Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken Recipe
Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken is a deliciously sweet and savory dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a rich sauce made with brown sugar, fresh pineapple chunks, soy sauce, and aromatic spices. This recipe is easy to prepare and delivers a perfect balance of flavors that makes for an impressive yet simple meal.
- Author: Leo
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American-Asian Fusion
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks (or canned)
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- Salt and pepper to taste
Other
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
- Prep the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper to taste, ensuring even coating for flavor enhancement.
- Heat the Oil: Place a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil, allowing it to heat until shimmering but not smoking.
- Sear the Chicken: Add the seasoned chicken breasts to the hot skillet. Sear each side for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and caramelized. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the brown sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, and ground ginger. Stir continuously to blend all the ingredients into a smooth sauce.
- Add Pineapple: Incorporate the pineapple chunks into the sauce, stirring gently to distribute the fruit evenly without breaking it down completely.
- Return Chicken: Place the seared chicken breasts back into the skillet, making sure each piece is well coated with the pineapple sauce.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a lid, and allow the chicken to simmer for 20-25 minutes. This allows the meat to cook through and absorb the sauce flavors thoroughly.
- Check Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (75°C), ensuring safe consumption.
- Garnish: Once cooked, sprinkle chopped fresh cilantro over the chicken to add a fresh, herbal note to the dish.
- Serve: Transfer the chicken breasts to a serving platter and drizzle with extra sauce from the skillet to enhance flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Use fresh pineapple for the best flavor, but canned pineapple chunks work well as a convenient substitute.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar based on your preferred sweetness level.
- For a thicker sauce, simmer uncovered for the last 5 minutes.
- Serve over steamed rice or alongside sautéed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the skillet when searing to achieve a nice golden crust on the chicken.
Keywords: brown sugar chicken, pineapple chicken, sweet and savory chicken, stovetop chicken, easy chicken recipe