Sweet & Savory Pineapple Chicken and Rice

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If you love the perfect balance of sweet and savory, this Pineapple Chicken and Rice will be your new favorite meal!
Juicy chicken, caramelized pineapple, and a garlicky, tangy sauce come together in one pan for a fast, flavorful, and easy dinner.

This dish is perfect for busy weeknights and ready in just 30 minutes! Serve it over fluffy rice, and you’ve got a meal that’s as delicious as takeout—but way better!

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🔥 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✔ One-Pan Wonder – Less mess, more flavor!
✔ Sweet & Savory Perfection – Caramelized pineapple + seasoned chicken = AMAZING.
✔ Quick & Easy – Ready in 30 minutes!
✔ Customizable – Add veggies or swap the protein.

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🛒 Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (for crispy chicken)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp olive oil

For the Pineapple Sauce:

• 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
• ¼ cup pineapple juice
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey 🍯
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ginger, minced
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

For the Rice:

• 2 cups cooked white or brown rice
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp soy sauce (for extra flavor)

For Garnish:

• Sliced green onions 🌿
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Extra pineapple chunks

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Cook the Chicken:

• In a bowl, toss chicken pieces with cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
• Remove from the pan and set aside.

2️⃣ Make the Pineapple Sauce:

• In the same skillet, add pineapple chunks and cook for 2 minutes until slightly caramelized.
• Stir in pineapple juice, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes.
• Simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until slightly thickened.

3️⃣ Combine Everything:

• Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce.
• Let everything simmer for 1-2 more minutes so the flavors meld together.

4️⃣ Prepare the Rice:

• Toss the warm cooked rice with butter and soy sauce for extra flavor.

5️⃣ Serve & Enjoy!

• Spoon the pineapple chicken over a bed of rice.
• Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and extra pineapple chunks.
• Serve hot and enjoy the sweet, savory, and tropical flavors!

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🔥 Tips for the Best Pineapple Chicken and Rice

✔ Use fresh pineapple – It caramelizes beautifully! 🍍
✔ Want it spicier? Add more red pepper flakes or Sriracha. 🌶️
✔ Make it extra crispy – Double-coat the chicken in cornstarch before frying.
✔ Add veggies! Bell peppers, snap peas, or broccoli would be delicious.

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🍽️ What to Serve with It

🥗 Side Salad – A light and refreshing balance.
🥢 Steamed Veggies – Green beans or bok choy are great options.
🍹 Tropical Drink – A pineapple smoothie or iced tea pairs perfectly!

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🥶 Storage & Reheating

📦 Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
❄️ Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months (store rice separately for best texture).
🔥 Reheat: Warm in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water or pineapple juice.

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❓ FAQ

1. Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Absolutely! Boneless, skinless thighs will be extra juicy.

2. What if I don’t have pineapple juice?

Use orange juice or a splash of apple cider vinegar for a similar tangy sweetness.

3. Can I make this in a slow cooker?

Yes! Add everything except rice to a slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

4. Can I make this low-carb?

Yes! Serve it over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles instead of regular rice.

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💬 Final Thoughts

This Sweet & Savory Pineapple Chicken and Rice is bursting with tropical flavors and has the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy goodness. Whether you’re making it for a quick weeknight meal or meal prepping, it’s guaranteed to be a family favorite!

🔥 Try it and let me know how it turns out! 🍍🍗🍚

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Pineapple Chicken and Rice

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

Prep Time: 15 min Cooking Time: 25 min 25 min Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (for crispy chicken)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp olive oil

For the Pineapple Sauce:

• 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
• ¼ cup pineapple juice
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey 🍯
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ginger, minced
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

For the Rice:

• 2 cups cooked white or brown rice
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp soy sauce (for extra flavor)

For Garnish:

• Sliced green onions 🌿
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Extra pineapple chunks

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Instructions

1️⃣ Cook the Chicken:

• In a bowl, toss chicken pieces with cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
• Remove from the pan and set aside.

2️⃣ Make the Pineapple Sauce:

• In the same skillet, add pineapple chunks and cook for 2 minutes until slightly caramelized.
• Stir in pineapple juice, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes.
• Simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until slightly thickened.

3️⃣ Combine Everything:

• Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce.
• Let everything simmer for 1-2 more minutes so the flavors meld together.

4️⃣ Prepare the Rice:

• Toss the warm cooked rice with butter and soy sauce for extra flavor.

5️⃣ Serve & Enjoy!

• Spoon the pineapple chicken over a bed of rice.
• Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and extra pineapple chunks.
• Serve hot and enjoy the sweet, savory, and tropical flavors!

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