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Pineapple Chicken and Rice

A quick, 30-minute weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken breast and juicy pineapple chunks coated in a sweet, savory, and sticky teriyaki-style glaze, served over rice.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian-American
Calories: 410

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 3 cups cooked rice for serving
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped, for garnish
Sauce
  • 0.5 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 0.25 cup chicken broth or water
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar packed
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
Slurry
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp cold water

Equipment

  • Large skillet or wok
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Cutting board and knife

Method
 

  1. Prepare rice according to package directions if not already made.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Set aside.
  3. In a small separate bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water to create a slurry. Set aside.
  4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken cubes in a single layer and sear for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook 2-3 minutes more until cooked through.
  5. Add the pineapple chunks to the skillet with the chicken and toss for 1-2 minutes until warmed.
  6. Pour the prepared soy sauce mixture over the chicken and pineapple. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  7. Stir the cornstarch slurry once more, then pour it into the skillet. Stir continuously for about 1 minute until the sauce becomes thick, glossy, and sticky.
  8. Remove from heat. Serve hot over cooked rice, garnished generously with chopped cilantro.

Notes

Pat the chicken completely dry before searing to get a beautiful golden crust. You can substitute canned pineapple; just be sure to drain the chunks well.