Move over take-out! This paleo sweet and sour chicken is an easy and delicious sub that can be made in the comfort of your kitchen. No need to search for a paleo sweet and sour sauce, either… a recipe for that is included!
Sweet and sour memories.
As a kid, Chinese take out food was not really ever on the menu. My dad had severe reactions to MSG (stomach-pumped severe), so my family was extremely careful about take out. Chinese food became a special treat we got when we went to grandma’s house over Christmas vacation. Not very traditional, I know, but still special!
Not having it Chinese food too often didn’t dampen my love for it, though. In college I lived not too far from Chinatown and noodles, stir-fry, beef broccoli bowls, and durian smoothies became favorites for me.
Healthified favorites.
But my love for Chinese food was put over the edge when I lived in the Far East, right on the border of China. One afternoon my husband’s friends from university came over and cooked dinner for us. Real, honest, no weird ingredients Chinese food. Fresh and delicious. I was hooked.
This sweet and sour chicken is a recipe I learned from them, made paleo, but still soooo delicious! It’s become a favorite in-house date-night recipe for me and my hubby. And it graces the table at birthdays, too!
Easy dinner options.
My husband and I aren’t the only ones who love this sweet and sour chicken recipe, my kids enjoy it, too! Here are a few other easy, healthified versions of simple meals my family loves…
- White Chicken Chili in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
- Spaghetti Squash Pizza Casserole
- Easy Instant Pot Round of Eye Roast
- Simple Herbed Red Drum
- Easy One-Pot Mac ‘N Cheese with Hidden Veggies
Paleo Sweet and Sour Chicken.
This recipe originally contained things like normal catsup, corn starch, and soy sauce. If you like all those things, feel free to use them in the appropriate places in the recipes below. For myself, however, I use homemade paleo catsup (like this one), tapioca starch, and coconut aminos (my family loves Braggs liquid aminos, too). I served my sweet and sour chicken over rice for my family, since they’re not paleo, and I just eat it in a bowl. It’s great over cauli-rice, too (here’s a good recipe for cauli-rice, if you need one)!
In the recipe card I’ve linked to some of the products from my affiliate partners that I like to use. Purchasing through these links won’t cost you anything extra. Thanks!
Paleo Sweet & Sour Chicken
Free of grain, gluten, eggs, dairy, and refined sugar.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons cooking fat (coconut oil, avocado oil, tallow, etc.)
- 2 pounds organic boneless chicken thighs (you can use breasts, if you prefer)
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 large red pepper, sliced
- Himalayan salt and black pepper, to taste
- paleo sweet & sour sauce (recipe below)
- cauliflower rice, if desired
- diced fresh pineapple, if desired
Instructions
Cut vegetables and chicken into desired sized pieces. I cut my chicken into 2-3″ pieces, and slivered my peppers.Â
In large stainless or cast iron skillet, heat cooking fat.
Add in onions and sauté until tender, then add in chicken.
Stir-fry chicken until no longer pink inside, then add in peppers.
Cook until peppers are fork-tender.
Stir in sweet and sour sauce and serve with pineapple over cauliflower rice or as-is.
Paleo Sweet & Sour Sauce
Free from grain, gluten, eggs, dairy, and refined sugar.
Ingredient
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons tapioca starch (leave out for GAPS)
- 1/3 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon refined sugar-free catsup
- 1 tablespoon coconut aminos
Instructions
In small bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together water and starch. Set aside.
Combine remaining ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
When boiling, add in starch slurry. Whisk to combine and heat until thickened.
Stir into veggies and chicken.
Note
Please remember that if you leave out the tapioca starch to make this GAPS-friendly your sauce won’t thicken. It will still be yummy, though!
Mmm this looks so easy to make and delicious too.
I am going to make it this week with cauliflower rice!!
Thanks Raia!!
I hope you enjoy it, Carol!
Such a tasty, simple weeknight meal!
Thanks, Shelby!
This was simply put, delicious! Will do it again!
Thanks so much, Mira!
I love sweet and sour chicken! Adding pineapple is so clever so that natural sweet! It’s in season right now too!
Thanks, Joni! It’s such a delicious addition!
straight forward and delicious!!! Yum!
Thanks, Tessa!
What a yummy meal and I appreciate all the paleo modifications!
Thanks, Jennifer!
Ooh, I love sweet and sour chicken with peppers and pineapple. This looks so great!
Thanks! 🙂
I’ve always loved sweet and sour so I’m super excited about your much healthier version!
I hope you get to enjoy it, Kari!
One of my favorite dishes, paleofied! Looks absolutely delicious and i love the sound of that sauce.
Thanks so much, Jean!
This looks amazing. Love that sauce. So many uses for that!
Yes! My daughter loves to just have the sauce on rice. 🙂
Wow, that looks so tasty! I’ve been craving sweet & sour! 🙂
Thanks so much, Stacey! I hope you get to enjoy it!
I love sweet and sour chicken, and it’s awesome that you made this paleo from a recipe you learned while being abroad. Makes it that much more special, right? Thanks for sharing!
Glad to share! It’s very special, Leslie!
Rachel, I want this for dinner tonight!! So yummy and cozy!
Aw, thanks, Megan! I hope you get to enjoy it soon!
That pineapple is such a delicious touch! I also love how simple and healthy you’ve made this sauce!
Thanks, Kathryn!
I love sweet and sour, this looks so tasty! Perfect for busy weeknights!
Thanks, Hope!
I love how simple this is and it looks delicious! perfect for a weeknight dinner
Thanks, Anne!
Yum! Pineapple and bell peppers are so perfect to pair with chicken.
I agree! So yummy. 🙂
Thank you for the catsup brand rec! I have not seen that one – ordering! Thanks!
I hope you enjoy it, Renee!