Easy Sweet, Sour, Spicy Chicken

Sweet, Sour, Spicy Chicken is a fast and easy recipe. Perfect if you don't have much time to cook. Serve it over a bed of left over rice for a great meal. You can double the sauce if you want more to serve with the chicken and rice.

Sweet and sour sauce Ingredients

3/4 c. sugar or brown sugar
1/2 c. apple cider vinegar
1/4 c. ketchup
2 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. vegetable or olive oil
1 onion, minced
1 jalapeño hot pepper with seeds, minced
3 to 5 cloves garlic minced
2 Tbs. water
1 Tbs. cornstarch

Chicken

5 chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
salt and pepper to taste
3 Tbs. cornstarch
3 Tbs. vegetable oil or more

Directions

In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, onion, jalapeño, and garlic.  Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, being careful of the vinegar fumes because they can be strong.

In a small bowl or cup, mix the water and cornstarch. Stir until the cornstarch is dissolved.  Be sure to use cold water with the cornstarch, otherwise you will get lumps.  

Pour the cornstarch mixture into the bubbling mixture, whisking constantly as you pour.  Reduce the heat to low and allow the sauce to simmer, stirring occasionally.

Prepare the chicken.

Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper to taste. Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl or a sealable plastic bag. Add cornstarch. Shake or toss the chicken to coat evenly with cornstarch. 

In a heavy cast iron skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium high heat. Add chicken. Stir and turn the chicken to fry all sides evenly until the chicken is done. This can take about 6 to 8 minutes. 

Reduce the heat to low. Pour in the sauce, stirring so all the chicken gets a nice coating of the sauce. Simmer for one to two minutes.  

Serve chicken over some cooked rice.