Pineapple Chicken
Pineapple Chicken Thighs in roast pineapple and slightly garlicky spicy sauce. Juicy, tender and loaded with flavor. A great family meal that would please adults and kids alike.
Yes, I do love me some thighs. No not my thighs… Silly. I would REALLY love them if they were just a little bit thinner. Oh yes, if wishes were horses. It’s all about chicken thighs for me. They are meaty, flavorful and pretty inexpensive. And I just love having them around. Don’t tell me you haven’t notice. This Pineapple Chicken is just packed full of flavors – that’s the way we roll around here!
How do you make pineapple chicken?
I took this my favorite chicken thighs here (you’ve got to start with it first if you haven’t already) and infused it with garlicky, sweet, smoky and spicy sauce. Nothing bland happening here.
To make this baked pineapple chicken, you start off by pan searing the chicken thighs. Next, you work on the pineapple sauce in the same pan, season it well and let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens. Then place back the pan seared chicken back to the pan to finish cooking in the oven.
See how easy it is? Everything happens in one pan which means lesser clean up. It makes a perfect dinner date night meal, too.
How do you make pineapple sauce for chicken?
Making the pineapple sauce is as easy as browning the pineapple first tossing in all the spices and seasonings then the pineapple juice. Let it simmer and stir in between to achieve your desired thickness. If you want more sauce in your chicken, double it up before you pop the chicken in the oven.
As always, adjust the spiciness according to preference, especially when serving to the kids.
Caramelized, sweet, succulent pineapple is fortified with pineapple juice, garlic, honey and some heat from the sriracha or scotch bonnet to create a sweet and spicy garlic sauce. Guaranteed to please anyone!
So if you ever get tired of your chicken routine, then grab some chicken thighs or which ever cut of chicken you like- no judging here, toss it on the frying pan and make this pineapple chicken. I always start by browning the chicken on stove top before finishing in the oven. This method frequently produces chicken that stays moist and juicy with a crispy exterior.
Serve it with coconut rice and or vegetables paired with this grilled and black bean pineapple salsa. They just work well together. Enjoy!!!
Tips and Notes:
- Instead of Chicken rub – you may use creole seasoning here
- You can also use skinless chicken thighs, cut up in bite sized pieces or other different chicken cuts, especially if you are cooking stove top. Cooking times will vary.
- For the pepper sauce use , siraracha, hot sauce or scotch bonnet pepper – adjust to taste buds or leave out completely.
- You can use fresh pineapples instead of canned ones.
- You may reduce heat to simmer or low , cover the pot and cook stove top , until chicken is fully cooked through- add about 1/2 cup water . If liquid is drying out out
Watch How To Make It
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This recipe was first published on April 2016 and has been updated with additional content and photos.
Baked Pineapple Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken Rub (Sub Creole Seasoning)
- 2 ½ - 3 pound chicken thighs , about 5-6
- Salt and Pepper
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon bouillon powder , you may replace with salt
Pineapple Glazed Chicken
- 1 tablespoon or more cooking oil
- 2 cups chopped pineapple
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¼ cup onion
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon pepper sauce or sriracha (optional)
- 2 cups pineapple Juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 sprig of thyme
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Trim chicken of excess fat and pat dry with a cloth or paper napkin.
- Wash chicken thighs, wipe with a paper towel. Salt and pepper the chicken.
- Combine the spices and mix well. Sprinkle both sides with generous amount of the spice blend.
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Place about 1 tablespoon or more of oil in a cast iron, or frying pan.
- Add chicken to the pan and sear for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until slightly browned. It’s going to finish up browning in the oven. Set aside. Clean the pan if there are any burns.
- In the same pan, add pineapple and brown for about 7 minutes or until pineapple is caramelized.
- Add garlic, onions, smoked paprika, and pepper sauce or sriracha (optional).
- Add about 2 cups of pineapple juice and honey bring to a boil. Let it simmer for about 2 minutes. Adjust for seasoning with about 1-2 teaspoons more of chicken rub spices.
- Place the chicken back in the cast iron with a sprig of thyme, then bake for about 35-40 minutes until the chicken is done.
- Remove from oven let it cool before serving. You may garnish with parsley.
Tips & Notes:
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
Nutrition Information:
How to Make Pineapple Chicken
Trim chicken of excess fat and pat dry with a cloth or paper napkin. Wash chicken thighs, wipe with a paper towel. Combine spices and mix well. Sprinkle both sides with generous amount of the spice blend. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Place about 1 tablespoon or more of oil in a cast iron, or frying pan.
Add chicken to the pan and sear for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until slightly browned, it’s going to finish up browning in the oven. Set aside. Clean pan if there are any burns.
In the same pan, add pineapple brown for about 7 minutes or until pineapple is caramelized. Add garlic, onions, smoked paprika and sriracha sauté for about a minute or two.
Add about 2 cups of pineapple juice and honey bring and to a boil. Let it simmer for about 2 minutes. Adjust for seasoning with about 1-2 teaspoons more of chicken rub spices.
Place the chicken back in the cast iron with a sprig of thyme, then bake for about 35 -40 minutes until chicken is done.
Remove from oven let it cool before serving. You may garnish with parsley.
I made this recipe tonight…… I added 5 or 6 carrots cut in half, and chunked a red pepper. I used a large can of crushed pineapple that I separated into the fruit and juice with a sieve and a splash of water to make a full 2 cups of juice…….and a half an onion that I sautéed with the garlic after browning the chicken which also gets up the burnt bits in the pan……I did add the honey but I’m not sure it is necessary as the pineapple and juice is already sweet enough……………… Overall: really easy and really delicious! My husband told me so about five times afterwards tonight!
Hi Monica,
That sounds like a fantastic twist on the recipe! The carrots, red pepper, and pineapple must have added great flavor and texture. Good call on sautéing the onion with the garlic to lift those delicious browned bits! And if your husband raved about it five times, I’d say it was a big success! Thanks for sharing!
“This is the best chicken you ever made!” my boyfriend said. It was a hit to say the least. My sauce didn’t thicken possibly because I had to omit the pineapple chunks, so I added 4 tsp of cornstarch slurry. Thank you for sharing! Will be making again 🙂
Fantastic! Thank you for stopping by Cora :)!
Always looking for chicken recipes. Cooking now. My sauce was bit runny but know the rice will soak it up. Smells so good and has all of husbands favorite foods. Steamed rice and steamed carrots and broccoli round it out.
Thank you so much and looking for your other recipes.
Thank you Nonna Mary. I’m so happy you tried it. The next time, you can simmer the sauce a little longer or add a cornstarch slurry to thicken it up. (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water, then pour it while stirring into the sauce and simmer until it turns clear.)
I moved near my busy daughter a few years ago. I try to help by cooking for them a few nights a week. This is one of our very favorite dishes. I usually use canned pineapple. It isn’t as good, but it’s still great. If they come in while I’m browning the pineapple I have to open another can. If they come in while I’m browning fresh pineapple I have to fight them off to have enough and they are to full to eat the chicken! Good times, good tastes. THANKS from all of us.
Oh great to hear that. Thank you so much!
I am going to try this tomorrow i hope my guests enjoy it…
Hello. Can’t wait for you to try this. Let me know how it goes.
I tried this recipe today, my guess they enjoyed it very much…thank you much
This Pineapple Chicken has always been a hit! Thanks Theresa!