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Pineapple Chicken & Rice


  • Author: WAFA LI

Ingredients

Scale
  • lbs (680g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1” pieces
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1½ cups long-grain white rice (or jasmine rice)
  • 1 (13.5 oz) can coconut milk (full-fat for creaminess)
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1½ cups crushed pineapple, drained (reserve 2 tbsp juice)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tsp ground ginger (or 1 tbsp fresh grated)
  • Zest and juice of 1 lime
  • Salt & black pepper to taste
  • Optional garnish: chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, toasted coconut flakes

Instructions

  1. Sear chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown on all sides (3–4 min); remove and set aside.
  2. Sauté veggies: In same pot, add onion and bell pepper. Cook 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic; cook 30 seconds more.
  3. Toast rice: Add rice; stir 1–2 minutes to lightly toast grains.
  4. Deglaze & simmer: Pour in coconut milk, broth, reserved pineapple juice, soy sauce, ginger, lime zest, and lime juice. Stir well, scraping up browned bits.
  5. Add chicken & pineapple: Return chicken to pot. Stir in drained pineapple.
  6. Cook: Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 18–20 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
  7. Rest & fluff: Remove from heat. Let sit covered 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
  8. Garnish with cilantro, green onions, or coconut flakes before serving.
💡 Pro Tips:
– Use chicken thighs for extra juiciness—they stay tender during simmering.
– For spicy kick, add ½ tsp red pepper flakes or a diced jalapeño with the veggies.
– Make it gluten-free: Use tamari instead of soy sauce.

Prep Time & Nutrition (per serving, serves 4):

Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 30 min | Total Time: 40 min
Servings: 4 | Calories: 520 | Net Carbs: 42g | Fats: 26g | Protein: 32g