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a gray plate topped with a pile of rice and covered in sweet and sour pork with wooden chopsticks to the side
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4.78 from 9 votes

Sweet and Sour Pork

This Sweet and Sour Pork is even better than the overly sauced, greasy take out kind. Tender chunks of pork are pan fried crispy on the outside, then added to sauteed onions, peppers, and fresh pineapple in a homemade sweet and sour sauce.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 353kcal
Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

Pork

  • 1 pound pork tenderloin, cut into bite-size chunks
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • ½ cup vegetable oil, for frying

Sauce

  • ¾ cup chicken broth
  • cup ketchup
  • cup apple cider vinegar
  • cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cloves cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 green onions, chopped, with green and white parts separated
  • 3 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons water

Stir-Fry

  • ½ green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ½ red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ½ white onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ¼ pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks

Instructions

  • In a large bowl with a lid or a large ziplock bag, combine the meat with the water, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, powder, and onion powder. Stir or squish to combine, then set aside for 20 minutes to marinate.
  • While the meat marinates, make the sauce in a small bowl by combining the chicken broth, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, salt, and the white parts of the green onions. Whisk well. In a separate bowl, combine the cornstarch and water, then set both aside.
  • Once the meat has had a chance to absorb the flavors of the marinade, sprinkle with the salt and pepper, then add the cornstarch and shake well until each piece of meat is evenly coated with a light layer of cornstarch.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the meat in a single layer. Let it cook without moving or stirring the meat for 2-3 minutes until nicely browned on the bottom. Flip each piece of meat with tongs and cook on the other side for another 2-3 minutes until nicely browned and the meat is cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
  • There should be about 1 tablespoon of oil left in the bottom of the pan from cooking the pork. If not, add a little more oil. Add the peppers and onions to the pan and stir-fry over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add the pineapple and sauce and let this cook until the sauce comes to a simmer. Give the cornstarch and water mixture another good stir, then drizzle this slurry over the vegetables and sauce, stirring until the sauce has thickened slightly.
  • Return the pork to the pan and toss with the sauce, vegetables, and pineapple until everything is coated in the sauce. Sprinkle with the reserved green parts of the chopped green onions and serve with rice.

Notes

  • You can use a can of pineapple chunks, if needed, but there is a noticeable difference in the flavor of the finished dish. We definitely prefer fresh pineapple, when available.
  • Additional veggies like snow peas, green beans, asparagus, sliced carrots, and broccoli are all delicious in sweet and sour pork. Add snow peas, green beans, or asparagus at the same time as the peppers and onions so they have a chance to soften slightly. If using carrots or broccoli, add them a couple minutes before the peppers and onions so they have a bit longer to stir-fry and soften since they take a bit longer to cook.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 928mg | Potassium: 730mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 720IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg