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Delicious pineapple chicken served over rice with vibrant colors and flavors.

Pineapple Chicken and Rice

A warm, bright dish that combines sweet pineapple and savory chicken with soft rice, perfect for family meals or small gatherings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Tropical
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 cup long grain rice, rinsed
  • 1 can (8 oz) pineapple chunks, drained, reserve juice
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 piece bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar or honey
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar or white vinegar
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp oil for cooking
  • Salt and pepper to taste Adjust to personal preference
  • Optional, chopped green onion or sesame seeds for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Season the chicken with a little salt and pepper.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pan over medium high heat.
  3. Add chicken and cook until brown and just cooked through, about 4 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
  4. In the same pan, add the other tablespoon of oil. Stir in the onion and bell pepper, cook until soft, about 3 minutes.
  5. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
Cooking
  1. Stir in the rice and toast it for 1 minute with the vegetables.
  2. Add the chicken broth and the reserved pineapple juice, bring to a boil.
  3. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer until rice is tender, about 15 minutes.
Combining
  1. While rice cooks, in a small bowl mix soy sauce, brown sugar, and vinegar. Add pineapple chunks.
  2. When the rice is done, return the cooked chicken to the pan.
  3. Pour the sauce and pineapple over the rice and chicken. Stir gently to combine and warm through, 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Taste and add salt or pepper if needed.
Serving
  1. Serve hot, garnish with green onion or sesame seeds if you like.

Notes

Rinse rice well to remove extra starch, it keeps rice fluffy. Use medium heat so the chicken stays juicy, do not overcook. Save a bit of the pineapple juice for the rice, it adds nice flavor. Taste the sauce before you add it, adjust sugar or soy sauce to your liking. If you like more sauce, add a little extra chicken broth or pineapple juice.