Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken

This Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken is the best Chinese takeout inspired recipe that's made right at home! Light and airy crispy chicken is coated in the most delicious sweet and sour sauce. Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Egg Free.

Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

There are some takeout meals that I really miss when eating gluten free, and sweet and sour chicken is definitely one of them. I love recreating classic takeout meals at home because it not only enables me to create a gluten free version, but makes the dishes a little healthier and just as comforting! This easy sweet and sour chicken recipe is made with the crispiest chicken pieces that are then tossed in a sticky and delicious homemade sweet and sour sauce.

Making it at home means you don't have to question what's in the batter or whether the sauce contains regular soy sauce. Instead, you can make a crispy chicken dinner using simple ingredients you can easily find at the grocery store.

The chicken has a light, crispy coating without being overly heavy, and the homemade sauce comes together in just a few minutes. It's sweet, tangy, and sticky enough to coat every bite of chicken.

And honestly, the sauce is so good that you may want to make a little extra for dipping!

Here's The Ingredients you'll need to make the chinese chicken recipe

I like to use skinless and boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces. This batter is also great to use with shrimp!

• Gluten Free All Purpose Flour. Use your favorite gluten free flour blend. A cup-for-cup or measure-for-measure blend works well here.
• Tapioca Flour. Tapioca flour helps give the chicken that light, crispy texture. You can also use cornstarch or arrowroot starch if that's what you have on hand.
• Baking Powder
• Water
• Seasonings: Garlic powder & Salt
• Oil for frying. You'll need oil for frying the chicken. Use a neutral oil that's appropriate for cooking at higher temperatures.

For the Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe

The easy recipe for sweet and sour sauce is made with minimal ingredients that are most likely already in your pantry. It also makes a great dipping sauce!

• apple cider vinegar. This is essential for creating the sourness that we love. Rice vinegar will also work well.
• gluten free soy sauce. I use this kikkoman gluten free soy sauce. This adds salty, savory flavor and balances the sweetness of the sauce.
• brown sugar. you can also swap with coconut sugar.
• ketchup. Adds a delicious tangy flavor, a little sweetness, and replaces the food coloring that's added in takeout dishes.
• garlic powder

If you love a good fake-out take-out, you'll also love this Gluten Free Orange Chicken recipe, and my Shrimp Stir Fry with Gluten Free Ramen Noodles.

How to Make this Chinese Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce

Start with the Crispy Chinese Chicken Balls

• Combine flours and seasonings in a large bowl. Slowly add water and stir until a thick batter forms.
• Heat oil over high heat in a large frying pan or wok. Coat chicken chunks with the batter
• Fry the chicken pieces in batches, cooking until golden before flipping. Once chicken is cooked transfer to a wire rack to cool. Continue to cook the remaining chicken. Discard used oil when finished cooking the chicken.

Next, How to Make Sweet & Sour Sauce

• Whisk together all ingredients in a small saucepan until cornstarch dissolves. Heat on medium until simmering. Lower heat and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce is slightly thickened.
• Add the chicken pieces and stir to coat. Alternatively, you can pour desired amount of sauce over the chicken when serving, or pour in a small bowl for dipping.

What to Serve With Sweet and Sour Chicken

The easiest way to serve this gluten free sweet and sour chicken is over a bed of white rice. The rice soaks up some of that delicious sauce, making every bite even better.

You could also serve it with:

• Brown rice
• Cauliflower rice
• Rice noodles
• Steamed broccoli
• Green beans
• Stir-fried vegetables
• A simple cucumber salad

Want to make it feel more like a takeout night at home? Add some steamed vegetables, sprinkle the chicken with sesame seeds, and top it with sliced green onions.

How to Store Leftovers

If you have leftovers, store the chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

For the best texture, I recommend storing the chicken separately from the sauce if possible. The coating will soften once it sits in the sauce.

When you're ready to eat, reheat the chicken in an air fryer or oven to help bring some of the crispiness back. Warm the sauce separately and toss everything together just before serving.

Have you tried this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment below and tag me on instagram @thrivingglutenfree so I can see how it turned out!

Let's Eat!