This quick and easy sweet and sour pork is a proven favorite, made with tender, crispy pork tossed with stir-fried peppers and juicy pineapple in a flavorful, tangy sauce.
You'll also love my sweet and sour chicken, and the sweet and sour sauce!
Looking for a Homemade Sweet and Sour Pork that will always hit the spot? Here you go!
If you're like me, you like to skip the takeout as much as possible so you can not only control the ingredients and portions you're consuming, but also so you can up the heat factor just a little.
Or maybe a lot!
I'm here to help you, my friends. That's what I'm all about!
What You'll Love About This Dish
- Sweet and sour pork is quick and easy to make with a simple yet satisfying sauce, ready to enjoy in under 30 minutes.
- My recipe focuses more on the sour and savory elements and less on the sweet, though you can easily adjust the sweet/sour ratio to suit your personal tastes.
- Even though this isn't traditionally a spicy dish, I'll show you how you can spice things up a bit, just the way I like it.
I've been making this and similar dishes for many years now, and I have this one exactly where it needs to be. I hope you love it as much as we do.
Let's talk about how to make sweet and sour pork, shall we?
Sweet and Sour Pork Ingredients
The full ingredients list with measurements is listed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Coating. Flour and cornstarch. This is great combination to help tenderize the pork but also to achieve that nice crispiness.
- Pork Tenderloin. You can also use pork shoulder if you'd like.
- Vegetable Oil. Or other oil for frying that you prefer.
- Vegetables. Bell peppers and onions. You can use others. Also, garlic and ginger for aromatic touches.
- Fresh Pineapple. For a nice touch of sweetness.
- FOR THE SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE
- Sugar. I'm using brown sugar, but you can use white sugar.
- Rice Vinegar. Or use apple cider vinegar.
- Ketchup. Standard for this recipe!
- Soy Sauce.
- FOR SERVING and GARNISH
- Cooked white rice or brown rice, toasted sesame seeds, chopped green onion or scallions.
How to Make Sweet and Sour Pork - Quick Recipe Breakdown
Whisk together the brown sugar, rice vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce to make the sauce. Set aside.
Coat the pork in a mixture of cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a wok or pan, then fry the pork until golden brown and cooked through. Set aside.
Stir-fry the onion, peppers, and pineapple chunks for a few minutes, then add garlic and ginger.
Pour in the sauce and cook until slightly thickened.
Add the pork back to the pan, toss to coat, and heat through.
Boom! Done! Your sweet and sour pork is ready to serve. Serve it up in a bowl with cooked rice and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onion. I'll take some chili flakes for mine, please!
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Restaurant or takeout sweet and sour pork often includes red food coloring, which gives it that characteristic color. Feel free to add a few drops to your sauce if you'd like.
- You can easily swap in other proteins like chicken or beef, as well as vegetables like broccoli, carrot, bok choy, snap peas, and more. Customize it with your favorites.
- This dish is also great with noodles. Give it a try!
Best Pork for Sweet and Sour Pork
Pork tenderloin or pork loin are excellent choices for sweet and sour pork. Both are lean, tender cuts that cook quickly and deliver a lighter version of the dish.
Pork tenderloin, in particular, stays juicy with a quick sear and soaks up the tangy sauce beautifully.
For a more traditional approach, pork shoulder (also called pork butt) is a great option. It has more marbling, offering a richer, juicier bite that's especially flavorful when fried.
Up the Heat Factor
Here are a few ways to make this dish more spicy to your personal preference.
- Add 1-2 teaspoons Chinese 5 Spice to the sauce, which offers a distinct tongue-numbing sensation you'll enjoy.
- Add 1-2 (or more) sriracha or other hot sauce to the sauce, which will permeate the dish.
- In addition to the bell peppers, add 1-2 spicy jalapeno peppers or serrano peppers.
- Finish the dish with spicy red pepper flakes, or top it with piquant chili oil or homemade chili crisp.
Serving
Serve this Sweet and Sour Pork over steamed white rice, jasmine rice, or noodles to soak up the bold, tangy sauce.
It pairs perfectly with a side of stir-fried vegetables or crispy spring rolls for a full takeout-style experience at home. Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds for extra flavor!
Storage & Leftovers
Sweet and sour pork will last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Store any extra sweet and sour sauce separately.
To freeze, store in a freezer-safe container for 2 to 3 months. Thaw before reheating. For crispier results, reheat in a skillet, oven, or toaster oven. You can warm it in the microwave, but it will affect the texture.
That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this sweet and sour pork recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!
Cookbook Recommendation
If you love Chinese recipes and cooking, I recommend these books for the American cook.
- The Food of Sichuan, by Fuchsia Dunlop (affiliate link, my friends!)
- Easy Chinese Cookbook: Restaurant Favorites Make Simple, by Chris Toy (affiliate link, my friends!)
- Also check out my cookbook: The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook, by Mike Hultquist (affiliate link, my friends!)
Tools Used For This Recipe
HexClad 12 Inch Hybrid Stainless Steel Wok Pan with Stay-Cool Handle - I've been loving this wok, makes stir frying and clean up so easy.
Amazon Affiliate links, my friends! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Want More Recipes?
If you're still hungry, try my Beef Chow Fun with tender slices of beef in a similar sauce.
If you're looking for a bit more heat and spice factor, my Szechuan Chicken will definitely deliver, as will this Kung Pao Chicken with lots of spicy chilies.
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Sweet and Sour Pork Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 pound pork tenderloin cut into bite-sized pieces (or use pork shoulder)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil for frying or more as needed
- 1 medium onion cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 red bell pepper cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 green bell pepper cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon minced or crushed fresh ginger
FOR THE SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (or use white sugar)
- ½ cup rice vinegar or use apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- For Serving. Cooked white rice or brown rice.
- For Garnish. Toasted sesame seeds, chopped green onion or scallions.
Instructions
- Make the sweet and sour sauce first by whisking together the brown sugar, rice vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Mix together the cornstarch, flour, and salt and pepper in a large bag or large bowl. Add the pork and shake well to evenly coat the pork.
- Heat the oil in a large wok or pan to medium-high heat, until a small drop of cornstarch added sizzles up.
- Tap off excess coating from the pork chunks, then fry in the oil 1-2 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the pork to a plate. Do this in batches if needed so avoid overcrowding the wok.
- Drain some of the excess oil if needed, and bring back to medium-high heat. Add the onion, peppers, and pineapple. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes, or until done to your liking.
- Add the garlic and ginger and stir fry for 1 minute.
- Stir in the sweet and sour sauce and mix well. Cook for 1-2 minutes to thicken.
- Add the reserved pork, stir to coat, and warm through. Serve immediately with rice and garnish.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Jeff says
Actually made twice. Second time around not as much vinegar, about 1/3 cup and much better. Added all the bells and whistles again, and super good.
Mike Hultquist says
Outstanding! Glad you like it, Jeff! Thanks!