Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

Certainly! Here’s a simple recipe for baked sweet and sour chicken:

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (for thickening)

For Garnish:

• Sliced green onions
• Sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
3. Place the cornstarch in a shallow dish. Dip each piece of chicken into the beaten eggs and then coat with cornstarch, pressing the cornstarch onto the chicken to adhere.
4. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the coated chicken pieces and cook until browned on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. You’re not looking to fully cook the chicken at this stage; you just want to brown the exterior.
5. Transfer the partially cooked chicken to a baking dish.
6. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger powder, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
7. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Add the slurry to the saucepan and stir until the sauce thickens.
8. Pour the sweet and sour sauce over the partially cooked chicken in the baking dish, making sure to coat all the pieces evenly.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for about 45-50 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbly and caramelized.
10. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving.

Serve the baked sweet and sour chicken over rice or noodles for a delicious meal!