Pineapple Chicken
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Pineapple Chicken is a quick stir-fry with juicy chunks of chicken and pineapple in a tangy sauce. Make this easy pineapple chicken recipe in just 20 minutes for a weeknight dinner the whole family will love. So much better than takeout!
We’re always looking for chicken dinners that are quick to make and family friendly. This pineapple chicken stir fry is a longstanding favorite with its beautiful colors and tropical flavors. Even the kids and picky eaters devour it!
This dish resembles our popular sweet and sour chicken, where the chicken is deep fried instead of being stir fried like in this recipe.
Serve with rice for Chinese style pineapple chicken or add side dishes like mango salad to keep the tropical feel.
HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE CHICKEN
You make this dish by sautéeing chicken thighs with bell peppers, onion and pineapple:
- Chicken: cubed chicken thighs are the juiciest, but you can use chicken breasts instead as a lighter option.
- Pineapple: canned or fresh pineapple will work, but avoid using frozen pineapple. Keep all juices for the sauce!
- Bell peppers: any bell peppers will work including red, yellow and/or green.
- Onion: Some sweet yellow or white onion adds flavor, but is not required.
Everything then gets coated in a sauce made with soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar and brown sugar. A cornstarch slurry helps to thicken it towards the end (use flour if you don’t have cornstarch available).
If you’re serving pineapple chicken and rice, be sure to start cooking the rice at the beginning so everything’s ready at the same time.
You can serve pineapple chicken in a hollowed pineapple for more of a Hawaiian-style presentation. It’s really not too much effort and will wow guests when you’re entertaining!
Can I make it ahead of time?
This dish is easy to make ahead and reheat on the stovetop. It’s also fabulous to meal prep when you want to have meals on-the-go during the week.
Simply store for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Note: it doesn’t freeze well due to the pineapple.
Crockpot pineapple chicken is another make-ahead option. Add the ingredients to the slow cooker and set to High for 90 minutes or Low for 4-5 hours. Note: the texture will be quite soft.
Pineapple Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 tsp soy sauce, low sodium recommended
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce, see note
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp cornstarch, or flour, mixed with 1 tbsp water
Pineapple Chicken
- 1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1" cubes (see note)
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1" pieces
- 2 bell peppers, any color, cut into 1" pieces
- 1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks, fresh or canned
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- salt and pepper, to taste
- cooked white rice, optional for serving
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar, sugar and cornstarch. Set aside.
- Place a large skillet on medium-high heat and add oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to the pan when oil is hot.
- Sauté chicken for 2 minutes per side until lightly browned.
- Add onion, bell peppers and pineapple chunks to the pan and sauté several minutes more until crisp-tender.
- Add the reserved sauce mixture and bring to a boil, stirring continuously until the pieces are coated.
- Remove from heat and serve with optional rice.
Notes
- You can also use chicken breasts for a leaner option. Ask your meat counter to cube the chicken for you to save time. Pat dry with paper towels if needed to remove excess moisture.
- If you don't have hoisin sauce, ketchup works as a substitute in this recipe.
- Add 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes to make this dish spicier.
Please read our nutrition disclaimer.
More chicken and pineapple recipes:
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Editor note: Originally published July 15, 2018 and updated June 8, 2019
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great recipe
Instructions call for vinegar but vinegar does not appear on ingredients list. How much vinegar should be added to this recipe???
Hi there, Thanks for asking and apologies, it’s 1 teaspoon of vinegar. Hope you enjoyed 🙂
Made this tonight and it was great! We made extra sauce. The recipe didn’t call for vinegar but it was listed in the directions so I just guessed how much. Also didn’t see in the directions where to add in the pineapple juice so I assumed it was mixed in with the sauce.
Hi Mary, Thanks so much for your review! That’s been fixed and the recipe shows 1 teaspoon of vinegar now. So happy to hear you enjoyed it 🙂
The recipe doesn’t say how much vinegar. Had to google it myself and 1/2 hr. later I figured I should use 1 tbsp. Need to edit the recipe.
Hi Tamara, Thanks for your comment and the recipe has been edited to reflect the vinegar now. 🙂
Just trying the recipe now. Uh how much vinegar?
Hi there, Hope it turned out well and sorry for the typo. It’s 1 teaspoon or vinegar! 🙂
Hello dear! I looked and looked… But there is no viniger on the ingredient list…but you do say to use viniger, how much and is it rice viniger or a regular one?? I was about to make it now but i realy need your answer first… Thanks yali.
Hi Yali, Thanks for your comment and sorry about that. It’s 1 teaspoon of vinegar. Let me know how it goes!
Your recipe is a mess there is vinagar in the directions that isn’t listed in the ingredients
Hi Ginger, Thanks for your comment and the recipe’s been fixed to show the 1 teaspoon of vinegar. Hope you’ll give it a try now 🙂