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Pineapple Chicken Teriyaki – sweet and tangy homemade teriyaki sauce with tender chicken and pineapple. Serve over rice for a quick and easy dinner.
Forget takeout. This Pineapple Chicken Teriyaki brings a taste of your favorite restaurant right to your kitchen.
My family loves Garlic Beef Noodle Bowls and Peanut Chicken with Rice, but this dish is their new favorite. It comes down to the irresistible combo of sweet and tangy teriyaki sauce enveloping tender chicken and juicy pineapple.
What’s the magic? A quick, homemade teriyaki sauce that’s a breeze to whip up in just 15 minutes. And here’s the fun part – you can customize it! Load up on veggies or keep it classic, but either way, this one-pan wonder ensures dinner on the table fast.
Why You’ll Love This Pineapple Chicken Teriyaki
- Fast-Track to Flavor – In a rush but craving a gourmet experience? In just 15 minutes, this one-pan wonder delivers a flavorful masterpiece, ensuring dinner is not just a necessity but a speedy and satisfying experience. You deserve it.
- DIY Teriyaki Magic – Bid farewell to store-bought teriyaki sauce! This recipe lets you whip up your own sweet and tangy magic using simple pantry staples, allowing you to savor the rich, homemade goodness with each bite.
- Sticky-Sweet Bliss– Brace your taste buds for the best of both worlds—crispy and tender chicken and a sauce that’s thick, sticky, sweet, and downright delicious.
What You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
For The Sauce
- Cornstarch – Cornstarch is the key to thickening the sauce to that perfect glossy consistency. If you’re out, arrowroot powder is a great substitute, ensuring your sauce still gets that velvety texture.
- Water
- Soy Sauce – Soy sauce unlocks tons of umami flavor. Tamari or coconut aminos will pack the same punch without the soy.
- Brown Sugar – This sweet counterpart transforms the sauce into a sticky delight. You can opt for coconut sugar or even maple syrup in a pinch.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – A dash of vinegar cuts through the richness, balancing the flavors. Rice vinegar or white wine vinegar are alternatives that will add the same tangy kick.
- Honey
- Garlic – Fresh, minced garlic is a flavor powerhouse. Garlic powder will work in this recipe, though fresh is truly the champion.
- Ginger – Freshly grated ginger brings a zing that ground ginger can’t quite replicate. It’s the secret to that vibrant, authentic teriyaki taste.
- Black Pepper
- Canola Oil
For The Chicken
- Chicken – Go for boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces for a quick, even cook. The lean meat soaks up the teriyaki goodness perfectly. If you’re feeling adventurous, thigh meat offers a juicer alternative.
- Cornstarch – Coating the chicken in cornstarch ensures a crispy exterior—it’s the secret weapon.
- Salt & Pepper
- Pineapple – Fresh pineapple chunks add a juicy bite and a burst of sweetness to the dish, while canned chunks are a convenient alternative.
- Sesame Seeds – Sesame seeds are an optional but worthwhile garnish. You could use chopped peanuts or cashews, too!
- Green Onions – Green onions are also optional, but they add a pop of color and fresh flavor.
Don’t forget—serve it all over rice for a quick, easy, and satisfying dinner.
How To Make Pineapple Chicken Teriyaki
- Create Cornstarch Slurry – Mix water and cornstarch in a small bowl to create a slurry that will thicken the teriyaki sauce later. Set it aside.
- Combine Sauce Ingredients – Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, and black pepper in a measuring cup.
- Coat the Chicken – Toss bite-sized chicken pieces in cornstarch until you’ve generously coated each morsel.
- Cook the Chicken – Add canola oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once the surface shimmers, add chicken. Coom for 3-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Pineapple Time! – Add pineapple to the skillet and let it sauté for about 2 minutes until tender.
- Incorporate Slurry into Sauce – Stir the cornstarch mixture into the teriyaki sauce. Pour it over the chicken, ensuring each piece is coated. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until the sauce becomes thick and glossy and the chicken is fully cooked.
- Finish and Serve – Sprinkle sesame seeds and green onions on top and serve this mouthwatering dish over a bed of rice!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Switch Up The Protein – While chicken is traditional, feel free to explore! Swap in tofu, shrimp, or even thinly sliced beef. Adjust cooking times accordingly.
- Texture Tidbit – When sautéing chicken, resist overcrowding the skillet. Allowing space on all sides of each piece ensures a beautiful brown sear and a crispy exterior. This small step goes a long way in achieving the textural bliss of a perfect stir-fry.
- Up Your Garnish Game – Elevate the visual appeal and flavor complexity by experimenting with additional garnishes. Chopped cilantro, crushed peanuts, or a drizzle of chili oil can add an extra layer of excitement to your teriyaki masterpiece.
Adding frozen chicken to hot oil is a recipe for disaster—it’s one of the easiest ways to start a grease fire. As long as you ensure the chicken is completely thawed before you cook it, using from-frozen chicken is fine.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, use a skillet for a quick, delicious revival of flavors.
Tamari or coconut aminos make excellent gluten-free alternatives, preserving the rich umami flavor without compromising dietary preferences.
No worries! In a pinch, ground ginger can be a suitable substitute. However, fresh ginger provides the best flavor for that authentic teriyaki taste
More Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes
- Creamy Chicken Pasta
- Margarita Grilled Chicken
- Instant Pot Crack Chicken
- Chick Fil A Chicken Nuggets
- Creamy Salsa Chicken
- Crunchy Southwest Chicken Wrap
Pineapple Chicken Teriyaki
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon Water
- 1/2 cup Soy Sauce
- 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Fresh Ginger, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoons Canola Oil
For the Chicken:
- 1-1 1/2 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 1/2 cups Pineapple Chunks, canned or fresh
- 1 tablespoon Sesame Seeds
- 2 Green Onions, thinly sliced
- Cooked Rice, to serve
Instructions
- Mix together water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a liquid measuring cup mix together soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and well combined.
- Toss chicken pieces with cornstarch until well coated.
- In a large skillet heat canola oil over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes until chicken is browned. Add pineapple, and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Stir in cornstarch mixture with the sauce. Pour over chicken. Mix well, and cook for 3-5 minutes until sauce is thickened and chicken is fully cooked.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve over rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Oh, I have to try this, I’m kinda getting tired of eating chicken everyday and this recipe will definitely help with some variety 🙂
Looks good. I’d throw in some red and green pepper too for color and crunch. Pinned!
I could have this every week – so saucy and delicious.
I’m always looking for a good teriyaki recipe and this one is amazing! I really like what the brown sugar and apple cider vinegar do here. So tasty!
This is one of my new favorite chicken recipes! I love the sweet and tangy flavors, and the chicken came out so perfectly!
The ultimate flavor combination here. I need to try this immediately!
This is one of my kids favorite dinner! It’s so flavorful and very easy to make!
The sweet and savory combination is irresistible. It’s quick, easy, and a hit with my family!