Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe: A Perfect Balance of Flavors

1. Preheat the Oven:

Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.

2. Prepare the Chicken:

Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
Place the cornstarch in a shallow dish and dredge the chicken pieces until well-coated.
Dip each coated piece of chicken into the beaten eggs, allowing any excess to drip off.

3. Brown the Chicken:

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces in batches, browning them on all sides. You don’t need to cook the chicken all the way through—just get a nice golden crust.
Transfer the browned chicken pieces to the prepared baking dish.

4. Make the Sweet and Sour Sauce:

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the sugar, ketchup, white vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using) until well combined.

5. Bake the Chicken:

Pour the sweet and sour sauce evenly over the chicken in the baking dish. Toss the chicken gently to ensure each piece is coated with the sauce.
Bake the chicken, uncovered, in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Every 15 minutes, stir the chicken to make sure it’s evenly coated with the sauce and prevent it from sticking to the dish.

6. Serve:

Once the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened, remove the dish from the oven. Let it cool slightly before serving.
Serve the Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken over steamed rice or alongside your favorite vegetables for a complete meal.

Cornstarch and Eggs: The cornstarch gives the chicken a light, crispy coating, while the eggs help the coating stick. This combination also helps the sauce adhere beautifully to each piece.
Stirring: Stirring the chicken every 15 minutes during baking ensures that each piece is evenly coated with sauce and cooked to perfection.
Adding Vegetables: Feel free to toss in some chopped bell peppers, onions, or pineapple chunks during the last 15 minutes of baking for added flavor and texture.

ENJOY IT 💛