Sticky Pineapple Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken glazed in sweet pineapple sauce with bell peppers. Ready in 40 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken Preparation

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
04 - 2 tbsp cornstarch

→ Pineapple Sauce

05 - 1 cup pineapple juice
06 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
07 - 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
08 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
09 - 2 tbsp ketchup
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
12 - 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water for slurry

→ Vegetables & Garnishes

13 - 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
14 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
15 - 2 green onions, sliced
16 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds

→ Cooking Oil

17 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil

# Directions:

01 - Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper in a bowl. Toss with 2 tablespoons cornstarch until each piece is evenly coated.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add half the chicken and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and repeat with remaining oil and chicken. Set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add garlic and ginger. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Pour in pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and ketchup. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
05 - Stir in diced red bell pepper and pineapple chunks. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
06 - Return chicken to the pan. Whisk cornstarch slurry and stir into sauce. Cook while stirring until sauce thickens and coats chicken, 2 to 3 minutes.
07 - Remove from heat. Top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Ready in 40 minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • That glossy, restaurant-quality sauce that coats every piece perfectly
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for tomorrow's lunch
02 -
  • Crowding the pan while cooking chicken traps steam and prevents proper browning
  • The sauce will look thin for about 60 seconds after adding the slurry before suddenly thickening
  • Pineapple breaks down quickly, so add it when specified or you'll end up with chunks that dissolve
03 -
  • Cut your chicken into uniformly sized pieces so everything cooks at the same rate
  • Room temperature chicken sears more evenly than cold straight from the fridge

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