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Sweet-and-Sour Stir-Fried Chicken

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on November 8, 2011

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Sweet-and-Sour Stir-Fried Chicken

Ingredients

6 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice, drained, 6 tablespoons juice reserved6 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons ketchup 1 tablespoon cornstarch 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds), cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick slices1 pound salad bar vegetables, cut into bite-sized pieces3 cloves minced garlic 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

Before You Begin

Serve with extra soy sauce or with hot sauce.

Instructions

  1. Whisk vinegar, reserved pineapple juice, sugar, ketchup, and cornstarch in bowl. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add half of chicken and cook, stirring often, until no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Transfer to plate and repeat with additional 1 tablespoon oil and remaining chicken.
  2. Add remaining oil and vegetables to now-empty skillet and cook until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add pineapple chunks, garlic, and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add vinegar mixture and chicken along with any accumulated juices to skillet and simmer until sauce is thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve.
Sweet-and-Sour Stir-Fried Chicken

Sweet-and-Sour Stir-Fried Chicken

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice, drained, 6 tablespoons juice reserved
6 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds), cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick slices
1 pound salad bar vegetables, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 cloves minced garlic
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

Ingredients

6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice, drained, 6 tablespoons juice reserved
6 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds), cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick slices
1 pound salad bar vegetables, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 cloves minced garlic
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

Ingredients

6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice, drained, 6 tablespoons juice reserved
6 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds), cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick slices
1 pound salad bar vegetables, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 cloves minced garlic
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

Why This Recipe Works

Stir-fry recipes take only minutes to cook but can take up to an hour to prepare. Our Sweet-and-Sour Stir-Fried Chicken cooks up quickly and uses convenient precut or frozen vegetables to minimize prep time. The recipe becomes a one-dish meal when served over steamed rice.

Before You Begin

Serve with extra soy sauce or with hot sauce.

Instructions

  1. Whisk vinegar, reserved pineapple juice, sugar, ketchup, and cornstarch in bowl. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add half of chicken and cook, stirring often, until no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Transfer to plate and repeat with additional 1 tablespoon oil and remaining chicken.
  2. Add remaining oil and vegetables to now-empty skillet and cook until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add pineapple chunks, garlic, and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add vinegar mixture and chicken along with any accumulated juices to skillet and simmer until sauce is thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve.

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