Sticky Pineapple Chicken

Skip the takeout and whip up a fast, fresh and easy recipe for Sticky Pineapple Chicken in 30 minutes or less.

There’s just something about a meal served inside a pineapple that transports me to somewhere beyond my kitchen table. Hawaii, Bora Bora, Fiji, you name the tropical local, and this Sticky Pineapple Chicken will take your taste buds there.

It’s everything you want a takeout-fakeout dish to be—tender chicken tossed in a sweet, tangy, sticky sauce. So saucy that you’ll be tempted to ditch the fork for a spoon so you can scoop up every. last. drop.

My husband played a critical role in the development of this recipe. It began with chicken breasts, a sweeter sauce and a lack of crunch. But with a few tweaks, he took this Sticky Pineapple Chicken from a so-so dish to a real dinner winner.

Chicken thighs are much more moist and tender than chicken breasts (although you can check out the recipe notes for how to swap them in!). And when it comes to added flavor, a handful of roasted, salted cashews works wonders to balance out the tangy sweetness of the fresh pineapple, while also lending a bit of crunch to every bite.

The real show-stopping element is a hollowed out pineapple that serves as the perfect semi-edible bowl for a big scoop of rice and an even bigger scoop of sticky chicken. Of course the pineapple is totally optional, but if you’re taking this dish from a casual weeknight dinner to a lively weekend dinner party, pineapple boats are a must!

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Ready for more takeout-inspired meals? Don’t miss additional quick and easy homemade takeout recipes.

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Main Course

Sticky Pineapple Chicken

There's just something about a meal served inside a pineapple that transports me to somewhere beyond my kitchen table. Hawaii, Bora Bora, Fiji, you name the tropical local, and this Sticky Pineapple Chicken will take your taste buds there. It's everything you want a takeout-fakeout dish to be—tender chicken tossed in a sweet, tangy, sticky sauce. So saucy that you'll be tempted to ditch the fork for a spoon so you can scoop up every. last. drop.

5 from 61 votes

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Servings 4 servings

Print Recipe

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• ▢ 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
• ▢ 1/3 cup low sodium chicken stock
• ▢ 1/3 cup hoisin sauce
• ▢ 1/2 cup brown sugar
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon minced fresh garlic
• ▢ 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch cubes
• ▢ 1 cup diced pineapple
• ▢ 1/2 cup roasted, salted cashews (optional)
• ▢ Rice, for serving

Instructions 

• In a medium saucepan, whisk together the pineapple juice, soy sauce, chicken stock, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, garlic and cornstarch. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the mixture has reduced to about 1 cup and is the consistency of thick syrup. Set the sauce aside.
• Add the olive oil to a large nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and season it with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken, stirring, until it is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain off any liquids then add the sauce to the pan and stir until combined. Add the pineapple and cashews and cook, stirring, for an additional 1 minute.
• Serve the chicken atop a bed of rice.

Kelly’s Note:

• For a bit more flair to your presentation, serve the chicken and rice inside a hollowed out pineapple.
• If you can't find chicken thighs, you can use 4 medium chicken breasts, however the meat won't be as tender.

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