish both are tossed with flavorful sweet and tangy sauce. So tasty!
Servings: 5
Prep15 minutes
Cook25 minutes
Ready in: 40 minutes

Ingredients

Sauce

Chicken

Veggie mixture

  • 2 tsp extra light olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 bell peppers, diced into 3/4-inch pieces
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced into 3/4-inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh or canned pineapple chunks (drain if using canned)

Instructions

  • For the sauce: Heat 1/2 tsp oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger and saute 30 seconds. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of the chicken broth, rice vinegar, honey, brown sugar, tomato paste, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. 
  • Season lightly with salt and pepper. In a small bowl whisk together remaining 2 Tbsp chicken broth with 1 Tbsp cornstarch, pour into sauce mixture. 
  • Return to heat and bring mixture to a boil, whisking constantly, and allow to boil until thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • For the chicken: In a medium mixing bowl whisk together cornstarch, egg whites, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper until well blended and slightly frothy. Add in chicken and toss to evenly coat. 
  • Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large non-stick saute pan over medium-high heat. Add half the chicken (work to space evenly apart) and cook, turning pieces occasionally, until cooked through and outsides are golden brown, about 7 minutes.
  •  Transfer chicken to a plate and repeat process with remaining 1 Tbsp oil and chicken.
  • For the veggie mixture: While the chicken is cooking, in a large skillet heat 2 tsp oil over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers and onions and saute until tender, about 6 - 8 minutes, adding in pineapple during last minute.
  • Return chicken on plate to saute pan with chicken. Add veggie mixture and sauce to chicken. Toss to evenly coat. Serve warm over white or brown rice.
Nutrition Facts
Lighter Sweet and Sour Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 387 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 87mg29%
Sodium 489mg21%
Potassium 791mg23%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 25g28%
Protein 30g60%
Vitamin A 1285IU26%
Vitamin C 75.2mg91%
Calcium 33mg3%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.