Easy Sweet and Sour Pork

Craving Chinese food? This Sweet and Sour Pork is the perfect alternative to takeout! With tender pork and a delicious sweet and sour sauce, it delivers a surprisingly complex flavor – all with minimal prep and cook time.

Why You’ll Love This Sweet & Sour Pork Recipe

Sweet and sour pork is one of the most popular Chinese dishes. It’s a classic combo of sweet and tangy flavors that just hits the spot. 

What I really dig about this recipe is how much flavor you get with hardly any effort. Just a few minutes of prep, 15 minutes to marinate, and then only 20 minutes to cook to get an amazing meal that tastes like it took hours to make. 

Ingredients

• Pork tenderloin: I used pork loin, but boneless pork chops taste just as good.
• Soy sauce: You’ll need soy sauce for marinating the pork and making the sauce. It adds a tasty umami flavor!
• Cornstarch: Acts as a thickening agent for the marinade and creates a slurry for the stir-fry.
• Egg white: This tenderizes the pork and forms a coating that locks in moisture during cooking.
• Neutral oil: Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, like vegetable or avocado oil, to get a crispy texture.
• Rice vinegar: This adds a touch of acidity to balance the sweetness of the sauce.
• Ketchup: Provides a rich, sweet, and tangy base for the sauce.
• Brown sugar: Balances the tang with a deep, caramelized sweetness.
• Bell peppers: You’ll need red bell pepper and green bell pepper, which add a pop of color and crunch.
• Onion: Sautéed with the bell peppers, it adds a great aroma and flavor.
• Canned pineapple chunks: These add a burst of tropical sweetness to the dish. You can also use fresh pineapple.

How to Make Sweet and Sour Pork

Step 1: Make the Sauce

Grab a small bowl and whisk together the vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Once that’s mixed, just set it aside.

In another bowl, mix up the soy sauce, cornstarch, and egg white. Add your pork pieces and toss them around until they’re all nicely coated. 

Let that marinate at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes. This little rest will help tenderize the pork and get it ready for cooking!

Step 2: Brown the Pork

Now heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated pork and sauté until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Remove the pork from the pan and set aside.

Step 3: Cook the Veggies

In the same pan that you used for the pork, add bell peppers and onion. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until the peppers are slightly softened and the onion starts to become translucent. 

Add pineapple and cook for another minute.

Step 4: Bring It All Together

Okay, now it’s time to bring that pork back to the pan!

Pour in your sauce and let it come to a gentle simmer. While that’s happening, quickly mix your cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water to create a slurry. 

Stir that right into the stir-fry and continue cooking for about 2-3 minutes, until the sauce thickens up. Then, just remove it from the heat.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

Garnish with sesame seeds and/or green onions if desired. Serve and enjoy!

What Goes Well with Sweet and Sour Pork?

We all know sweet and sour pork pairs perfectly with classic sides like white rice, fried rice, and brown rice. These staples soak up all the tasty flavors and make every bite so satisfying. 

You could also add some greens to the mix! Try my Roasted Garlic Parmesan Broccoli for a crunchy, flavorful side or go for a lighter option like Easy Stovetop Sautéed Spinach. 

Storage & Reheating

Have leftovers? Store your sweet and sour pork in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. When ready to eat, reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.

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