Description
This Pineapple Chicken and Rice dish is a delightful blend of sweet and savory flavors, perfect for a quick weeknight meal. With tender chicken, fluffy rice, and caramelized pineapple, it’s a satisfying and effortless recipe.
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Canned pineapple tidbits or chunks packed in juice
- Jasmine or basmati rice
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Brown sugar or honey or maple syrup
- Fresh ginger
- Fresh garlic
- Cornstarch
- Sliced bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange)
- Thinly sliced onions
- Snap peas or carrots (optional)
- Chopped green onions (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Neutral cooking oil (like vegetable or canola oil)
Instructions
- Start the Rice: Get your rice cooking first according to package instructions.
- Prepare the Chicken and Pineapple: Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces and drain the canned pineapple, reserving about ½ cup of the juice.
- Whisk Up the Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine reserved pineapple juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, minced ginger, minced garlic, and cornstarch. Whisk until smooth.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of oil. Add chicken in a single layer and cook for 4-6 minutes until browned and mostly cooked through. Remove from skillet.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Add another teaspoon of oil if needed and sauté sliced onions and bell peppers for 3-5 minutes until they start to soften.
- Combine and Simmer: Return chicken to the skillet, pour the sauce over, and add drained pineapple. Stir to combine.
- Thicken the Sauce: Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens (2-4 minutes).
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the sauce and adjust sweetness or savoriness as needed.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the pineapple chicken over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: Don't overcrowd the pan when browning chicken for better flavor. Fresh garlic and ginger enhance the dish significantly. You can prep chicken and vegetables ahead of time for quicker cooking.