This tasty Pineapple Chicken combines crispy fried chicken pieces with juicy pineapple, bell peppers, onions, garlic, and green onions in a sweet and savory ginger pineapple sauce. Serve over white rice, brown rice, or ramen noodles. In a little over 30 minutes you too can have a better than takeout meal on the table.
This quick and easy recipe is always a huge hit with family and friends. From its crisp chicken to its fresh pineapple flavor and ease in cooking this is one of my favorite chicken dishes.
How to make Pineapple Chicken
First whisk the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, and cornstarch in a medium bowl. Set it aside for a few minutes. Then combine the cornstarch, salt, and black pepper in a bag. Add the chicken pieces and shake to coat. Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Remove the chicken pieces from the bag shaking off the excess cornstarch mixture. Add the chicken and cook until browned on both sides and cooked through. Work in batches moving the chicken to paper towels to drain. Carefully wipe out the skillet or wash it.
Then heat a little more oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes stirring several times. Add the bell peppers and pineapple to the skillet cooking for 2-3 minutes stirring frequently. Plate the vegetables and the pineapple.
Now heat a very small amount of vegetable oil or olive oil in the skillet over low heat. Add the garlic and ginger cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Whisk in the sauce ingredients from the bowl that you set aside and simmer until it is thickened. Add the chicken, vegetables, and pineapple back to the skillet to warm. Sprinkle with green onions and for best results serve promptly.
Recipe notes
- Don’t cover the chicken or vegetables and pineapple after plating them. The chicken and vegetables stay crispier if not covered. They will warm back up when you add them back to the skillet with the sauce.
- Ginger paste works just as well as fresh ginger and once opened it lasts about 1 month stored in the fridge.
- Fresh pineapple works best for this recipe just because of its amazing flavor however canned pineapple will work in a pinch.
- Honey can be substituted for the brown sugar but use 1 1/2 tablespoons because honey is sweeter than sugar.
- For a change of taste add some toasted sesame seeds. Here is more on how to toast sesame seeds.
- Use any colored bell peppers you like. Green peppers, red peppers, orange peppers, and yellow peppers all work well with great flavor and texture.
- You do not have to bread the chicken. Simply cook the chicken in a little oil and follow the rest of recipe as directed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days however it is advised to separate the chicken from the pineapple if using fresh pineapple. See more below about the enzyme bromelain.
- I do not recommend freezing this dish.
If using fresh pineapple be aware that it contains the enzyme bromelain, which breaks down protein. Hence this recipe makes an awesome first meal but it is not great for leftovers unless you plan accordingly and separate the pineapple from the chicken. Or simply make a half recipe.
More chicken recipes to try!
Pineapple Chicken
Ingredients
- Sauce
- ¾ cup pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- Chicken
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs cut in bite size pieces
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 3-4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper chopped
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger or ginger paste
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Whisk the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, and cornstarch in a medium bowl. Set it aside for a few minutes.
- Combine the cornstarch, salt, and black pepper in a bag. Add the chicken pieces and shake to coat. Work in batches.
- Heat 2-3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove the chicken pieces from the bag shaking off the excess cornstarch. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until browned on both sides and cooked through. Work in batches moving the chicken to paper towels to drain. Carefully wipe out the skillet or wash it.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes stirring several times. Add the bell peppers and pineapple to the skillet cooking for 2-3 minutes stirring frequently. Plate the vegetables and the pineapple.
- Heat 1 teaspoon oil in the skillet over low heat. Add the garlic and ginger cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Whisk in the sauce ingredients that you set aside. Cook until it is thickened whisking frequently. Add the chicken, vegetables, and pineapple back to the skillet to warm. Sprinkle with green onions and for best results serve promptly.
Notes
- Don't cover the chicken or vegetables and pineapple after plating them. The chicken and vegetables stay crispier if not covered. They will warm back up when you add them back to the skillet with the sauce.
- Ginger paste works just as well as fresh ginger and once opened it lasts about 1 month stored in the fridge.
- Fresh pineapple works best for this recipe just because of its amazing flavor however canned pineapple will work in a pinch.
- Honey can be substituted for the brown sugar but use 1 1/2 tablespoons because honey is sweeter than sugar.
- For a change of taste add some toasted sesame seeds. Here is more on how to toast sesame seeds.
- Use any colored bell peppers you like. Green peppers, red peppers, orange peppers, and yellow peppers all work well with great flavor and texture.
- You do not have to bread the chicken. Simply cook the chicken in a little oil and follow the rest of recipe as directed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days however it is advised to separate the chicken from the pineapple if using fresh pineapple. See more below about the enzyme bromelain.
- I do not recommend freezing this dish.
Nutrition
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Brian
Pineapple chicken sounds good to me. Just don’t put pineapple on pizza!
Kat
I have always loved Pineapple Chicken, but I have never tried to cook it. Now with this very simple recipe I can finally make my own.
Fransic verso
Such a tasty recipe and so much better than my local restaurant. I served it over a little brown rice.
Marysa
Sounds like a fun recipe! I’ve never had this combination, and I can see how this is a good pairing.
Stephanie
Any meal with pineapple is a winner for me! This is delicious and such a great meal. The leftovers are perfect for lunch, too.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Stephanie! So glad that you enjoyed it.
Tweenselmom
pineapple and chicken is such a good combo, yum!
Linda
I love pineapple soo much. Really want to try this recipe.Looks soo yummy pineapple with chicken.
Jode
Wow! Made this for dinner tonight and my husband (who never really says much) won’t stop talking about how amazing it was. 😁❤️
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Jode! So glad that he liked it!
Yeah Lifestyle.
This was absolutely delicious! I made it for a quick weekday meal for the whole family with some rice. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Jasmine Martin
I never thought about putting pineapple and chicken together. It seems like it’d be like a sweet mixture which actually might be pretty good. I’ll have to try it out!
Kitchen Mosaic Backsplash
I never had pineapple with chicken, because it is acidic, I bet it would add an amazing taste to the mix. I can’t wait to make your recipe.
Laura
I am that person that can’t mix fruit and savoury food! But my husband would absolutely love this.
Lisa
Being in Italy, we wouldn’t dream of putting fruit in chicken. But, I have to say it does look tasty and I’d like to try it.
Sarah Stockley
I have to say, this is delicious. I do enjoy pineapple and adding it to this dish just made it extra tasty. Thank you for sharing.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Sarah!!
Kat
That looks like a fun and delicious dish. I cant wait to try it out this weekend for my family. Thanks for the share!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Kat! Enjoy!!
Gervin Khan
Wow! This pineapple-chicken recipe was absolutely delicious and yummy! The whole family really enjoyed this and asked me to make it again soon!
Nyxie
Sounds and look amazing! I love anything with pineapple in it, especially traditional ‘savoury’ dishes.
briannemanzb
I love everything about pineapple recipes, from pineapple pizzas to pineapple chicken recipes. I can’t wait to try this.
Beth Pierce
I agree 100%! Enjoy!!
Geemiz
We love this pineapple chicken! It is so yummy! Thanks for the great recipe!
Krystle
Full of flavor. We loved it over ramen.favor
Jill
This looks so easy and tasty. I love pineapple in dishes. Can’t wait to try it out.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Jill! Enjoy!!
Cinny
That looks absolutely delicious! What a delightful recipe to test out.
Angelika
made this exactly as written, delicious same day and leftovers just as tasty
Beth Pierce
Thanks Angelika! So glad that you liked the pineapple chicken!
Antoinette
EOMG….the best recipe! My husband loves pineapple and he absolutely LOVED this meal. Definitely will make it again . Thank you 😊
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Antoinette! So glad that he liked it!
Joan E Vang
Need nutrition info. I’m diabetic and have kidney disease.
Beth Pierce
The nutritional information is there.
Sandra
This was so good!! Everyone at my house enjoyed it! I will definitely make it again!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Sandra!
Michelle
So perfect for easy and delicious meal prepping lunch
Juliane
This was delicious! 🙌 I can’t wait to try this again! I love fresh pineapple!
Mirlene
The perfect combo of pineapples and chicken. A truly sweet and savory dish that the whole family enjoyed! I will make this again soon.
Allyson Zea
The flavors in this recipe were absolutely delicious! Better than takeout!
Hailey
What a fun spin on sweet and sour chicken! I can’t wait to try this recipe out.
Linda
One of my favorite meals is sweet and sour chicken and this was even more delicious than my favorite restaurant version. I used fresh pineapple and the flavor was amazing. And thanks for the tip on removing the pineapple when storing it for another meal.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome Linda! So glad that you enjoyed it!
Toni
It was a really huge hit at my house!! I’m definitely making it again! Such an amazing weeknight meal!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Toni! So glad that you liked it!
Erik
So great for dinner when you really need a little extra flavor to get you through the week!
Catalina
Who can resist to the pineapple flavor?! It’s my favorite!
Erin
Looks beyond delicious! My family would love this!