Got cravings for something tropical? This Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken is gonna blow ur mind! First time I made this, my kids literally fought over the last piece. No joke. The sweet pineapple mixed with savory chicken creates this crazy good combo that’s practically impossible to resist. Best part? It’s super easy to throw together on busy weeknights when you’re tired but still wanna impress.
Why You’ll Love This Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken
TBH making dinner can be such a pain sometimes. That’s why this Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken recipe is my go-to when I need something that everyone will eat without complaining. Last summer we had friends over for a BBQ and I was stressing about what to make. Made this Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken and my friend’s husband (who’s super picky btw) asked for the recipe! That never happens.
What’s awesome is you can customize it based on what you have. No fresh pineapple? Use canned. Wanna make it spicier? Add some chili flakes. It’s basically foolproof and you’ll look like u know what ur doing in the kitchen.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Marinade:
- 2 lbs chicken thighs or breasts (boneless works best cuz it soaks up more flavor)
- 1 cup pineapple juice (fresh is amazing but the canned stuff works fine too)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium if ur watching salt intake)
- 3 tbsp brown sugar (helps with that caramelization – don’t skip this!)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tbsp pre-minced if ur in a hurry)
- 1 tbsp ginger, grated (can sub 1 tsp dried but fresh is way better)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (or whatever cooking oil u have)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (adds tang that balances the sweet)
For the Hawaiian Pineapple Topping:
- 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks (canned works if ur in a pinch)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced (adds great color and crunch)
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced (sweet onion works too)
- 2 green onions, chopped (optional but adds nice color)
- 1 tbsp honey (helps everything caramelize)
- Salt and pepper to taste (don’t need much salt cuz of the soy sauce)
How to Make Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken
- Make the marinade by mixing pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, oil and vinegar in a bowl or ziplock bag. Shouldn’t take more than 2 mins.
- Add the chicken and make sure its all covered in the marinade. Put in fridge for at least 30 mins but honestly overnight is WAY better. The chicken gets super tender from the pineapple enzymes.
- When ready to cook, take chicken out of marinade. DONT THROW AWAY THE MARINADE! We’re gonna use it.
- Heat grill or skillet to medium-high heat. If using skillet add a bit of oil so chicken doesn’t stick.
- Cook chicken about 5-7 mins per side til internal temp hits 165°F. U know its ready when the outside gets this awesome caramelized look from the sugar. If it starts burning turn heat down a bit.
- While chicken cooks, pour marinade into small saucepan and bring to boil for 5 mins. This kills any bacteria and makes an amazing sauce. It should thicken a bit as it reduces.
- In another pan, sauté pineapple chunks, bell pepper and red onion til slightly soft with some caramelized edges, about 3-4 mins. Don’t overcook – u want some texture.
- Serve chicken topped with pineapple mixture and drizzle with the reduced marinade sauce. Sprinkle green onions on top.
- Best served with rice to soak up all that yummy sauce. Trust me u don’t wanna waste any of it!
Tasty Variations of Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken
Spicy Hawaiian Chicken
Add 1-2 tbsp sriracha to marinade and throw in some jalapeño with the pineapple topping. The sweet-spicy combo is killer!
Coconut Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken
Sub half the pineapple juice with coconut milk and add 1/4 cup shredded coconut to the topping. So tropical!
Grilled Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Kabobs
Cut everything into chunks and thread onto skewers with pineapple pieces between the chicken. Great for parties!
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken
Throw everything in the crockpot on low for 6 hours. Shred the chicken and mix with the sauce. Makes amazing sandwiches!
Teriyaki Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken
Add 2 tbsp teriyaki sauce to the marinade and brush with more teriyaki while cooking. If u liked our Gochujang Chicken, you’ll love this Asian-inspired twist!
Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Grill or skillet
- Mixing bowls
- Ziplock bag or container for marinating
- Saucepan
- Cooking spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- For the Marinade:
- 2 lbs chicken thighs or breasts boneless
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce low sodium
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- For the Topping:
- 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
- 2 green onions chopped (optional)
- 1 tbsp honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl or ziplock bag, mix pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, oil, and vinegar to create the marinade.
- Add chicken to the marinade and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (overnight is best).
- Remove chicken from marinade (save marinade) and heat a grill or skillet over medium-high.
- Cook chicken for 5-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and exterior is caramelized.
- While chicken cooks, boil saved marinade in a saucepan for 5 minutes to make sauce.
- In a separate pan, sauté pineapple chunks, red bell pepper, and onion until slightly caramelized (3-4 minutes).
- Serve chicken topped with pineapple mix, drizzle with sauce, and garnish with green onions.
- Serve with rice to soak up the sauce!
Notes
Nutrition
FAQs About Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken
How long can you marinate chicken in pineapple juice?
Don’t go longer than 24 hours when marinating chicken in pineapple juice. The enzymes in pineapple (called bromelain) break down protein and can make your chicken mushy if left too long. For boneless chicken, 2-6 hours is perfect. If ur short on time, even 30 mins will add good flavor. Bone-in chicken can go longer, up to 12 hours is fine.
What kind of rice goes with Hawaiian chicken?
White jasmine rice is my go-to with Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken cuz it’s slightly fragrant but doesn’t compete with the chicken flavors. Coconut rice is amazing too – just sub half the water with coconut milk when cooking rice. Brown rice works if ur going healthier. For something different, try pineapple rice – just mix in some diced pineapple and green onion to cooked rice. Similar to what we recommend with our Peruvian Chicken with Creamy Green Sauce.
What do you serve with Hawaiian chicken?
Besides rice, try these sides:
- Macaroni salad (super authentic Hawaiian plate lunch style)
- Grilled veggies like zucchini or asparagus
- Simple green salad with mango dressing
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Coconut corn on the cob Our Orange Dijon Grilled Chicken goes great with many of these sides too!
How to make Hawaiian sauce for chicken?
Basic Hawaiian sauce is super easy – mix 1 cup pineapple juice, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp ginger, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tbsp cornstarch. Bring to simmer until thick, about 5 mins. Add red pepper flakes if u want it spicy. This sauce is perfect for dipping Thai Chicken Bites too!
What are some Hawaiian side dishes?
Authentic Hawaiian sides include:
- Poi (mashed taro root)
- Mac salad (not fancy, just macaroni, mayo, salt, pepper)
- Lomi lomi salmon (salmon with tomato and onion)
- Sticky rice
- Fried plantains
- Hawaiian rolls Our Southwest Chicken Wrap would also pair nicely with these sides for a fusion meal!
Make This Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Recipe Your Own
Gotta tell ya, this recipe saved me during quarantine when we were all sick of the same old dinners. My teenage son who normally just grunts about food actually said “this is fire” which is basically the highest compliment possible.
What I love most about Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken is how it brings this vacation vibe to regular weeknight dinner. You don’t need anything fancy – just basic ingredients that create something special. And if ur kids are picky like my youngest, you can serve the sauce on the side and plain chicken for them.
Next time ur craving something different but don’t wanna spend hours cooking, try this! And if ur into sweet and savory combos, check out our Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit recipe too. Drop a comment below with ur own variations – I’m always looking for new ideas!