Jeff Misenti
March 23, 2026
Difficulty Level: easy
20 min Prep
25 min Cook
45 min Total
4 Servings
Sweet and sour pork is well-known as a Chinese-style flavor combination, bringing together juicy pork, bright veggies, sweet pineapple, and a tangy sauce.
The pork is fried until tender and golden brown. The bell peppers go in next, cooking long enough to soften. Next up is the pineapple, cooked long enough just to sear a little before the sauce is added. The sauce is a mix of vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and sugar.
Every mouthful will bring your tastebuds alive, and it’s the perfect evening meal, when combined with steamed rice, noodles, or even mashed potatoes (that’s right, I’ve had it like that, and it’s fantastic). Check out the recipe ingredients and cooking steps below.
Sweet and Sour Pork Ingredients
- 1 pound of pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 cup of cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup of pineapple chunks, canned or fresh
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup of ketchup
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons of water
Sweet and Sour Pork Instructions
- Season the pork cubes with salt and black pepper.
- Place the pork cubes and 1/4 cup of cornstarch in a bowl. Toss the pork cubes well to make sure evenly coated.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat, about 375°F.
- Add the pork in small batches and fry for 5 minutes per batch, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Transfer the cooked pork to a paper towel-lined plate.
- In the same pan, add the red and green bell peppers. Stir-fry for about 3 minutes, until they begin to soften but still keep a little crunch.
- Add the pineapple chunks and stir-fry for another 2 minutes. This helps warm the pineapple and release some of its natural juices.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce until smooth.
- Pour the sauce into the pan and bring it to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for about 2 minutes so the flavors can blend.
- Reduce the heat to medium and return the cooked pork to the pan. Stirring well so every piece is coated in the sweet and sour sauce.
- In a separate small bowl, stir together the remaining cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Pour this mixture into the pan and stir continuously for 2 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and turns glossy.
- Remove from the heat and serve hot over steamed rice or noodles.
Nutrition
Calories: 450cal
Carbohydrate: 45g
Protein: 20g
Fat: 20g
Cholesterol: – -mg
Sodium: – -mg