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 & Egg Free.
Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
I love recreating classic takeout meals at home! 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.
Here's what you'll need to make the chicken. 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
- Tapioca Flour or cornstarch
- Baking Powder
- Water
- Seasonings: Garlic powder & Salt
- Oil for frying
The simple 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 one from kikkoman.
- brown sugar. you can also swap with coconut sugar.
- ketchup. Adds a delicious tangy flavor, a little sweetness, and replaces the food coloring thatโs added in takeout dishes.
- garlic powder
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, Make the 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. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped scallions. Serve with rice.
If you love a good fake-out take-out, you'll also love our Gluten Free Orange Chicken recipe!
Have you tried this recipe, be sure to tag me on instagram @thrivingglutenfree so I can see how it turned out!
Let's Eat!
Gluten-Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients
Crispy Chicken
- 2 large Chicken Breasts cut into small chunks
- 1 cup Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Tapioca Flour cornstarch or arrowroot works well also!
- 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
- 1ยฝ cups Water
- 2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Oil for frying
Sweet & Sour Sauce
- 4 tablespoon Ketchup
- ยฝ cup Water
- 2 tablespoon Soy Sauce Gluten-Free
- 2 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 4 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- ยฝ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 2 teaspoon Tapioca Flour or cornstarch
Instructions
How to Make the Crispy Chicken
- 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.
How to Make the 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. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped scallions. Serve with rice.
Looking for more delicious gluten-free dinner recipes? Check out these recipes!
Clarissa
Thank you so much for sharing this. My mother even loves it and she is so picky. I'm allergic to a few amino acids so basically I have to stick to a gluten free diet. It was so easy to make, and your instructions were clear as well. Thank you again.
Thriving Gluten Free
Love that! Thank you for sharing!
Alisha
Sooooo good! Thank you for this amazing recipe!
Thriving Gluten Free
Yay! So glad you loved it!