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Pineapple Chicken

Pineapple Chicken

This Pineapple Chicken recipe combines tender, juicy chicken breasts with sweet pineapple chunks and vibrant bell peppers in a perfectly balanced sweet, tangy, and savory sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s an easy, family-friendly dish that’s sure to please both kids and adults. Its colorful presentation and versatile flavor profile make it ideal for quick weeknight dinners or lively gatherings.

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

Produce

  • 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained if canned)
  • 1 cup bell peppers (red or green), chopped into chunks
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

Sauces and Condiments

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or lime juice

Other

  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons water (divided, some for slurry)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for cooking)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the ingredients: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and pat them dry. Chop the bell peppers into chunks, drain pineapple if canned, and mince garlic and ginger so they’re ready to use.
  2. Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar or lime juice, and a bit of water. Separately, mix cornstarch with a spoonful of water to form a slurry that will be added later to thicken the sauce.
  3. Cook the chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
  4. Sauté vegetables and aromatics: In the same skillet, add more oil if needed. Add minced garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant. Then add bell peppers and cook until just tender but still crisp, about 3 minutes.
  5. Combine chicken, pineapple, and sauce: Return chicken to the skillet along with pineapple chunks. Pour the soy sauce mixture over everything, stir to coat, and cook for a couple of minutes.
  6. Thicken and finish: Stir the cornstarch slurry again and pour it into the pan. Stir constantly as the sauce thickens to a glossy finish that clings to every piece. Remove from heat and get ready to serve!

Notes

  • Pat chicken dry before cooking for better browning and juicier results.
  • Do not overcook bell peppers; keep them slightly crunchy for texture contrast.
  • Use fresh pineapple if possible for best flavor and texture.
  • Adjust cornstarch slurry quantity to control sauce thickness.
  • Let chicken rest briefly after cooking to retain moisture.
  • Author: Lina
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Asian-inspired
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 320 kcal
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 650 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 35 g
  • Cholesterol: 75 mg

Keywords: pineapple chicken, sweet and savory chicken, quick chicken recipe, family dinner, Asian-inspired chicken, gluten free chicken