I am so glad that there is a way to make Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken!
Even better, this recipe tastes just like the real take out Sweet and Sour Chicken!
Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
This is the version of this popular recipe that is geared towards anyone who does not want all of that sugar in their meal.
Anyone who is following a low carbohydrate, keto, or low-calorie diet knows what I am referring to.
This reminds me of my popular recipe for Low Carb Sugar Free Orange Chicken.
I think that this recipe for sugar free sweet and sour chicken is a bit easier to make.
However, that is my personal opinion.
Everyone seems to want to know what is Chinese sweet and sour made of.
Sweet and Sour Chicken is sometimes made with breaded chicken. However, I am trying to keep the carbohydrates down so breading your chicken is an optional task that you can do in this recipe.
Sweet and Sour sauce gets its sweet taste from both Pineapple chunks and the pineapple juice.
The pineapple adds both flavor and additional sugar (hence the "sweet") to this recipe. Sweet and sour chicken recipes such as this one call for using a can of pineapple chunks, using both the pineapple and some of the juice that it has been packed in.
If you can have no sugar added to your sweet and sour sauce you can opt to omit the pineapple and use one of the alternatives listed in the ingredient section of the recipe. However, if you decide to add the pineapple to this recipe you may want to look for chunks that are packed in a juice that has no added sugar.
You may be asking what do you serve with sweet and sour chicken.
Obviously, rice is always a popular option. Low carbohydrate and other diet followers can always opt for cauliflower rice as well.
I should mention why sweet and sour sauce is red.
It is easy to think that the red color in some sweet and sour sauces comes from an ingredient such as the red peppers that are added. However, the red coloring in sweet and sour sauce most often comes from red food coloring, which I have omitted from this recipe (feel free to add a few drops in you would like to).
Here are some tips for making Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
I mentioned above that Sweet and Sour Chicken is sometimes made with breaded chicken. However, I am trying to keep the carbohydrates down so breading your chicken is an optional task that you can do.
Here are some more helpful tips for making this recipe.
- I mentioned earlier that you can cut down on the added sugar that is added to this recipe by using pineapple chuncks that have no added sugar. However, another option would be to use unsweetened dried pineapple instead along with a juice alternative.
- Also mentioned that sweet and sour chicken is sometimes made with breaded chicken, something that I have ommited as that would add carbs and calories to this recipe. For anyone wanting breaded chicken, and a good hack, tried using chicken nuggets (they are available in white meat btw) instead.
- In this recipe the 'sour' comes from vinegar that is added. White vinegar works great. Other vinegar options are rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar.
The kind of chicken that is used in this recipe for Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe is the breast.
To prepare the chicken breast cut it up into chunks. Then you can cook the chicken over the stove or bake it (great use for leftover chicken!) before adding it to this recipe. To add breading your chicken you can refer to one of these low carb chicken recipes
Here are some similar recipes that you may also like.
- Sugar Free Sesame Chicken recipe.
- How to Make Keto Low Carb Noodles (you can serve with this recipe!).
- Low Carb Air Fried Chicken (could work for the chicken that you add to this recipe!).
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I have some great tips on which alternatives may work in a recipe such as this one.
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The recipe for Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
I mentioned earlier that you can cut down on the added sugar that is added to this recipe by using pineapple chunks that have no added sugar. However, another option would be to use unsweetened dried pineapple instead along with a sugar free pineapple juice alternatives (I have not tried this method).
Also I mentioned that to prepare the chicken breast cut it up into chunks and cook it before adding it to this recipe.
Sweet and sour chicken is sometimes made with breaded chicken, something that I have omitted as that would add carbs and calories to this recipe. For anyone wanting breaded chicken, and a good hack, tried using chicken nuggets (they are available in white meat btw) or you can refer to one of these low carb chicken recipes instead.
Ingredients needed to make this Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Soy Sauce- 1 tablespoon
- Ground Ginger- 1 teaspoon.
- Pineapple Juice- ½ cup drained from the pineapple can that your pineapple chunks came in. Note that this will have its own natural sugar in it. To make this 100% sugar free, you can try ommitting the pineapple and use one of these sugar free pineapple juice alternatives instead. I have not tried this but, it is an option worth investigating.
- Sugar Alternative- 3 tablespoons equivalent to sugar.
- Vinegar- 3 tablespoons. White vinegar works great. Other vinegar options are rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar
- Cornstarch- 2 teaspoons.
- Water- 4 teaspoons.
- Chicken Breasts- 2 boneless breasts cut into chunks.
- Canola oil- 2 tablespoons .
- Peppers- 1 cup chopped. This can include green, yellow, and/or red peppers.
- Pineapple Chunks- 1 cup. Canned in preferred (usually comes in 20 ounce cans).
- Soup stock (chicken preferred)- ½ cup.
- Seasonings as desired. This can include Salt and/or Pepper.
How to make Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Start by using a whisk or fork to mix together the soy sauce, ginger, pineapple juice, sugar alternative, and vinegar in a medium mixing bowl. Set this bowl aside.
- In another mixing bowl, use a fork or a whisk to mix together the corstarch and water. Then set this bowl aside as well.
- Next, in a large skillet or wok, cook your chicken over medium heat in the oil until it is done (around 6-7 minutes). You are welcome to season the chicken as desired while it cooks. Then transfer to a clean holding area such as a bowl or plate.
- Place the peppers into the warm skillet and cook them until they are soft, stirring constantly. It should take about 4-5 minutes until they are soft.
- Stir in the contents from the first bowl (soy sauce, ginger etc) and then the pineapple chunks. Cook this for a minute stirring and then add the soup stock.
- When this begins to simmer you can stir in the mixture from the second bowl (water with cornstarch) and allow the sauce to thicken. It should take about 1 ½ to 2 minutes to thicken (add a teaspoon of cornstarch if it does not). Then add the cooked chicken and cook for another minute or two until done.
The Recipe Card for Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp Ground Ginger
- ½ cup Pineapple Juice - see post for alternatives
- 3 tbsp Splenda
- 3 tbsp Vinegar
- 2 tsp Cornstarch
- 4 tsp Water
- 2 Chicken Breasts -cut into chunks
- 2 tbsp Canola Oil - can use other oil
- 1 cup Peppers -chopped
- 1 cup Pineapple -chunks from can
- ½ cup Chicken Soup Stock
- Seasonings as desired
Instructions
- Start by using a whisk or fork to mix together the soy sauce, ginger, pineapple juice, sugar alternative, and vinegar in a medium mixing bowl. Set this bowl aside. In another mixing bowl, use a fork or a whisk to mix together the corstarch and water. Then set this bowl aside as well.
- Next, in a large skillet or wok, add the oil to the skillet and cook your chicken over medium heat until it is done (around 6-7 minutes). You are welcome to season the chicken as desired while it cooks. Then transfer to a clean holding area such as a bowl or plate.
- Place the peppers into the warm skillet and cook them until they are soft, stirring constantly. It should take about 4-5 minutes until they are soft. Stir in the contents from the first bowl (soy sauce, ginger etc) and then the pineapple chunks. Cook this for a minute stirring and then add the soup stock .
- When this begins to simmer you can stir in the mixture from the second bowl (water with cornstarch) and allow the sauce to thicken. It should take about 1 ½ to 2 minutes to thicken (add a teaspoon of cornstarch if it does not). Then add the cooked chicken and cook for another minute or two until done.
Recipe Notes
Also I mentioned that to prepare the chicken breast cut it up into chunks and cook it before adding it to this recipe. Sweet and sour chicken is sometimes made with breaded chicken, something that I have omitted as that would add carbs and calories to this recipe. For anyone wanting breaded chicken, and a good hack, tried using chicken nuggets (they are available in white meat btw) or you can refer to one of these low carb chicken recipes instead. *Please check the nutritional labels to assure that you are sticking to your diet restrictions for any substitutions used. - see post for alternatives
Please see recipe post for further details on this recipe.
Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that are used.
*About Sugar Alternatives
Specific sugar alternatives are not given in the recipes presented on this site. Only suggestions are given as to the 'kind' of alternative to use. It is up to you to select the alternative to use that suits your needs best. If the recipe is heated or cooked, it is best to use an alternative that can be heated or cooked with for best results. This site does not endorse any specific ingredients,
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that the links on this website, and specifically on this post, that lead to other sites may be affiliate links.
Nutrition
Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected. Also note that there is no instructional value to the video that may be attached to this recipe. It is only there for visual pleasure. For more information about the images in this recipe, please refer the the recipe instructions. Thank you!
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Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that are used.
This delicious recipe for homemade Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken can be made keto and low carb as well.
Please see the recipe post for further details on this recipe.
You can see items that have been featured on my Sugar Free Sunday Spotlight here.