Pineapple Chicken with Rice – Simple Weeknight Meal
A sweet and savory one-pan pineapple chicken and rice dish, packed with flavor, juicy chicken, and tender rice in a sticky, citrusy glaze.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
1.5 lbs boneless chicken breast or thighs, diced
1 tbsp vegetable oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
½ cup pineapple juice
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 cup white rice, rinsed
1 cup water
1 ½ cups pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)
1 tbsp cornstarch (optional)
2 tbsp water (for slurry)
Green onions for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oil and sear chicken until golden, 6–8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté garlic and ginger in same pan for 30 seconds.
- Add pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar. Simmer.
- Stir in rice and water. Return chicken to pan. Cover and simmer 18–20 minutes.
- Add pineapple, cover and cook 5 more minutes.
- If needed, stir in cornstarch slurry and simmer until thickened.
- Fluff and garnish with green onions. Serve hot.
Notes
Use tamari for gluten-free. Add bell peppers or peas for extra vegetables. Reheats well for meal prep.