Pineapple Chicken Rice Skillet (Printable Version)

A colorful skillet featuring chicken, pineapple, bell peppers, and rice cooked in a tangy-sweet sauce.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces

→ Rice

02 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed

→ Vegetables & Fruit

03 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
05 - 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks or canned and drained
06 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 green onions, sliced for garnish

→ Sauce

09 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
10 - 1/4 cup pineapple juice from fresh or canned
11 - 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Other

15 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil for sautéing
16 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
17 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water, optional for thickening

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook until browned on all sides, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
02 - Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Sauté diced onion and minced garlic for 2 minutes until fragrant. Add bell pepper strips and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly softened.
03 - Stir in rinsed rice and toast for 1 minute, stirring continuously. Return the reserved chicken to the pan.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together soy sauce, pineapple juice, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and black pepper. Pour this mixture over the chicken and vegetables.
05 - Add chicken broth and pineapple chunks to the skillet. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
06 - If thicker sauce is preferred, stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until thickened.
07 - Remove from heat. Gently fluff the rice with a fork, garnish with sliced green onions, and serve immediately.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, which means fewer dishes and more time enjoying your meal.
  • The sweet and savory balance feels like restaurant-quality food, but it comes together faster than ordering takeout.
  • It's naturally dairy-free and packed with protein, so you feel satisfied without the heaviness.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice because this one step is the difference between fluffy individual grains and sticky mush.
  • Keep your heat at medium-high for browning the chicken and medium for everything else, because rushing with high heat can burn the soy sauce before the rice finishes cooking.
03 -
  • Save the pineapple juice from the can even if you use fresh fruit, because having extra juice on hand means you can make this dish on nights when you don't have a fresh pineapple sitting around.
  • The cornstarch slurry is your secret weapon for when you've added slightly too much broth—it transforms a soupy dish into something with body and shine in literally 2 minutes.
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