Description
Mouthwatering Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken delivers tropical flavors with juicy grilled chicken and sweet caramelized pineapple. Marinade and grill create a perfect balance of tangy and savory notes for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup (240 ml) pineapple juice
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) soy sauce
- 0.33 cup (80 g) brown sugar
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp cornstarch, mixed with 2 tbsps water
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Seasoning: Generously coat chicken pieces with salt and black pepper, ensuring uniform distribution for robust flavor development.
- Searing: Ignite a large skillet with vegetable oil over medium-high heat, strategically browning chicken until golden and crisp, rotating periodically for even caramelization.
- Sauce Creation: Deglaze the skillet with pineapple juice, incorporating soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger, whisking to produce a harmonious, complex liquid base.
- Simmering Fusion: Return chicken to the aromatic sauce, introducing sweet pineapple chunks, reducing heat to medium-low and allowing ingredients to meld and tenderize for approximately 10 minutes.
- Thickening Process: Gradually integrate cornstarch mixture, stirring continuously to eliminate potential lumps and transform sauce into a glossy, clingy consistency that magnificently coats each chicken piece.
- Garnishing and Serving: Elevate the dish by sprinkling sliced green onions and sesame seeds, creating textural contrast and visual intrigue, then present immediately over steamed rice for a vibrant Hawaiian-inspired culinary experience.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Browning: Ensure chicken pieces are dry before seasoning to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust without steaming.
- Balance Sauce Consistency: Whisk cornstarch mixture thoroughly to prevent lumps and create a smooth, glossy sauce that coats chicken evenly.
- Control Heat Carefully: Maintain medium-high heat initially for browning, then reduce to medium-low when simmering to prevent sauce from burning or becoming too thick.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Substitute soy sauce with tamari for gluten-free version, or use coconut aminos for a lower-sodium alternative that maintains the tropical flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg