Sweet & Savory Pineapple Chicken and Rice – Juicy, Balanced, and Family-Friendly

🎉 Introduction

If you love meals that hit the perfect balance between sweet and savory, this Pineapple Chicken and Rice recipe is going to win you over instantly. Tender chicken, fluffy rice, and juicy pineapple come together in a glossy, flavorful sauce that’s comforting, vibrant, and incredibly satisfying. Every bite delivers a contrast of flavors: the natural sweetness of pineapple, the savory depth of seasoned chicken, and the hearty comfort of rice.

This dish is inspired by Asian-style chicken bowls but adapted for healthy home cooking. It’s cooked in one pan, easy to customize, and ideal for busy weeknights, meal prep, or family dinners. Best of all, it uses simple ingredients while delivering bold flavor—no frying, no alcohol, and no complicated steps.

If you enjoy sweet and savory chicken recipes, pineapple dinners, and easy rice meals, this recipe deserves a permanent place in your rotation.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Large skillet or sauté pan with lid
• Medium saucepan (if cooking rice separately)
• Knife and cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Wooden spoon or spatula

Tip: A wide skillet allows the sauce to reduce properly and coat the chicken evenly.

🛒 Ingredients

Protein

• 1½ lb chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut into bite-size pieces

Fruit & Vegetables

• 1½ cups pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 green onions, sliced

Grains

• 2 cups white rice, cooked

Sauce Base

• ¼ cup coconut aminos
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• ¼ cup pineapple juice

Aromatics & Seasoning

• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon sea salt

Fats

• 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil

Garnish

• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Ingredient Notes:

• Pineapple adds natural sweetness without refined sugar.
• Coconut aminos keep the dish lighter and lower in sodium.
• Fresh pineapple gives brighter flavor, but canned works well too.

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Prepare the Sauce

• In a small bowl, whisk together:
  • Coconut aminos
  • Honey
  • Rice vinegar
  • Pineapple juice
• Set aside.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add chicken pieces in a single layer.
• Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and ground ginger.
• Cook for 6–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is golden and cooked through.

Step 3: Add Aromatics

• Reduce heat to medium.
• Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

Step 4: Add Vegetables & Pineapple

• Stir in bell pepper and pineapple chunks.
• Cook for 2–3 minutes until slightly softened.

Step 5: Build the Sauce

• Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet.
• Stir well to coat everything evenly.
• Simmer for 3–4 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly and becomes glossy.

Step 6: Combine with Rice

• Add cooked rice to the skillet.
• Gently fold until rice is evenly coated with sauce and ingredients are well distributed.
• Cook for 2 minutes to warm through.

Step 7: Finish

• Remove from heat.
• Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds.
• Let rest for 3 minutes before serving.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: 4–5
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: About 30 minutes

A complete, satisfying meal ready in half an hour.

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Storage

• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days

Reheating

• Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave
• Add a splash of water or pineapple juice if needed

Tip: This dish is excellent for meal prep and stays flavorful.

🥄 Variations

• Spicy Pineapple Chicken
  • Add chili flakes or cayenne pepper
• Low-Carb Version
  • Serve over cauliflower rice
• Extra Veggies
  • Add broccoli or snap peas
• Extra Saucy
  • Double the sauce ingredients
• Meal Prep Bowls
  • Portion with rice and garnish separately

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Is this dish very sweet?
   No, it’s perfectly balanced between sweet and savory.
2. Can I use chicken thighs?
   Yes, boneless thighs work great.
3. Is this recipe healthy?
   Yes, it’s balanced, protein-rich, and not fried.
4. Can I use canned pineapple?
   Yes, just drain well.
5. Is this recipe gluten-free?
   Yes, naturally gluten-free.
6. Can I freeze this dish?
   Yes, freeze for up to 2 months.
7. Does the sauce thicken naturally?
   Yes, as it simmers.
8. Is it kid-friendly?
   Yes, sweet and mild.
9. Can I double the recipe?
   Absolutely.
10. What goes well with it?
    Steamed vegetables or a light salad.

🏁 Conclusion

This sweet and savory pineapple chicken and rice recipe is everything a comforting meal should be—flavorful, balanced, and easy to make. With juicy chicken, tender rice, and bursts of pineapple sweetness, it’s a dish that satisfies both cravings and busy schedules.

Perfect for weeknight dinners, family meals, or meal prep, this recipe proves that simple ingredients can create bold, unforgettable flavor. Once you try it, it’s sure to become a household favorite.

Adam

Sweet & Savory Pineapple Chicken and Rice – Juicy, Balanced, and Family-Friendly

If you love meals that hit the perfect balance between sweet and savory, this Pineapple Chicken and Rice recipe is going to win you over instantly. Tender chicken, fluffy rice, and juicy pineapple come together in a glossy, flavorful sauce that’s comforting, vibrant, and incredibly satisfying. Every bite delivers a contrast of flavors: the natural sweetness of pineapple, the savory depth of seasoned chicken, and the hearty comfort of rice. This dish is inspired by Asian-style chicken bowls but adapted for healthy home cooking. It’s cooked in one pan, easy to customize, and ideal for busy weeknights, meal prep, or family dinners. Best of all, it uses simple ingredients while delivering bold flavor—no frying, no alcohol, and no complicated steps. If you enjoy sweet and savory chicken recipes, pineapple dinners, and easy rice meals, this recipe deserves a permanent place in your rotation.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 5 servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Protein

• 1½ lb chicken breasts boneless and skinless, cut into bite-size pieces

Fruit & Vegetables

• 1½ cups pineapple chunks fresh or canned, drained
• 1 red bell pepper diced
• 3 green onions sliced

Grains

• 2 cups white rice cooked

Sauce Base

• ¼ cup coconut aminos
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• ¼ cup pineapple juice

Aromatics & Seasoning

• 3 garlic cloves minced
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon sea salt

Fats

• 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil

Garnish

• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Ingredient Notes:

• Pineapple adds natural sweetness without refined sugar.
• Coconut aminos keep the dish lighter and lower in sodium.
• Fresh pineapple gives brighter flavor but canned works well too.

Equipment

• Large skillet or sauté pan with lid
• Medium saucepan (if cooking rice separately)
• Knife and cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Tip: A wide skillet allows the sauce to reduce properly and coat the chicken evenly.

Method

 

Step 1: Prepare the Sauce

1. In a small bowl, whisk together:
2. Coconut aminos
3. Honey
4. Rice vinegar
5. Pineapple juice
6. Set aside.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add chicken pieces in a single layer.
3. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and ground ginger.
4. Cook for 6–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is golden and cooked through.

Step 3: Add Aromatics

1. Reduce heat to medium.
2. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

Step 4: Add Vegetables & Pineapple

1. Stir in bell pepper and pineapple chunks.
2. Cook for 2–3 minutes until slightly softened.

Step 5: Build the Sauce

1. Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet.
2. Stir well to coat everything evenly.
3. Simmer for 3–4 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly and becomes glossy.

Step 6: Combine with Rice

1. Add cooked rice to the skillet.
2. Gently fold until rice is evenly coated with sauce and ingredients are well distributed.
3. Cook for 2 minutes to warm through.

Step 7: Finish

1. Remove from heat.
2. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds.
3. Let rest for 3 minutes before serving.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days

Reheating

Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave

Add a splash of water or pineapple juice if needed

Tip: This dish is excellent for meal prep and stays flavorful.

🥄 Variations

Spicy Pineapple Chicken

Add chili flakes or cayenne pepper

Low-Carb Version

Serve over cauliflower rice

Extra Veggies

Add broccoli or snap peas

Extra Saucy

Double the sauce ingredients

Meal Prep Bowls

Portion with rice and garnish separately

❓ 10 FAQs

Is this dish very sweet?
No, it’s perfectly balanced between sweet and savory.

Can I use chicken thighs?
Yes, boneless thighs work great.

Is this recipe healthy?
Yes, it’s balanced, protein-rich, and not fried.

Can I use canned pineapple?
Yes, just drain well.

Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, naturally gluten-free.

Can I freeze this dish?
Yes, freeze for up to 2 months.

Does the sauce thicken naturally?
Yes, as it simmers.

Is it kid-friendly?
Yes, sweet and mild.

Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely.

What goes well with it?
Steamed vegetables or a light salad.

🏁 Conclusion

This sweet and savory pineapple chicken and rice recipe is everything a comforting meal should be—flavorful, balanced, and easy to make. With juicy chicken, tender rice, and bursts of pineapple sweetness, it’s a dish that satisfies both cravings and busy schedules.

Perfect for weeknight dinners, family meals, or meal prep, this recipe proves that simple ingredients can create bold, unforgettable flavor. Once you try it, it’s sure to become a household favorite.