• RECIPES
    • All Recipes
    • KETO/LOW CARB
    • Appetizers/Drinks
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Main Courses
    • Soups
    • Side Dishes
    • Casseroles
    • HOLIDAYS/SEASONAL
      • Rosh Hashanah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Chanukkah
      • Christmas
      • New Year’s Eve
      • St. Patrick’s Day
      • Super Bowl/Game Day
      • Easter
      • Passover
      • 4th of July
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Memorial Day
    • Jewish Recipes
    • Asian Cooking
    • INSTANT POT
      • All Pressure Cooking
      • Dump and Push
      • Pot in Pot
      • Freezer Recipes
    • AIR FRYER
  • SHOP ESSENTIALS
    • Shop All Categories!
    • This Old Gal Pressure Cooker Cookbook
    • Shop My Favorites
    • What’s In My Kitchen!
    • Instant Pot & Pressure Cooker Stuff
    • TOG’s Gift Guide
    • Shop My Amazon Store
  • GET NEWSLETTER
  • BUY MY COOKBOOK

Work with TOG

  • RECIPE INDEX
    • All Recipes
    • Keto & Low Carb Recipes
    • Holidays/Seasonal
    • Jewish Recipes
    • Asian Recipes
    • Freezer Meals
  • BY METHOD
    • Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker
    • Air Fryer
    • Slow Cooker
  • SHOP ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS
    • Shop All Categories
    • What’s In My Kitchen!
    • Shop My Amazon Store
    • Buy My Cookbook!!!
  • SELKATZ TONKINESE
  • WORK WITH THIS OLD GAL
    • Contact This Old Gal
  • ABOUT TOG
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions & User Agreement
    • Recipe Photo Use Policy
    • Website Accessibility Statement

↑

This Old Gal

Delicious homemade recipes with step by step instructions

Restaurant Quality Meals From My Home To Yours

  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Low Carb
    • Appetizers/Beverages
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Soups
    • Sides
    • Main Courses
    • Holidays/Seasonal
      • Rosh Hashanah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Chanukkah
      • Christmas
      • Super Bowl/Game Day
      • New Year’s Eve
      • Passover
      • Easter
      • St. Patrick’s Day
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Memorial Day
      • 4th of July
    • Casseroles
    • Jewish Recipes
    • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
      • Pot in Pot & One Pot
      • Dump and Push
    • Air Fryer
    • Freezer
  • Low Carb Recipes
  • Shop Essential Products
    • Shop All Categories!
    • Favorite Instant Pot Accessories
    • Shop My Amazon Store!
    • Favorite Pressure Cooker Accessories
    • Kitchen Tools Gadgets & Essentials
    • TOG’s Gift Guide
    • Instant Pot Mini 3 Quart Accessories
    • Favorite Baking Cooking Air Fryer Accessories & Bread Making Tools
    • Small Electric Kitchen Appliances & Pressure Cookers
    • Coupons, Brands & Reviews
  • About
    • Selkatz Tonkinese
    • Contact This Old Gal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms & Conditions & User Agreement
    • Recipe Photo Use Policy
    • Website Accessibility Statement

Home / Recipes / Pressure Cooker / Pressure Cooker Main Courses / Pressure Cooker Chicken / Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken {Instant Pot}

Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken {Instant Pot}

January 19, 2017 By Jill Selkowitz / 32 Comments Updated July 9, 2021 / As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases; see all disclosures.

Jump to Recipe
Instant Pot Chinese Take Out Sweet 'N Sour Chicken

Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken will cure your cravings for cheap Strip Mall $1.00 an item Chinese Food.

Pressure Cooker Chinese Take-Out Sweet 'N Sour Chicken

Pressure Cooker Chinese Take-Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken

Do you remember those $1.00 Chinese Restaurants in the strip malls all over the place? You walk in to the restaurant and the people behind the counter, are holding up toothpicks with a sampling of some type of a chicken nugget?

The food is usually fast moving and really, for a buck, not too bad. Well, think of this recipe kind of like that.

 

Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Sweet & Sour Chicken

Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Sweet & Sour Chicken

The ingredient list is short. This is not an authentic Chinese recipe. It’s just a quick and easy Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken recipe to help you get through your Fast Food ‘Chinese Food’ cravings.

 

Air Fryer New York Style Egg Rolls w/ Sweet 'N Sour Sauce

Air Fryer New York Style Egg Rolls w/ Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce

Think about starting out your meal with some Air Fryer New York Style Egg Rolls. They are simple to make and taste like they came from a good New York Chinese Restaurant.

Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot In Pot Rice

Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot In Pot Rice

If you would like to cook your rice at the same time and in the same pot with your Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken, please check out my Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot In Pot Rice recipe for step by step instructions.

Turn this Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken recipe into a one pot meal!

You will just need these two accessories. One stainless steel flat bottomed insert pan or stainless steel flat bottomed insert pan and a Stainless Steel Tall Legged Trivet/Steamer Rack.

 

Whisk up the Sauce

Whisk up the Sauce

Whisk up the Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce and put it aside. After browning the chicken a bit, we’ll add it to the pot and have it cook together with the chicken.

 

Mix together Potato Starch and Seasonings

Mix together Potato Starch and Seasonings

In a medium mixing bowl, add the Potato Starch and all the seasonings. I like to add a sprinkle of Chinese Five Spice to the Potato Starch. It adds a bit of authenticity, even though this is not a proper Chinese recipe. Whisk the dry ingredients together.

 

Coat the Chicken in Potato Starch

Coat the Chicken in Potato Starch

Before starting to dredge the chicken, turn on your Pressure Cooker and allow it to heat completely. Use the Sauté, Browning or Meat button, whichever you have on your model. When you allow a stainless steel pot to get hot, before adding a fat, this will help to make the pot non stick.

Add the chicken pieces to the Potato Starch mixture. Using tongs, not your fingers…trust me, you don’t want to use your fingers, they will become a gloppy mess, dredge the chicken in the Potato Starch mixture and make sure all pieces are covered.

 

Dip Chicken into Egg Mixture

Dip Chicken into Egg Mixture

Shake off excess Potato Starch and dip the chicken pieces into the egg mixture.

 

Coat all Chicken with Egg

Coat all Chicken with Egg

While you are prepping the chicken, select Sauté, Browning or Meat on your Pressure Cooker and allow to fully heat, before adding your fat/oil. Doing so, will help to make a stainless steel pot, non stick.

 

Give the Chicken a Quick Sear

Give the Chicken a Quick Sear

Add the oil to your cooking pot. Using your tongs and in batches, shake off excess egg and carefully place chicken pieces into the Pressure Cooker cooking pot and sear the chicken on all sides. This will give a little protection to the chicken and keep it from getting dry and rubbery.

 

Brown all of the Chicken and set aside

Brown all of the Chicken and set aside

Remove the chicken to a dish and repeat the process, until all the chicken has a light sear and is well protected from the dreaded demons of the dry and rubbery pressure cooker chicken. The chicken will puff up a bit.

 

Deglaze the Pot

Deglaze the Pot

There shouldn’t be much, if anything stuck in the cooking pot. It is important to shake off any excess Potato Starch and then the egg prior to placing the chicken into the cooking pot. However, the water and deglazing will undo any issue that may arise. 🙂  So, add in the water and deglaze the pot. This will also cool down the pot a bit, so that you won’t have any scorching after the sauce is added.

 

Pour in the Sauce and Whisk it with the Water

Pour in the Sauce and Whisk it with the Water

Pour in the Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce and Whisk it with the Water to combine. Make sure nothing is stuck on the bottom of your cooking pot. If you prefer an Orange flavor, please try my Pressure Cooker Chinese Orange Pepper Chicken for a one pot meal.

 

Carefully add the Chicken into the Sauce and Mix

Carefully add the Chicken into the Sauce and Mix

Very carefully, place all the chicken into the Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce and mix together. If you want to make your rice at the same time, using the Pot in Pot method, now is the time to add your Trivet and pan of rice.

 

Remove Chicken and Thicken Sauce

Remove Chicken and Thicken Sauce

A Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce should not be super thick, but it is not runny like water either. It needs to be thick enough, just to stick to the chicken. After removing the chicken from your Pressure Cooker, use the Sauté, Browning or Meat button on your Pressure Cooker and cook down the sauce a bit. This will only take a minute or two, so keep your eye on the Sauce.

 

Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet 'N Sour Chicken

Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken

Serve your Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken with Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot in Pot Rice. If you like Chinese Take-Out, please try my Pressure Cooker Chinese Take-Out Beef and Broccoli.

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

  • Instant Pot DUO 6 Quart
  • J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
  • Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
  • Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
  • Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
  • Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk– a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
  • Rachael Ray Stoneware EVOO Oil Dispensing Bottle
  • Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
  • stainless steel flat bottomed insert pans or stainless steel flat bottomed insert pan for Pot in Pot Rice and Desserts
  • Stainless Steel Tall Legged Trivet
  • 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl

Caring is sharing! If you would like to support This Old Gal, please share this recipe on Social Media, so that I can continue to bring you more wonderful recipes!

Here is the handy printable recipe:

 

Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet 'N Sour Chicken

Pressure Cooker Chinese Take-Out Sweet 'N Sour Chicken

5 from 9 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Chinese
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories:
Author: Jill Selkowitz

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Chicken Breat boneless/skinless
  • 1 cup Potato Starch (or more if needed)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/16 teaspoon Chinese Five Spice optional
  • 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil or Olive Oil
  • 1/2 cup Fresh Water
  • 2 large Eggs optional

Sauce

  • 3/4 cup White Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Ketchup
  • 3/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/4 cup Soy Sauce, Low Sodium
  • 2 cloves Fresh Garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup Fresh Water

Rice

  • See my Pressure Cooker Perfectly Cooked Pot Pot Rice recipe
  • Stainless Steel Long Legged Trivet

Instructions

  • Trim fat from chicken and cut into bite size pieces.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, add Potato Starch, Chinese Five Spice, Salt and Pepper and combine.  Add Chicken to Potato Starch and coat well.  Dip chicken into the egg mixture and set aside.
  • Select Saute, Browning or other button on your Pressure Cooker and allow pot to fully heat.
  • Add oil to the cooking pot.  Using tongs, pick up Chicken pieces, shake off excess Egg and place into Pressure Cooker cooking pot, being careful not to crowd chicken.  Sear Chicken on all sides and remove to a plate.  Repeat, until all Chicken has been seared and puffy.
  • Add water and deglaze pot.  Add in sauce and whisk together.  Carefully place Chicken into sauce.
  • If making this a One Pot Meal, add the Prepared PIP Rice now.
  • Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve.  Cook at High Pressure for 3 minutes.  When Beep sounds, allow a 10 minute Natural Pressure Release.
  • Remove lid.  (Remove Rice and cover tightly to allow the rice to finish cooking) Remove Chicken to a bowl.  If desired, simmer sauce until thick.

Notes

If using the double breading method, add an additional 1/4 cup water.
Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisOldGalCooks or tag #thisoldgalcooks!
© ThisOldGal.com - Sharing the recipe link to any of my recipes posts are both encouraged and appreciated. Unauthorized and improperly attributed or non-attributed use of this material, including screen shots, copy/paste of full recipes to any social media site, website, mobile application or service (e.g., copymethat, recipe keeper, pepper) or cookbook, without the requisite attribution or otherwise with express written permission from Jill Selkowitz is strictly prohibited. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

PIN this Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken {Instant Pot}!

Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken {Instant Pot}

Pressure Cooker Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Chicken {Instant Pot}

19.7K shares
  • 1.1K
  • 4

January 19, 2017

About Jill Selkowitz

Hi, I'm Jill. I'm a mom to Tonkinese cats and enjoy sharing restaurant quality meals, easily made at home. With my easy step by step photos and directions, new cooks will be able to follow along and cook like rock stars.

Welcome To My Kitchen

An image of Jill Selkowitz
Hi, I'm Jill, cooking enthusiast. Here you'll find top chef quality recipes with step by step photos and directions. More About Me

Memorial Day Recipes

Instant Pot Bang Bang Chicken

Instant Pot Bang Bang Chicken (Pressure…

Instant Pot Olive Garden Italian Chicken

Instant Pot Italian Chicken Olive Garden…

A close up of a potato salad in a patterned serving bowl with paprika garnish on top.

The BEST Instant Pot Potato Salad…

Instant Pot Baked Beans

Instant Pot Baked Beans [Pressure…

Air Fryer

[facetwp facet="air_fryer"]

Instant Pot

[facetwp facet="instant_pot"]

Main

[facetwp facet="main"]

Popular

Instant Pot Greek Yogurt (Thick and…

Instant Pot New York Cheesecake #1 Best…

Instant Pot No Boil Yogurt [Cold Start…

Instant Pot No Knead Bread (Dutch Oven)…

Latest

Instant Pot Low Carb Wonton Soup [Recipe…

Sesame Garlic Noodles [w/Asian Flair]…

Instant Pot Low Carb UNStuffed Cabbage…

Brown Butter Honey Garlic Salmon…

Seasonal

Pressure Cooker Apricot Glazed Herb…

Choco-Spice Layer Cake [Instant Pot]…

Instant Pot P.F. Chang’s Garlic…

Air Fryer Pita Pizza [Pita Bread Cheese…

Featured on:

About | Contact | Work With Me | Privacy Policy | Sitemap
Copyright ©2023, This Old Gal. All Rights Reserved.
19.7K shares