Description
Pineapple Chicken and Rice delivers tropical comfort right to your dinner table with juicy chicken and sweet pineapple chunks nestled over fluffy rice. Grab your skillet and let this easy meal rescue your evening hunger in just minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks
Sauce and Seasonings:
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Finishing Ingredients:
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Sprinkle ½ teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and ground ginger over 4 chicken breasts. Add salt and pepper to enhance the seasoning.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet at medium heat (375°F). Cook chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove chicken from skillet and let rest on a cutting board while preparing other components.
- Prepare 1 cup white rice according to package instructions, using recommended water ratio and cooking time.
- Whisk ½ cup pineapple juice, ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon ground ginger in a saucepan.
- Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to create a smooth slurry for thickening.
- Bring sauce mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes.
- Add cornstarch slurry to sauce, stirring until it thickens to a glossy consistency.
- Slice chicken into bite-sized pieces and return to the skillet.
- Add 1 can (20 oz) of drained pineapple chunks to the skillet with chicken.
- Pour entire sauce over chicken and pineapple, stirring to coat evenly.
- Simmer for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld and chicken to reheat.
- Serve hot chicken and pineapple mixture directly over prepared rice.
Notes
- Swap chicken breasts for thighs or tofu to adapt the recipe for different protein preferences and dietary needs.
- Drain pineapple chunks well before adding to prevent excess liquid from thinning the sauce.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to control salt content and make the dish more health-conscious.
- For extra flavor, toast rice in a bit of butter before cooking to enhance its nutty undertones.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-27 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 365 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg