Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken

The sweet, caramelized flavor of brown sugar blends perfectly with the tangy brightness of pineapple, creating a mouthwatering glaze that hugs every inch of tender chicken. As the chicken cooks, it soaks up the syrupy goodness, each bite bursting with a balance of savory and sweet that makes your taste buds do a little happy dance. The pineapple adds a lovely juicy pop, while the brown sugar caramelizes beautifully, forming a glossy, golden coating that’s hard to resist. As the dish simmers, the aroma fills the kitchen, making it feel like a tropical getaway.

This Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken has a little something for everyone. Whether you’re serving it for a weeknight dinner or a weekend family gathering, it never fails to impress. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity — a few pantry staples combined with fresh ingredients come together to create a dinner that feels special, without any stress. The versatility of the glaze also opens the door to creativity — want a bit of heat? Add a dash of red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce for a sweet and spicy twist! Each time you make this dish, you can tweak it to suit your mood or experiment with new flavors.

Key Ingredients for Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken

The magic of this dish comes from the perfect balance of ingredients that work together to create a symphony of flavors. Each component plays an important role in delivering the sweet, savory, and subtly spicy profile of Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken. Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients that make this recipe so irresistible:

• Brown Sugar: The star of the glaze, brown sugar adds sweetness and helps create that deliciously caramelized coating on the chicken. It gives the dish its rich, deep flavor and glossy finish.
• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce brings a savory, umami punch that balances the sweetness of the brown sugar and pineapple, adding depth to the glaze and ensuring every bite is full of flavor.
• Pineapple Juice: This fruity nectar brightens up the sauce, infusing it with a refreshing sweetness and a bit of tang. It enhances the pineapple’s natural flavor, making the dish feel even more tropical.
• Olive Oil: A bit of olive oil helps to create a smooth, silky glaze that clings to the chicken as it cooks, ensuring the flavors soak in and the chicken stays tender and juicy.
• Garlic: Minced garlic adds an aromatic, savory element that complements the sweetness of the glaze, rounding out the dish with its unmistakable warmth.
• Ground Ginger: A hint of ground ginger gives the glaze a subtle spiciness and depth, providing a touch of warmth that pairs perfectly with the sweet and savory notes in the dish.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Just a pinch of red pepper flakes adds a little kick to the dish, giving it a touch of heat that contrasts beautifully with the sweet pineapple and brown sugar.
• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: The chicken is the foundation of the dish, soaking up all the delicious flavors from the glaze. Boneless, skinless breasts cook quickly, making this a perfect weeknight meal.
• Pineapple Chunks: Fresh pineapple chunks bring juicy sweetness and a burst of tropical flavor, giving the dish texture and freshness, as well as a fun, bite-sized contrast to the tender chicken.
• Cornstarch: This is used to thicken the glaze, turning the pineapple juice into a luscious, syrupy coating that sticks to the chicken perfectly and adds a glossy finish.
• Water: A small amount of water helps dissolve the cornstarch, creating the right consistency for the glaze so it coats the chicken evenly without being too thick or too thin.

How to Make Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken

Serving Suggestions for Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken

1. Serve with Coconut Rice: Pairing this dish with a side of coconut rice is like sending your taste buds on a tropical vacation. The creaminess of the coconut perfectly complements the sweet and savory flavors of the chicken, creating a comforting yet exotic combo that’s sure to impress.

2. Pair with Roasted Veggies: For a pop of color and a touch of earthiness, roast up some veggies like bell peppers, carrots, or zucchini. The slight char from roasting will add a depth of flavor that balances out the sweet, sticky glaze on the chicken. Plus, they look so pretty on the plate!

3. Top it with Fresh Cilantro: A sprinkle of fresh cilantro right before serving adds a burst of freshness and a little herby kick that enhances the tropical flavors. It’s a simple finishing touch, but it really brightens up the dish and takes it to the next level.

No matter how you serve it, this Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser! Let me know what side you paired it with, I’d love to hear your twist on it.

How to Store Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken

If you find yourself with leftovers of this sweet and savory goodness, you’ll want to store it properly to keep the flavors intact. The first thing to remember is to let the chicken cool to room temperature before storing it—this helps prevent condensation inside the container, which can make things soggy. Once it’s cooled, transfer the chicken and any leftover sauce to an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. The glaze will thicken slightly as it cools, but when you reheat it, it’ll still be just as delicious!

If you’re looking to keep the chicken for a longer stretch, freezing is an option. Simply place the chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe bag or container, making sure to squeeze out any excess air. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat it gently on the stove. The chicken might lose a bit of its texture after freezing, but the flavors will still be spot on, and the glaze will return to its glossy, sticky goodness.

For those days when you’re in a rush, storing the chicken separately from the sauce can be a game-changer. This way, you can reheat the chicken on its own, then spoon the freshly warmed sauce and pineapple over the top just before serving. It’ll taste just as fresh as the first time you made it!

Conclusion

And there you have it—your new go-to recipe for Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken! It’s the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and just a little kick of spice. Whether you’re making it for a quick weeknight dinner or serving it up for a family gathering, this dish is sure to impress. Plus, with its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, it’s one of those recipes that always feels like a special occasion.

I hope you’re as excited to dig into this tropical, caramelized chicken as I am when I make it! Don’t forget, you can always get creative with the glaze—maybe try adding some different spices or serving it with a unique side dish. The possibilities are endless, and that’s what makes cooking so much fun!

I’d love to hear how your version of this dish turns out. Have any tweaks or new flavor combinations you tried? Or if you need a hand with any of the steps, feel free to ask. I’m here to help, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts. Happy cooking, my friend!

Print Recipe

Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken

Author: Daniel Carter Courses: Dinner

Difficulty: Intermediate Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 25 mins Rest Time 5 mins Total Time 40 mins

Calories: 350

Description

Sweet, savory, and tangy all in one bite, Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken features tender chicken glazed with a rich brown sugar sauce, enhanced by the juicy, tropical burst of pineapple. A mouthwatering balance of flavors that’ll have you coming back for more!

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

• ¹⁄₄ cup brown sugar

• ¹⁄₄ cup soy sauce

• ¹⁄₄ cup pineapple juice

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon ground ginger

• ¹⁄₄ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• ¹⁄₂ cup pineapple chunks

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 2 teaspoons water

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, olive oil, minced garlic, ground ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes until the sugar is fully dissolved.
2. Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish.
3. Pour the marinade over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are evenly coated.
4. Seal the bag or cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours, to marinate.
5. While the chicken is marinating, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
6. Once the skillet is hot, add a tablespoon of olive oil to coat the bottom.
7. Remove the chicken from the marinade, reserving the marinade for later use.
8. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
9. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
10. In the same skillet, pour the reserved marinade and bring it to a simmer over medium heat.
11. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water until smooth to create a slurry.
12. Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the simmering marinade while continuously stirring to avoid lumps.
13. Let the sauce simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until it thickens to a glaze-like consistency.
14. Add the pineapple chunks to the sauce and cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the pineapple to warm through and absorb some of the flavors.
15. Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the sauce and pineapple over the chicken.
16. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for an additional 1-2 minutes to heat through.
17. Serve the chicken breasts on a plate, spooning extra sauce and pineapple chunks over the top.
18. Enjoy the Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken immediately, served with your choice of side dishes.

Note

• Make sure the brown sugar is fully dissolved in the marinade to avoid grainy texture in the sauce.
• For a sweeter flavor, add extra pineapple juice or a splash of honey.
• You can substitute boneless chicken thighs for a juicier alternative.
• If you prefer a spicier kick, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes.
• Serve the dish with rice or steamed vegetables to balance the sweetness.

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