If you’re looking for a fun second course, tasty and super easy to prepare, these sweet and sour chicken bites are just what you need! So simple that you just need to bread the chicken, achieving a crispy and golden crust, and then dip it in an irresistible sweet and sour sauce, ready in less than 5 minutes with very simple ingredients. The result? Creamy and crunchy at the same time, tender inside, and with a flavor that wins you over at the first bite!
For cooking, I chose the air fryer, which allows you to get a light but tasty dish, but you can also bake them in the oven or opt for the more traditional version and fry them in a pan. In the procedure below you will find all the step-by-step instructions to adapt it to your tastes and kitchen tools. A perfect recipe for young and old!
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 2 People
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 0.88 lbs chicken breast
- to taste smoked paprika (or sweet or spicy)
- to taste salt
- 2 eggs
- to taste breadcrumbs
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- to taste sesame seeds
- to taste chives
- 4 tbsps ketchup
- 2 tbsps soy sauce
- 2 tbsps honey
- to taste rice vinegar
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsps water
- to taste chili powder (optional)
Tools
- Air Fryer
Steps
Start by cutting the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces, trying to keep a uniform size of about 1-1.5 inches to ensure even cooking. Transfer them to a bowl and season them with salt to taste and smoked paprika, but sweet or spicy paprika or your preferred spices will also work. Mix well so that the flavors distribute evenly.
In a deep plate, beat the eggs, while in another prepare the breadcrumbs. Dip the chicken first in the egg and then in the breadcrumbs, ensuring it is well coated. Place the pieces in the air fryer basket, give a light spray of oil on top and cook at 375°F for about 12-15 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking. Alternatively, you can bake them in the oven at 400°F for about 20-25 minutes, or fry them in plenty of hot oil until golden.
Meanwhile, prepare the sweet and sour sauce: in a pan (with the heat off) combine ketchup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and a pinch of chili powder (optional). Turn the heat to medium-low and stir carefully. Separately, dissolve the cornstarch in the water and pour it into the pan, continuing to stir for a couple of minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
At this point, add the crispy chicken bites to the sauce and mix well to let them absorb the flavors.
Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds and chives, if desired. Enjoy your meal!
Tips for You
• Sweet and Sour Sauce: The sauce thickens very quickly, so we advise you to stir constantly and keep the heat low to prevent it from burning or thickening too much. You can store it in the fridge for 2-3 days, covered.
• Substitutions: If you don’t have honey or prefer plant-based alternatives, you can use maple syrup or agave syrup in the same quantities. As for the cornstarch, it can be replaced with potato starch, always dissolved first in a little cold water, to avoid lumps and ensure a smooth sauce consistency.
• To cook the chicken, I used the Cosori Dual Blaze air fryer with a 6.4-liter capacity that also features dual heating elements. You can find it here: air fryer.
Don’t miss the latest recipe for 👉 rice paper rolls filled with ricotta and spinach… so delicious you’ll make them all the time!
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