Description
Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken delivers a sweet and savory explosion that’ll make your dinner table sing with tropical delight. Glazed chicken breasts caramelized with pineapple and rich brown sugar create a simple weeknight meal that sparks serious flavor happiness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
Seasonings and Garnishes:
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Season 4 chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, ensuring both sides are evenly coated.
- Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 375°F. Sear chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown, then transfer to a plate.
- Pour 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon ground ginger into the same skillet. Stir these ingredients together until they combine smoothly.
- Add 1 cup pineapple chunks to the sauce. Let the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to slightly thicken.
- Return chicken breasts to the skillet, covering them completely with the pineapple sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low at 325°F.
- Cover the skillet and cook for 20-25 minutes, turning chicken once halfway through to ensure even cooking and sauce coverage.
- Check chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer. Remove from heat when fully cooked.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro over the chicken just before serving for a bright, fresh garnish.
Notes
- Choose chicken breasts of similar size to ensure even cooking and prevent some pieces from drying out while others remain undercooked.
- Use fresh pineapple chunks for brighter flavor, but canned works perfectly fine when fresh isn’t available.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking to help retain moisture and make cutting easier.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari and check that your ketchup is gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 457 kcal
- Sugar: 43 g
- Sodium: 1080 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg