PF Chang’s Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe

This PF Chang’s Sweet and Sour Chicken Copycat recipe brings the perfect balance of tangy and sweet right to your kitchen. Crispy bite-sized chicken pieces are coated in a glossy homemade sauce. It’s easy to make, bursting with flavor, and pairs perfectly with rice or stir-fried vegetables. A great takeout-style dinner your whole family will love—ready in under 30 minutes!

If you love the bold, tangy flavors of PF Chang’s Sweet and Sour Chicken, this easy copycat recipe brings that restaurant taste and experience right to your kitchen. Featuring crispy, golden chicken coated in a perfectly balanced sweet and sour sauce, it’s a family-favorite dish that’s simple enough for a weeknight dinner but impressive enough to serve guests.

If you love Chinese Food, like me, I have many tried and true recipes. Some of my absolute favorites are Air Fryer Crab Rangoon and a great Copycat Recipe for Instant Pot Chinese Fried Rice. 

Why You Will Love This Recipe! 

• Crispy and Tangy Perfection – Golden chicken coated in a bold sweet and sour glaze.
• Better Than Takeout – Skip the restaurant and enjoy it hot and fresh at home.
• Easy Weeknight Favorite – Simple steps and quick prep make dinner a breeze.
• Kid-Approved Flavors – That perfect balance of sweet, savory, and just a little zing.
• Customizable and Versatile – Great with rice, veggies, or even in a lettuce wrap!

PF Chang’s Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe Ingredients

• Boneless breast of chicken – Tender, lean protein for juicy, crispy bites.
• Large eggs – Helps bind and coat chicken evenly.
• Sesame oil – Adds nutty, toasty Asian-inspired flavor.
• Cornstarch – Creates crispy, golden coating when fried.
• Salt – Enhances all flavors in the dish.
• Black pepper – Mild heat to balance the sweetness.
• Five-spice – Classic Chinese seasoning blend for bold flavor.
• Granulated sugar – Sweetens sauce with bright, balanced flavor.
• Apple cider vinegar – Adds tangy kick to balance sweetness.
• Ketchup – Brings sweetness, acidity, and color.
• Soy sauce – Adds salty, umami depth and color.
• Sesame oil – Nutty aroma for authentic Asian flavor.
• Brown sugar – Rich molasses sweetness for sauce depth.
• Minced garlic – Sharp, savory boost to the sauce.
• Water – Helps thin and mix sauce ingredients.
• Cornstarch – Thickens sauce to glossy, clingy consistency.

How To Make PF Chang’s Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe

Step One: Start by cutting the chicken into 1-inch to 2-inch pieces. Once you finished chopping the chicken, move on to make the dipping stations. Mix the cornstarch, salt, pepper, and five-spice in one bowl. Mix well.

Step Two: In another bowl, beat the egg, add the sesame oil, and mix until well incorporated. Spray the basket with olive oil spray. Dip the chicken into the cornstarch mixture. Then, it goes into the egg mixture and back into the cornstarch mixture.

Step Three: As you batter them, place them in your air fryer basket. Spray very generously with olive oil spray. Set the air fryer temperature to 370 degrees, and set cook time for 5-7 minutes, air fryer setting.

Step Four: After 5 minutes, flip and spray with olive oil (completely covering them, so the batter gets crispy). Set cook time for another 5 minutes.

PF Chang’s Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe Tips

• Cut Chicken Evenly – Chop the chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and crispy results.
• Use Cornstarch for Crispy Texture – Coating the chicken in cornstarch (not flour) gives that signature crispiness you expect from restaurant-style chicken.
• Don’t Crowd the Pan – When frying, cook in batches to avoid lowering the oil temperature, which can make the chicken soggy.
• Sauce Consistency Matters – Simmer the sweet and sour sauce until it’s thick enough to coat a spoon for that glossy, sticky finish.
• Serve Immediately – Toss the chicken in the sauce just before serving to maintain crisp texture. If you sauce too early, it may turn soggy.

Storing, Freezing & Reheating Instructions

• Storing: Store any leftover sweet and sour chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the chicken and sauce separate if possible to maintain crispiness.
• Freezing: Freeze the cooked chicken pieces (without sauce) on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Freeze the sweet and sour sauce separately in a sealed container.
• Reheating: Reheat chicken in the air fryer or oven at 375°F until hot and crispy. Warm the sauce in a saucepan or microwave, then toss with the reheated chicken just before serving.

What To Serve With PF Chang’s Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

PF Chang’s Sweet and Sour Chicken pairs beautifully with steamed white or brown rice, which soaks up the tangy sauce perfectly. For a complete meal, serve it alongside stir-fried vegetables like broccoli, snap peas, and bell peppers to add freshness and crunch. You can also offer simple sides like egg rolls or steamed dumplings to round out the Asian-inspired feast.

PF Chang’s Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe Faqs

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts? Yes, boneless chicken thighs work well and stay juicy, though they may be slightly less crispy than breasts.

Is it possible to bake instead of air frying? Absolutely! Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes (flipping halfway) will give a crispy result with less oil.

Can I make the sauce ahead of time? Yes, the sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat gently before tossing with chicken.

How do I keep the chicken crispy after adding the sauce? Toss the chicken with the sauce just before serving to maintain its crispiness.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
• Instant Pot Chinese Chicken Fried Rice
• Air Fryer Copycat Panda Cream Cheese 
• Easy Dessert Air Fryer Wontons
• Air Fryer Chinese Donuts

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PF Chang’s Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Author: Laurie Fleming

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 14 minutes mins

10 minutes mins

Total Time: 44 minutes mins

Servings: 6 Servings

Print

Description

Recreate PF Chang’s Sweet and Sour Chicken at home with this easy, flavorful recipe featuring crispy chicken and a tangy homemade sauce.

Ingredients 

Sesame chicken ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless breast of chicken
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon five-spice

Sweet & sour sauce ingredients:

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

Sweet And Sour Chicken Instructions:

• Start by cutting the chicken into 1-inch pieces.
• Once you have finished chopping the chicken, move on to make the dipping stations.
• In one bowl, mix the cornstarch, salt, pepper, and five-spice. Mix well.
• In another bowl, beat the egg, and add the sesame oil. Mix until well incorporated.
• Spray the basket with olive oil spray.
• Dip the chicken into the cornstarch mixture. Then into the egg mixture and then back into the cornstarch mixture.
• As you batter them place them in your air fryer basket. Spray very generously with olive oil spray. Set the temperature to 370 degrees for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, flip and spray with olive oil (completely covering them, so the batter gets crispy). Air fry for another 5 minutes.
• Drizzle the sauce over the chicken.

Sauce Instructions:

• In a small saucepan, mix the ingredients, except for the cornstarch and water. Whisk and simmer for about 4-5 minutes. Just keep on mixing the sauce so it doesn’t burn or stick.
• Then remove from heat.
• In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water, whisk the cornstarch mixture into the sauce, and simmer for another 5 minutes until thickened.

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Cooking Spray
• Parchment Paper, optional

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 435kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 35gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 159mgSodium: 1017mgPotassium: 658mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 190IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg