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Sweet and Savory Pineapple Chicken and Rice Recipe

Sweet and Savory Pineapple Chicken and Rice Recipe
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A quick and easy Sweet and Savory Pineapple Chicken and Rice recipe that perfectly balances juicy pineapple sweetness with tender chicken and fluffy rice. This one-pan dish is flavorful, comforting, and family-friendly, ideal for busy weeknights or entertaining guests.

Ingredients

Scale

Proteins

  • 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

Produce

  • 1 cup fresh or canned pineapple chunks, diced if fresh
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

Pantry Staples

  • 1 cup long grain white rice
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
  • 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil (vegetable or preferred)

Liquids

  • 1 ¾ cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • ½ cup water (for cornstarch slurry)

Instructions

  1. Prep Your Ingredients: Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces, dice the pineapple if using fresh, slice bell peppers and green onions, mince garlic, and grate ginger to release their fresh aromas.
  2. Cook the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  3. Sauté Vegetables and Aromatics: In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed. Sauté garlic, ginger, and bell peppers until fragrant and crisp-tender, approximately 2-3 minutes.
  4. Combine Pineapple and Sauce Ingredients: Add pineapple chunks to the pan and stir in soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, and chicken broth. Let simmer for a few minutes to meld flavors and warm the pineapple.
  5. Thicken the Sauce: Mix cornstarch with ½ cup cold water to create a slurry. Slowly pour it into the pan while stirring to thicken the sauce to a glossy consistency.
  6. Cook the Rice Separately: While the sauce thickens, cook rice according to package instructions using broth for added flavor. Fluff with a fork when done.
  7. Combine and Serve: Return cooked chicken to the skillet and toss everything together, coating the chicken and vegetables evenly with the sauce. Serve over the fluffy rice and garnish with fresh green onions.

Notes

  • Use fresh pineapple if possible for better texture and sweetness.
  • Cook chicken in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding and ensure proper browning.
  • Allow the sauce to simmer with small bubbles to thicken without burning.
  • Fluff rice gently after cooking to maintain texture.
  • Adjust sweetness and saltiness by tasting and tweaking honey and soy sauce as preferred.

Nutrition

Keywords: pineapple chicken, sweet and savory chicken, one-pot chicken rice, quick chicken dinner, family-friendly chicken recipe, gluten-free chicken dish

Find it online: https://cherrycooks.com/sweet-and-savory-pineapple-chicken-and-rice-recipe/