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Surprise Chicken

ChickenAsianStove-Top

Time: 2 hours

Yield: 6 servings

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About

Surprise! This chicken is delicious! Wait, that may not be much of a surprise after all. Surprise Chicken is actually surprising in how it isn't a stir-fry at all, despite having the sweet, tangy, sticky sauce coating golden, pan-fried chicken. It just tastes like stir-fry, but it's a lot more easy-going about it. Surprise Chicken is perfect for piling on rice or for eating popcorn style... although we recommend a fork for the latter.

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Ingredients

  • For the chicken:
  • 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup canola, vegetable, or coconut oil
  • For the sauce:
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • white rice, optional, to taste, cooked and hot, for serving
  • mixed stir-fry vegetables, optional, to taste, cooked and hot, for serving

Directions

Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Step 2 -Season the chicken pieces with the salt and the black pepper.

Step 3 -In a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag, add the chicken pieces and the cornstarch and seal the bag.

Step 4 -Shake the bag until the chicken pieces are fully coated in the cornstarch.

Step 5 -In a shallow pie plate, add the eggs and whisk until they are beaten.

Step 6 -In a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil and heat until it is rippling.

Step 7 -Dip the coated chicken pieces into the beaten egg and carefully transfer them to the oil hot in a single layer. You may need to do this in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Step 8 -Cook the chicken pieces on all sides until they are golden but not cooked through, about 20-30 seconds per side.

Step 9 -In a 9x13-inch baking dish, add the browned chicken pieces.

Step 10 -Repeat the pan-frying process with the remaining chicken pieces.

Step 11 -In a medium bowl, add the granulated sugar, the ketchup, the apple cider vinegar, the soy sauce and the garlic salt and whisk to combine.

Step 12 -Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the baking dish.

Step 13 -Bake the chicken mixture, turning the chicken pieces to ensure they are fully coated, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 1 hour.

Step 14 -Serve with the rice and the mixed vegetables.

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