Description
Sizzling “pineapple-glazed chicken” brings Hawaiian paradise to dinner tables with bold island flavors. Zesty marinade and caramelized glaze promise a mouthwatering experience that transports diners straight to sun-soaked beaches.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Fruits and Juice:
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned)
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) pineapple juice
Seasoning and Sauce Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Liberally coat chicken thighs with seasoning, ensuring complete coverage.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, creating a sizzling surface for perfect searing.
- Carefully place chicken thighs into the hot skillet, developing a rich golden crust for approximately 3-4 minutes per side.
- Transfer seared chicken to a separate plate, maintaining its crispy exterior.
- Reduce skillet heat and introduce minced garlic and grated ginger, releasing their aromatic essence for roughly 60 seconds.
- Pour pineapple chunks, tropical juice, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes into the skillet, creating a vibrant liquid base.
- Allow sauce to gently bubble and simmer, then strategically nestle chicken thighs back into the flavorful mixture.
- Cover skillet and allow chicken to cook thoroughly for 10-12 minutes, ensuring internal temperature reaches safe consumption level.
- Extract chicken and set aside momentarily while transforming sauce with cornstarch slurry, whisking until achieving desired viscosity.
- Reintroduce chicken to skillet, thoroughly coating each piece with the glossy tropical glaze.
- Finalize dish by sprinkling sliced green onions and sesame seeds, adding fresh texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Swap chicken thighs with chicken breasts for a leaner protein option, adjusting cooking time to prevent dryness.
- Use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free alternative that maintains rich umami flavor.
- Create a spicier version by increasing red pepper flakes or adding a dash of sriracha for extra heat lovers.
- Reduce sauce’s sugar content by using fresh pineapple instead of juice and substituting honey with monk fruit sweetener for low-carb diets.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg