Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken (Printable version)

Juicy chicken baked with caramelized brown sugar and pineapple for a sweet and tangy meal.

# What you need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into chunks
02 - Salt, to taste
03 - Black pepper, to taste
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Sauce & Glaze

06 - 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks with juice
07 - ½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
08 - ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
09 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
10 - 1 tsp ground ginger (or 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger)
11 - 1 tbsp cornstarch

→ Garnish & Optional

12 - Red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - Chopped green onions (optional)

# Steps to follow:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a bowl, toss chicken chunks with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown chicken pieces for approximately 4 minutes, turning occasionally.
04 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, ginger, and cornstarch until smooth.
05 - Place browned chicken and pineapple chunks into the prepared baking dish. Pour the glaze over and stir gently to coat evenly.
06 - Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
07 - Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and turns glossy.
08 - Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with chopped green onions and optional red pepper flakes.
09 - Serve immediately, ideally over steamed rice or noodles.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • One-pot meal
  • Freezer-friendly
02 -
  • Contains soy (from soy sauce)
  • Always double-check ingredient labels for allergens
03 -
  • Use chicken thighs for extra juiciness
  • The sauce thickens more as it cools
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