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Overhead view of gluten-free sweet and sour chicken on a plate with some jasmine rice.

Easy Gluten-free Sweet and Sour Chicken

Meeta Arora
Can't find gluten-free Chinese food near you? Then you need to make this easy gluten-free sweet and sour chicken recipe for dinner this week.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 6
Calories 419 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the gluten-free battered chicken.

For the gluten-free sweet and sour sauce.

  • 2 Tablespoons Light Cooking Oil I use avocado oil or sesame oil.
  • 1 Medium Red Bell Pepper Diced.
  • 1 Small White or yellow onion Diced
  • 1 Cup Chopped Pineapple Fresh, frozen or canned.
  • ¼ Cup Sugar
  • ¼ Cup Rice Vinegar You can also use apple cider vinegar.
  • ¼ Cup Gluten-free Soy Sauce
  • ¼ Cup Ketchup
  • ½ Cup Pineapple Juice
  • 2 ½ Tablespoons Corn Starch
  • 2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder
  • ½ Teaspoon Ground Ginger

Instructions
 

Make the gluten-free battered chicken.

  • Combine the gluten-free flour, corn starch, eggs, water, garlic, and ginger in a bowl and mix until a thick batter is formed.
    1 ½ Cups 1:1 Gluten-free Flour, ⅓ Cup Corn Starch, 2 Large Eggs, ¾ Cup Water, ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder, ¼ Teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • Add the cubed chicken to the batter and mix to coat.
    1 ½ Pounds Chicken Breasts
  • In a pan, warm up the oil to about 350°F.
    Oil for frying.
  • Add the coated chicken to the oil a few minutes at a time.
  • Let the chicken cook in the oil for about 4-5 minutes, flipping as needed, until the batter becomes slightly golden and the chicken is fully cooked.
  • Remove the chicken from the oil and let it rest on a plate lined with paper towels while you finish cooking the rest.

Make the gluten-free sweet and sour sauce.

  • In a separate skillet, add the light cooking oil and warm it up over medium heat.
    2 Tablespoons Light Cooking Oil
  • Add the diced onions, peppers, and pineapple to the skillet.
    1 Medium Red Bell Pepper, 1 Small White or yellow onion, 1 Cup Chopped Pineapple
  • Let the vegetables cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until they have started to soften.
  • While the vegetables are cooking, combine the rest of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until no clumps of corn starch remain.
    ⅓ Cup Corn Starch, ¼ Cup Sugar, ¼ Cup Rice Vinegar, ¼ Cup Gluten-free Soy Sauce , ¼ Cup Ketchup, ½ Cup Pineapple Juice, 2 ½ Tablespoons Corn Starch, 2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder, ½ Teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • Add the sauce to the vegetables and let it simmer until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.

Combine the chicken with the sauce.

  • Once the chicken has been battered and fried, add the pieces to the sauce and stir to coat.
  • Serve your gluten-free sweet and sour chicken with some jasmine rice or gluten-free fried rice for a delicious dinner.

Notes

Tips and Tricks 
  • Cut the chicken into equal-sized pieces. This will help ensure they all cook evenly.
  • Do not skip battering and frying the chicken. This gives this sweet and sour chicken that traditional Chinese takeout flavor and texture.
  • Let the sauce thicken before adding the chicken.
Prep the gluten-free chicken batter ahead of time. - You can prep the batter a day ahead and keep it in a sealed container in the fridge.
Make the sauce ahead of time. - I find it easiest to mix the sauce without the vegetables and let it simmer on the stove just until it starts to thicken. Then, when I am cooking dinner, it takes less time to finish once the sauce is added to the vegetables.
Make it all ahead of time and reheat. - This isn't my favorite option, but it does work. You can thoroughly batter and fry the chicken and make the sauce beforehand.
  • I recommend storing the battered chicken and the sauce separately if you do this.
  • The gluten-free battered chicken gets crispier if it's reheated in the oven or air fryer without the sauce.
  • When making the sauce ahead of time, warm it up and then combine it with the chicken for the best results.

Nutrition

Calories: 419kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 31gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 717mgPotassium: 609mgFiber: 4gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 225IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 2mg
Keyword gluten free asian food, gluten free chinese food, gluten free sweet and sour chicken
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