This 4-ingredient sweet and sour chicken is one of those iconic dishes that instantly takes me back to childhood.
You know how some recipes just take you back in time? Like homemade spaghetti sauce that was 10 times better than anything from a bottle or that meatloaf you’ve tried to duplicate a hundred times but never quite nailed.
My mom and I can stand side by side and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the same ingredients, and hers will STILL taste better. Sweet and sour chicken was one of those signature dinners I never even bothered trying to make because I knew only Mom could do it right. But then she told me there were only 4 ingredients. Say what?!?!
I guess it was one of her best-kept secrets… like wherever she hid the Christmas presents and stash of chocolate. I’m sure she has a few more tricks up her sleeve, but for now, I have this 4-ingredient sweet and sour chicken recipe, and I’m content with that. And it almost tastes as good as when she makes it… almost.
The Secret to the Best 4-Ingredient Sweet and Sour Chicken
The magic of 4-ingredient sweet and sour chicken is in its simplicity. With just a few pantry staples, you can create a dish that’s packed with flavor and tastes like it took hours to make. The balance of sweet and tangy flavors is what makes this recipe so special, and it all starts with the right ingredients.
Step 1: Start with the Right Dressing
Start with 16 ounces of French dressing. It has to be French dressing, folks. It’s what gives the sweet and sour chicken the “sour” part of the recipe.
Step 2: Add the Sweetness
Then mix in a jar of apricot preserves. I have tried it with orange marmalade, and it is only ok. For the best sweet and sour chicken in the world, stick with the apricots.
Step 3: Mix It All Together
Now, take your bowl of French dressing and apricot preserves and add a packet of onion soup mix. This little packet is packed with flavor, adding just the right amount of savory depth to balance out the sweetness. Whisk everything together until the mixture is completely smooth and well combined. You want the flavors to meld so that every bite of the chicken is coated in that delicious, tangy-sweet sauce.
Step 4: Layer the Chicken and Sauce
Layer some of the sauce on the bottom of a 13×9 glass pan and then place however many chicken thighs you can fit on top. I like boneless, skinless chicken thighs the best. I have made this recipe with chicken breast, and the breast meat is just too thick.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Pour the rest of the sauce on top so that all the chicken is covered.
Cover the pan with foil and bake the sweet and sour chicken in a preheated 350-degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour. Uncover the pan for the last few minutes so that it can crisp up and caramelize on top.
Serving and Meal Ideas
Bada bing, bada boom, dinner is ready! We serve the 4-ingredient sweet and sour chicken over rice so we can sop up all that delicious sauce. A simple side salad also pairs well with it.
Need some other easy and budget-conscious meals for your family? You may also like 5-ingredient Crockpot orange chicken, budget friendly burrito lasagna, and Crockpot shredded bbq chicken sandwiches. These are the meals I lean on when our schedule is full or I just plain don’t feel like cooking. Hopefully, these can help you out, too!
For even more recipes, check out my recipe index or follow me on Pinterest. Happy cooking, y’all!
