Sheet Pan Sticky Sweet and Sour Chicken is an easy oven-baked version of the classic takeout dish. It features crispy baked chicken pieces tossed in a glossy sweet-and-sour sauce with peppers, pineapple, and onions—all cooked on one pan for minimal cleanup.
What it is
A one-pan meal made with:
- Oven-baked crispy chicken
- Tangy sweet-and-sour sauce
- Bell peppers, onion, and pineapple
- Sticky glaze coating everything
Key ingredients
🍗 Chicken
- Chicken breast or thighs (cubed)
- Salt & pepper
- Cornstarch or flour (for light crisp coating)
- Egg (optional for coating)
🍍 Vegetables & fruit
- Bell peppers (red, green, yellow)
- Onion (chunks)
- Pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)
🍯 Sweet and sour sauce
- Ketchup
- Vinegar (white or rice vinegar)
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar or honey
- Garlic (minced)
- Cornstarch slurry (to thicken)
How to make it
1. Coat chicken
- Toss chicken with salt, pepper
- Lightly coat with cornstarch (or flour)
- Spread on a greased sheet pan
2. Bake chicken
- Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 15–20 minutes
- Flip halfway for crispiness
3. Add vegetables
- Add peppers, onions, and pineapple to pan
- Bake another 10–15 minutes
4. Make sauce
- In a saucepan, mix ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic
- Simmer until smooth
- Add cornstarch slurry to thicken
5. Combine
- Pour sauce over baked chicken and vegetables
- Toss well on the sheet pan
- Return to oven for 5 minutes to caramelize
Flavor & texture
- Crispy baked chicken pieces
- Sticky, glossy sweet-and-sour glaze
- Juicy pineapple bursts
- Tender peppers and onions
- Balanced sweet, tangy, and savory taste
Tips for best results
- Don’t overcrowd the pan (helps crisping)
- Use high heat for better browning
- Add sauce at the end to keep chicken slightly crispy
- Fresh pineapple gives better flavor than canned
Variations
- Spicy sweet and sour chicken (add chili flakes or sriracha)
- Air fryer version (crisp chicken faster)
- Vegetable-heavy version (extra peppers and broccoli)
- Orange sweet and sour twist (add orange juice/zest)
Serving ideas
- Steamed white rice or fried rice
- Noodles
- Lettuce wraps
- Sesame seeds and green onions on top
If you want, I can give you a restaurant-style Panda Express copycat version, or a super crispy double-baked method for extra crunch without frying.
