Description
Pineapple Chicken with Rice is a deliciously balanced dish combining tender chicken, sweet pineapple, and fragrant rice in one convenient pan. This easy-to-make recipe offers a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors with vibrant textures, suitable for quick weeknight dinners or impressive meals for guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
Produce
- 1 cup fresh or canned pineapple chunks, drained (reserve juice)
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
Grains
- 1 cup white or jasmine rice, rinsed
Pantry
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or gluten-free tamari)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or sesame oil, divided
- 1/4 cup water or chicken broth
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, dice the bell peppers, chop green onions, and drain the pineapple chunks. Mince the garlic and grate the ginger for sautéing.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until golden brown on all sides but not fully cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics and Vegetables: In the same pan, add a bit more oil if needed, then add garlic, ginger, and bell peppers. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and peppers start to soften, stirring frequently.
- Add Rice and Pineapple: Stir in the rinsed rice, toasting lightly for about a minute. Add pineapple chunks along with some reserved pineapple juice to evenly distribute sweetness and moisture.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the seared chicken to the pan and stir everything together. Pour in soy sauce, brown sugar (or honey), and water or chicken broth. Cover and reduce heat to medium, letting the rice cook and absorb liquid and flavors for about 15 minutes, until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through.
- Finish and Garnish: Fluff the rice with a fork, sprinkle chopped green onions on top, and drizzle with sesame oil if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- Use fresh pineapple when possible for brighter sweetness and better texture.
- Don’t skip searing the chicken to add depth of flavor.
- Rinse rice before cooking to remove excess starch and keep grains fluffy.
- Adjust seasoning gradually by tasting before adding extra soy sauce or sugar.
- Add pineapple juice in steps to avoid mushiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg