Sweet and Sour Pork Chow Mein

Boneless pork chop pieces with green bell pepper, red onion, and pineapple chunks with a sweet and sour sauce, served over chow mein noodles.

This Sweet and Sour Pork with Chow Mein Noodles recipe is a delightful blend of flavors and textures. The dish features boneless pork loin chops, cut into bite-sized pieces and seasoned with kosher salt and black pepper. The pork is cooked alongside quartered and sliced red onion and sliced green bell pepper, adding a fresh crunch to the dish. The key to its unique flavor is the homemade sweet and sour sauce, made by whisking together light brown sugar, cornstarch, reserved pineapple juice, white vinegar, soy sauce, and a pinch of salt, then brought to a boil to thicken. This sauce is poured over the cooked pork and vegetables, along with pineapple chunks, simmering together to meld the flavors. Served over a bed of freshly boiled chow mein noodles, this dish offers a delightful combination of sweet and tangy sauce, tender pork, crunchy vegetables, and soft noodles. Optional additional soy sauce drizzled on top adds an extra layer of umami, perfectly balancing the sweetness. This dish is not only flavorful but also visually appealing.

Servings

2

Prep Time

15-20 minutes

Cook Time

20-25 minutes

Total Time

35-45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless pork loin chops (16 ounces)
  • Kosher salt and black pepper (for seasoning pork)
  • 1 medium red onion, quartered and sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, deseeded, halved, and sliced
  • 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks, juice drained and reserved
  • 6 ounces dry chow mein noodles

For Sweet and Sour Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Reserved pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Prepare Vegetables:

  • Quarter and slice the red onion.
  • Deseed, halve, and slice the green bell pepper.

Prepare Pork:

  • Cut pork loin chops into strips, then halve the strips for bite-sized pieces.
  • Season pork with 2 teaspoons each of kosher salt and black pepper.

Prepare Sweet and Sour Sauce:

  • In a saucepan, whisk together light brown sugar, cornstarch, reserved pineapple juice, vinegar, soy sauce, and salt.
  • Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, whisking continuously. Once boiling, cook for an additional minute, then remove from heat.

Cook Pork and Vegetables:

  • In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons cooking oil over medium heat.
  • Add sliced onion and bell pepper, sautéing for approximately 2 minutes.
  • Add the seasoned pork to the skillet, stir, and cover.
  • Cook for about 5 minutes or until pork is mostly done.

Cook Chow Mein Noodles:

  • In a separate pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil.
  • Add chow mein noodles and boil for 3 minutes.
  • Once cooked, drain and rinse the noodles well under cool water.

Finish the Mixture:

  • Pour the prepared sweet and sour sauce over the pork and vegetables, stirring to combine.
  • Add pineapple chunks and simmer the mixture for about 10 minutes.

Assemble and Serve:

  • Create a bed of chow mein noodles on serving plates or a large platter.
  • Spoon the pork and pineapple mixture over the noodles.
  • Optionally, drizzle additional soy sauce over the top for added umami flavor, balancing the dish’s sweetness. Serve and enjoy!

Cut the red onion into quarters and then slice.

De-seed the bell pepper cut and into strips and then cut the strips in half.

Drain the pineapple juice into a separate dish to use for the sauce set aside the pineapple chunks.

Cut the pork into strips and then cut the strips in half to make bite size pieces.

Toss the pork with 2 teaspoons kosher salt and 2 teaspoons black pepper.

Prepare the sauce ingredients and prepare 2 quarts of water to boil the chow mein noodles.

Stir together the sauce ingredients in a small sauce pan. Heat to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil 1 minute. Remove from heat.

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a medium skillet and add the onion and bell pepper about 2 minutes.

Add the pork and stir in. Cover and cook over medium heat about 5 minutes until the pork is mostly cooked.

Add the sauce and stir in. Add the pineapple and stir in. Simmer about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil and add the chow mein noodles to boil for 3 minutes. Remove, drain, and rinse well.

Layer a base of the rinsed and drained chow mein noodles in a serving dish and spoon the pork and pineapple mixture over the noodles. Dash with extra soy sauce for more umami to balance the sweetness.