Description
This Sweet and Savory Pineapple Chicken and Rice recipe is a delicious one-pan meal packed with juicy chicken, tender pineapple, and a sticky-sweet garlic soy sauce served over fluffy white rice. Perfect for weeknight dinners, this tropical-inspired chicken and rice dish is easy to make and family-friendly. Great for meal prep, freezer-friendly, and loaded with flavor.
Ingredients
1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
2 cups cooked white rice
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for cooking)
Instructions
1. Cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks and season lightly with salt and pepper.
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, add garlic and ginger. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, pineapple chunks, and a splash of pineapple juice. Stir and let simmer.
5. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Stir into the skillet and cook until the sauce thickens.
6. Return chicken to the skillet. Simmer until chicken is fully cooked and coated in sauce.
7. Serve hot over white rice. Drizzle with sesame oil and sprinkle with green onions before serving.
Notes
Use fresh pineapple for the best flavor, but canned works great in a pinch.
To add heat, sprinkle in red pepper flakes while simmering the sauce.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg