Description
This Sticky Pineapple Chicken is bursting with tropical flavors! The tender chicken is glazed in a sweet and savory pineapple sauce, made with fresh pineapple, honey, soy sauce, and a touch of ginger for extra flavor. It’s the perfect dish for a quick and delicious weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
For the Sticky Pineapple Sauce:
- 1 cup pineapple juice (fresh or from canned pineapple)
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks (or canned, drained)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey or brown sugar (adjust to sweetness preference)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional, for extra flavor)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening)
- 2 tablespoons water (for cornstarch slurry)
Garnish (optional):
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
-
Prepare the Chicken:
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts (or thighs) and cook for 5-6 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
-
Make the Sticky Pineapple Sauce:
- In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and grated ginger (if using). Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the pineapple juice, soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, and rice vinegar. Stir to combine.
- Add the pineapple chunks and let the mixture simmer for about 5-7 minutes, allowing it to reduce slightly.
-
Thicken the Sauce:
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Slowly add this slurry to the skillet, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
-
Combine the Chicken and Sauce:
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and simmer for another 5 minutes, allowing the chicken to absorb the flavors and the sauce to thicken further.
-
Serve:
- Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve hot with rice or your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- Sweetness Adjustments: You can adjust the sweetness by adding more honey or brown sugar, depending on how sweet you like your sauce.
- Spicy Option: For a spicy kick, add a dash of red pepper flakes or a small chopped chili to the sauce.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve with steamed rice, sautéed vegetables, or a simple salad to complement the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Seared, Simmer
- Cuisine: Asian, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 70mg