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pineapple chicken and sticky rice served in a hollowed out pineapple half
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4.67 from 3 votes

Pineapple Chicken

Discover a irresistible combination of sweet pineapple and savory chicken in our Pineapple Chicken recipe. Even serve it in a pineapple!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian, Hawaiian
Keyword: pineapple chicken
Servings: 6
Calories: 471kcal
Author: Kelsey Crist

Equipment

  • deep fryer or deep wok

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • vegetable oil for frying
  • 14 ounces pineapple tidbits drained, but save the juice

Pineapple Sauce

  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup FRESH lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ginger minced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons green onion just the green parts, sliced
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water
  • green onion sliced, for garnish
  • sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

  • Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes. Add to a large bowl with cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat.
    Chicken pieces coated in cornstarch in a bowl
  • Deep fry chicken in batches at 375 in a deep frier or over medium high heat in a wok. The chicken will be done when it starts to turn lightly golden brown on the outside. Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken pieces reaches 165 degrees. Remove chicken pieces from pan or fryer and allow to drain on paper towels.
    Lightly fried chicken pieces on a baking sheet
  • Meanwhile, in a large saucepan combine 1 cup water, lemon juice, orange juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Whisk ingredients together over medium heat for a few minutes.
    pineapple chicken sauce in a pot
  • Stir in brown sugar, orange zest, ginger garlic, and onion. Bring to a boil. Combine 3 tablespoons of cornstarch with ¼ cup of water and mix thoroughly. Slowly stir cornstarch mixture into sauce until it thickens.
    A spoonful of pineapple chicken sauce
  • Place fried chicken in a large bowl and pour sauce over the top. Add pineapple tidbits. Toss gently to coat.
    A bowl of pineapple chicken
  • Serve with rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
    pineapple chicken and sticky rice served in a hollowed out pineapple half

Video

Notes

  • If you are serving the chicken in a hollowed out pineapple, then you can use fresh pineapple and pineapple juice instead of the canned stuff. 
  • Nutrition facts do not include rice. 
  • Add some red pepper flakes to the sauce if you like it a little spicy! 
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. 

Nutrition

Calories: 471kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 848mg | Potassium: 550mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 2mg