The Best Air Fryer Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe

Ingredient List & Substitutions

This recipe is made with just a handful of simple ingredients, several you may already have in your pantry. If a ingredient has a substitute, you’ll find it below:

• Chicken: use boneless skinless chicken thighs, boneless skinless chicken breasts, or chicken tenders.
• All-purpose flour: gluten-free flour can be a substitute if needed.
• Soy sauce: substitute coconut aminos or tamari for a gluten-free or soy-free option.
• Brown sugar: this adds the perfect bit of sweetness to the sauce and helps thicken it. Substitute coconut sugar.
• Cornstarch: use either cornstarch or arrowroot powder. I often prefer arrowroot powder as my thickener as it doesn’t get as clumpy.
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, and garlic powder are used to season the flour.
• Apple cider vinegar: this adds the tangy flavor to the sauce. Mirin or rice vinegar could be used if needed but other vinegars will change the flavor too much.
• Ketchup: this adds some sweetness and gives the traditional red color.
• Garlic: fresh garlic is the best option, use as much as you prefer here. Jarred minced garlic or garlic paste could be a substitute.

How To Make The Sweet and Sour Chicken

Let’s talk a little about how to make The Best Air Fryer Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Quick overview:

• Combine ingredients for sweet and sour sauce and simmer until thick.
• Coat chicken in flour, garlic, salt, and pepper. Air fry until crispy.
• Toss crispy chicken in the sauce and enjoy!

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, garlic, ginger, cornstarch, and water. Heat over medium-high heat until the mixture starts to bubble, whisking to combine. Reduce heat to medium heat and let simmer 5-10 minutes, stirring often until thickened. If the sauce is to thick, thin with a little more water.
2. In a mixing bowl combine the flour, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Toss in the cubed chicken and coat evenly.

3. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees for 13-15 minutes. Once preheated, add the chicken into the air fryer basket in a single layer*. Air fry for 13-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Chicken is done when it has an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

4. Transfer cooked chicken to a large mixing bowl, drizzle in the sweet and sour sauce, and toss to combine.

5. Serve over steamed rice, garnish with sesame seeds or spring onions. Leftover chicken will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Serving Suggestions

The best way to serve this sweet and sour chicken is fresh out of the air fryer while warm and crispy. If you’re looking to elevate the chicken, try serving them with some of these fresh side dishes or easy rice to make a more complete meal.

• Perfect Brown Rice – easy rice without a rice cooker!
• Crispy Cream Cheese Rangoons – a fun and easy appetizer to serve with your chicken.
• Serve over soba noodles with sautéed red peppers, green bell peppers or broccoli.
• Steamed Rice – failproof rice without a rice cooker or steamer, this is super light and fluffy.
• Baked Shrimp & Cream Cheese Rangoons – make takeout at home complete with this side!
• Add in canned pineapple chunks or fresh pineapple.

Tools I Use For This Easy Air Fryer Recipe

• Instant 6 qt. Air Fryer – Sleek and functional, the perfect size for 2-3 people. I like this because it has a tray in the bottom which make cleaning easy and it allows for air to circulate evenly. It has a large tray so you don’t have to do so many batches and a window to see into the air fryer while cooking! Any brand of air fryer will work for this recipe.
• Enamel Saucepan: I use this small saucepan for whipping up homemade sauce, warming milk or cream, or reheating soup. I love the look and the coating has stayed non-stick for a while.
• Rubber Spatula – a must have! I like these because they don’t come apart so I don’t have to worry about water getting inside the spatula and causing mold.
• Pyrex Mixing Bowl Set – I love this set of nesting bowls. I use them for everything, Pyrex glass does not break easily so you can trust on these bowls for years, plus they come in 3 useful sizes and can be stacked!