Sticky Pineapple Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken glazed with a sweet pineapple sauce for a quick, flavorful dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
04 - 2 tbsp cornstarch

→ Sauce

05 - 1 cup pineapple juice
06 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
07 - 1/3 cup brown sugar
08 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
09 - 2 tbsp ketchup
10 - 2 cloves garlic minced
11 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
12 - 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water slurry

→ Vegetables & Garnishes

13 - 1 cup fresh pineapple cut into chunks
14 - 1 red bell pepper diced
15 - 2 green onions sliced
16 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds

→ For Cooking

17 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil

# How to Make It:

01 - Season chicken pieces thoroughly with salt and pepper. Toss with 2 tablespoons cornstarch until evenly coated on all sides.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add half the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and repeat with remaining oil and chicken. Set cooked chicken aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
04 - Add pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and ketchup to the skillet. Stir thoroughly to combine and bring mixture to a gentle simmer.
05 - Stir in diced red bell pepper and pineapple chunks. Let mixture simmer for 3-4 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
06 - Return cooked chicken to the pan. Mix cornstarch slurry thoroughly and stir into sauce. Cook while stirring constantly until sauce thickens and coats chicken evenly, approximately 2-3 minutes.
07 - Remove from heat immediately. Top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce achieves that perfect restaurant quality glossiness that coats every piece of chicken
  • It comes together in under 45 minutes but tastes like it simmered all day
  • The combination of sweet pineapple and tangy soy sauce is absolutely addictive
02 -
  • Don't skip the cornstarch coating on the chicken because it's the secret to getting that restaurant style texture
  • The sauce will continue thickening off the heat, so remove it when it looks slightly thinner than you want
  • Fresh pineapple makes a noticeable difference in the final flavor compared to canned
03 -
  • Cut your chicken into uniform pieces so everything cooks evenly and finishes at the same time
  • Let the chicken get properly golden before flipping because that color equals flavor
  • Taste your sauce before adding the chicken back in and adjust the seasonings if needed

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