Turn Boring Chicken Breasts Into Crispy Sweet and Sour Perfection Tonight

Upgrade basic chicken breasts into something incredibly flavorful with this quick, one-pan dinner. This dish pairs light, crispy battered chicken with a glossy, garlic-infused sweet and sour sauce to deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Here’s what you need for the chicken and batter: 1.5 pounds of chicken breasts, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, 1 large egg, 7 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 2 cloves of garlic, a pinch of black pepper, and vegetable oil for frying. For the sauce: 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of sweet chili sauce, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 2 cloves of garlic, and sesame seeds for garnish (optional).

To start, slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, flour, egg, water, soy sauce, minced garlic, and black pepper until smooth. Toss the chicken into the batter, stir to coat every piece evenly, and let it marinate on the counter for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Heat a generous splash of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drop the battered chicken pieces into the hot oil in batches and fry until they are deeply golden and crispy on all sides, then transfer them to a plate.

In a separate clean pan or skillet, whisk together the soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, and minced garlic. Simmer the sauce over medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes until it begins to bubble and thicken slightly.

Toss the crispy chicken straight into the warm sauce and gently fold everything together for another 2 to 3 minutes, ensuring every single piece is fully glazed. Hit it with a sprinkle of sesame seeds right before serving.