Sweet 'N Sour Strips
Sweet 'N Sour Strips offer tender chicken strips coated in a tangy, sweet sauce with pineapple and green peppers, perfect for a flavorful, family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut chicken into strips.
- Drain pineapple chunks and reserve the juice.
- Cut green pepper into strips.
- In a medium skillet, heat vegetable oil.
- Add chicken strips and brown on both sides, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine sweet and sour sauce mix, reserved pineapple juice, water, and sugar.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the cooked chicken.
- Add pineapple chunks and green pepper strips.
- Cover and cook over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Serve the sweet and sour chicken strips over rice.
Tips & Substitutions
For enhanced flavor, marinate the chicken strips in the sweet and sour sauce mix for 30 minutes before cooking. You can substitute the boneless chicken breasts with tofu for a vegetarian option or use shrimp for a seafood twist. Adding bok choy or snap peas can increase the vegetable content, making it even more nutritious. This dish pairs beautifully with Teriyaki Chicken Salad.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the sweet and sour chicken strips over a bed of fluffy rice or noodles. For a complete meal, consider adding a side of steamed broccoli or a fresh salad. This dish also pairs well with fried rice, making it a great option for a family dinner. For a twist, serve with African Chow Mein for a fusion experience.
Storage & Reheating
To store leftovers, place the sweet and sour chicken strips in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm them gently in a skillet over low heat to avoid drying out the chicken, or microwave in short intervals, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Sweet 'N Sour Strips contains roughly 204 calories, with 13g protein, 24g carbohydrates, and 7g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (91% of the Daily Value), vitamin A (34% of the Daily Value), and protein (25% of the Daily Value), and a good source of dietary fiber. It also contributes 3g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of meat for this recipe?
Absolutely! You can substitute the boneless chicken breasts with pork, shrimp, or even tofu for a vegetarian version. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly, as shrimp and tofu cook faster than chicken.
What can I use instead of sweet and sour sauce mix?
If you don't have sweet and sour sauce mix, you can easily make your own by combining equal parts of ketchup and vinegar with a bit of sugar and soy sauce to taste. This will give you a similar flavor profile.
How do I make this dish spicier?
To add some heat to your sweet and sour chicken strips, consider adding sliced jalapeños or a dash of red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture. You can also serve it with a spicy dipping sauce on the side for an extra kick.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).