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Easy Pineapple Chicken Stir-Fry for a Quick Weeknight Dinner

Close-up of glossy, saucy pineapple chicken stir-fry with chunks of pineapple, red, and green peppers in a black skillet.
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Make a flavorful, takeout-style pineapple chicken stir-fry right at home. This recipe balances sweet pineapple with savory garlic sauce for a fast, family-friendly meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup fresh or canned pineapple chunks (drained if canned)
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 cup onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup water or chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (for sauce thickening)

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, toss the cut chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch until lightly coated. This helps keep the chicken tender.
  2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  3. Add the chopped onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper to the same skillet. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
  4. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ketchup, sesame oil, and 1/4 cup water or broth. This is your best chicken stir fry sauce.
  6. In a separate small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water to create a slurry. Add this slurry to the sauce mixture and whisk well.
  7. Return the cooked chicken and the pineapple chunks to the skillet. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables.
  8. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens, about 1-2 minutes. The sauce should coat the chicken and pineapple nicely.
  9. Serve your sweet savory chicken stir fry immediately over steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.

Notes

  • For tender chicken, do not overcrowd the pan when searing. Cook in batches if necessary.
  • To make this a gluten-free pineapple chicken recipe, substitute regular soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
  • Serve this tropical chicken skillet meal with steamed jasmine rice or lo mein noodles.
  • If you prefer a tangier flavor, add 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar to the sauce mixture for a balsamic pineapple chicken variation.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://hearthbite.com/pineapple-chicken-stir-fry/