Looking for a delicious and healthy way to enjoy sweet and sour chicken? Look no further than this air fryer sweet and sour chicken recipe!
This amazing dish combines tender and juicy chicken bites with a crispy and flavorful coating, all without the need for deep-frying.
The secret is in the air fryer, which cooks the chicken to perfection while keeping it juicy and tender on the inside.
The star of this dish is the sweet and sour sauce, which is made from a combination of apple cider vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and sugar.
So if you’re ready to indulge in some delicious and healthy sweet and sour chicken, give this sweet sour chicken air fryer recipe a try. Your taste buds will thank you!
Why You Should Try This Recipe
Healthier Than Deep Frying: This air fryer sweet and sour chicken recipe is a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried dishes. By using an air fryer instead of deep-frying, you can enjoy crispy and delicious chicken without all the excess oil and fat.
Quick And Easy: This recipe is incredibly easy to make and takes just a few minutes to prepare.
All you need to do is coat the chicken with the cornstarch mixture, dip it in the egg mixture, and air fry it. The sweet and sour sauce can be whipped up in just a few minutes as well.
👨🍳 Air Fryer Sweet And Sour Chicken Ingredients
For this air fried sweet and sour chicken recipe you will need these ingredients:
For The Chicken
- 2 pounds (900g) Chicken Breast
- 2 Eggs (medium)
- 1 cup Cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 3/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon five-spice
For The Sauce
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 cup Ketchup
- 1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 2 1/2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Sesame Oil
⭐ Sweet And Sour Chicken Air Fryer Recipe
Follow this easy sweet and sour chicken in air fryer recipe:
Step 1
Cut the chicken breast into small pieces (about one inch in size).
Step 2
In one small bowl – mix cornstarch, pepper, salt, and five spice.
In a second bowl- beat the egg and mix it with the sesame oil.
Step 3
Dip the chicken pieces in the cornstarch mixture, then into the egg mixture, and one more time in the cornstarch mixture.
Step 4
Place the chicken bites in the air fryer (I recommend spraying the basket with cooking oil to prevent sticking).
Air fry at 380F (190C) for 4-5 minutes. Then, flip them, spray with cooking oil, and air fry them for 5 more minutes.
Step 5
To make the sauce, place a saucepan over medium heat. Add and mix the sauce ingredients (except the cornstrach and water).
Simmer for 5 minutes, and keep mixing to prevent the sauce from burning.
Take a small bowl, and mix the water and cornstarch. Whisk the mixture into the sauce and simmer for a few minutes until it thickens.
Step 6
Cover the chicken bites with the sauce. And.. that’s it! Enjoy this great air fryer sweet and sour chicken recipe.
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you liked this sweet and sour air fryer chicken recipe, make sure also check out these recipes:
- Air Fryer Cauliflower Pizza
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
- Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
All of these recipes are as good and tasty as this air fryer crispy sweet and sour chicken! So try them out!
💡 Tips
1. Make Your Own Five-Spice Blend
The five-spice blend is an important ingredient in this recipe. It adds a unique flavor to the chicken that cannot be replicated with any other spice.
However, if you don’t have five-spice, don’t worry- you can make it at home with just a few ingredients.
To make your own five-spice blend, combine equal parts of cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns.
Toast the spices in a dry skillet over medium heat for a minute or two, then grind them in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
2. Add Some Veggies
To make this dish more nutritious and balanced, you can add some vegetables to the chicken.
Bell peppers, onions, and pineapple are traditional ingredients in sweet and sour dishes and would complement the chicken well.
You can add the vegetables in the air fryer along with the chicken or cook them separately in a pan and then mix them with the sauce and chicken once it’s done.
3. Add A Kick Of Heat
You can add some heat to the sweet and sour sauce by adding chili flakes or sriracha sauce.
This will give the sauce a spicy kick and balance out the sweetness. Start with a small amount and add more gradually until you reach your desired level of spiciness.
4. Garnish With Fresh Herbs
Adding fresh herbs as a garnish can make the dish look fancier and add some fresh flavors.
Chopped cilantro, green onions, or parsley are all good options. Sprinkle the herbs on top of the chicken and sauce just before serving.
This will add a pop of color to the dish and complement the flavors of the sweet and sour sauce. Plus, it will make your dish look more visually appealing and appetizing.
5. Use Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
The sweet and sour sauce is made with soy sauce, which can be high in sodium. If you’re watching your sodium intake, you can use low-sodium soy sauce instead. You can also use tamari sauce or coconut aminos as a soy sauce alternative.
6. Serve With Pickled Vegetables
Pickled vegetables are a traditional side dish in many Asian cuisines and can complement the sweet and sour chicken perfectly.
You can make your own pickled vegetables at home by slicing cucumbers, carrots, or radishes thinly and soaking them in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and salt.
I hope you liked my sweet and sour chicken air fryer recipe. This dish looks amazing, and tastes even better! The air fryer cooks the chicken to a golden-brown perfection, and then it’s lightly coated in a sweet and sour sauce.
So tasty, and so much healthier than deep-frying! If you have any questions about this air fryer crispy sweet and sour chicken recipe- comment below.
Also, don’t forget to check out other air fryer recipes on my website. I add new content every week, so be sure to check back often! Thank you for reading!
Air Fryer Sweet And Sour Chicken
- 2 pounds Chicken Breast (900g)
- 2 Eggs (medium)
- 1 cup Cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 3/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Five-Spice
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 cup Ketchup
- 1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 2 1/2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Sesame Oil
- Cut the chicken breast into small pieces (about one inch in size).
- In one small bowl – mix cornstarch, pepper, salt, and five spice.In another bowl- beat the egg and mix it with the sesame oil.
- Dip the chicken pieces in the cornstarch mixture, then into the egg mixture, and one more time in the cornstarch mixture.
- Place the chicken bites in the air fryer (I recommend spraying the basket with cooking oil to prevent sticking).Air fry at 380F (190C) for 4-5 minutes. Then, flip the meat, spray it with cooking oil, and air fry them for 5 more minutes.
- To make the sauce, place a saucepan over medium heat. Add and mix the sauce ingredients (except the cornstrach and water).Simmer for 5 minutes, and keep mixing to prevent the sauce from burning.Take a small bowl, and mix the water and cornstarch. Whisk the mixture into the sauce and simmer for a few minutes until it thickens.
- Cover the chicken bites with the sauce. And.. that’s it! Enjoy this great air fryer sweet and sour chicken recipe.
