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Enjoy the sweet and tangy flavors of these Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken Bites, a delightful dish that combines fruity pineapple with rich, caramel-like brown sugar for a quick and tasty meal.

Brown sugar pineapple chicken served over a bed of rice on a white plate and topped with sesame seeds and chopped scallions.

Table of Contents

Quick and Easy Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken Bites Recipe

This recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner, bringing together simple ingredients in a flavorful way. The combination of soy sauce, vinegar, and hot sauce provides a savory base with a kick, complemented by the sweetness of the pineapple and brown sugar.

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Ingredients for Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken Bites

  • Vegetable Oil: Used for sautéing the onion, providing a neutral base for building flavors.
  • Yellow Onion: Adds a sweet depth to the dish when cooked.
  • Chicken Breasts: The protein of the dish, diced for quick cooking.
  • Rice Vinegar: Brings a mild acidity to balance the sweetness.
  • Soy Sauce: Offers a salty umami flavor.
  • Frank’s Red Hot Sauce: Injects a spicy tang.
  • Brown Sugar: Creates a rich, caramel-like sweetness.
  • Garlic: Gives a strong, aromatic flavor.
  • Canned Pineapple: Adds a juicy, tropical sweetness.
  • Scallions: For a fresh, oniony crunch on top.
  • Sesame Seeds: Provide a subtle, nutty finish.
Ingredients needed for brown sugar pineapple chicken measured and placed into bowls, ready to cook.

How to Cook Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken

STEP 1: Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large pan. Add diced onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until translucent.

Diced onion in a large pan.

STEP 2: While the onion cooks, mix rice vinegar, soy sauce, Frank’s Red Hot, and brown sugar in a small bowl until well combined.

Combined sauces and seasonings in a bowl on a white table top.

STEP 3: Add diced chicken to the pan and pour the sauce over the chicken. Stir well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened into a glaze.

Chicken and sauce added to the large saucepan with onion.

STEP 4: Stir in minced garlic and pineapple chunks, cooking for 30 seconds to incorporate the flavors. Remove from heat.

diced chicken, sauce, pineapple, and garlic in a large saucepan.

STEP 5: Serve the chicken over a bed of rice garnished with scallions and sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.

Brown sugar pineapple chicken served over a bed of rice and garnished with sesame seeds and diced scallions.

Tips for Making the Best Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken Bites

  • Properly Coat the Chicken: Make sure the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce for maximum flavor.
  • Adjust the Sauce Consistency: If the sauce reduces too much during cooking, add a little pineapple juice or water to thin it slightly.
  • Serving Suggestions: While optional, toppings like scallions and sesame seeds enhance the dish’s flavors and visual appeal.

Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken Bites RecipeVariations

  • Add Heat: Increase the amount of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce for a spicier dish.
  • Make it Vegetarian: Substitute chicken for tofu or a hearty vegetable like cauliflower.
Brown sugar pineapple chicken over a bed of rice with scallions and sesame seeds, ready to eat.

FAQs for Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken

How long can I store this dish?

Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?

Yes, fresh pineapple can be used. It may add a bit more tartness compared to canned pineapple, which is typically sweeter and packed in syrup.

What if the dish is too sweet?

If the dish is too sweet, adjust by adding a bit more soy sauce or vinegar to balance the sweetness with savory and acidic notes.

Brown sugar pineapple chicken over a bed of rice with chopped scallions and sesame seeds.

This Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken is a perfect dish for those who love a sweet and savory flavor profile in their meals, and it is easy to prepare.

More Dinner Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a STAR ⭐️ RATING in the COMMENTS 📝 SECTION below.

Overhead shot of brown sugar pineapple chicken bites over a bed of rice.
5 from 1 vote
Servings: 4

Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken Bites

By JENNIFER GAMBLE
Enjoy the sweet and tangy flavors of these Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken Bites, a simple dish that combines fruity pineapple with rich, caramel-like brown sugar for a quick and tasty meal.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 17 minutes
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Ingredients 

  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 large onion, diced
  • 1.5 pounds chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 3 Tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons hot sauce, I use Frank's hot sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup pineapple, canned, diced
  • 2 teaspoons scallions, diced, for garnish
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions 

  • Heat the 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large pan. Add diced 1/2 large onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until translucent.
  • While the onion cooks, mix 3 Tablespoons rice vinegar, 3 Tablespoons soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons hot sauce, and 1/4 cup brown sugar in a small bowl until well combined.
  • Add diced 1.5 pounds chicken breast to the pan and pour the sauce over the chicken. Stir well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened into a glaze.
  • Stir in minced 2 Tablespoons garlic and 1/2 cup pineapple chunks, cooking for 30 seconds to incorporate the flavors. Remove from heat.
  • Serve the chicken over a bed of rice garnished with 2 teaspoons scallions and 2 teaspoons sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.

Notes

Make sure the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce for maximum flavor.
While optional, toppings like scallions and sesame seeds enhance the dish’s flavors and visual appeal.
Increase the amount of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce for a spicier dish.
Substitute chicken for tofu or a hearty vegetable like cauliflower.

Nutrition

Calories: 317kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 38g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 109mg, Sodium: 1129mg, Potassium: 759mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 84IU, Vitamin C: 20mg, Calcium: 49mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

JENNIFER GAMBLE

Hello! I’m Jennifer, but you can call me Jen. I’m a wife and mom, cook, recipe developer, nutrition coach, and food photographer.

With a formal certification in nutrition and over a decade of hands-on experience in the online food industry, I bring a well-rounded perspective to all of the recipes here on Simply Macros.

As the creator and author, I ensure that every recipe not only looks visually appealing but is also grounded in sound nutritional principles.

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I enjoyed creating them.

More About Me

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Recipe Rating




1 Comment

  1. JENNIFER GAMBLE says:

    5 stars
    These chicken bites are delicious and easy and a perfect Sunday meal prep recipe to get you started for the week.

    Reply