Description
This Spicy Pineapple Brown Sugar Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a tangy-sweet pineapple and brown sugar glaze with a spicy kick from sriracha. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner served over rice or noodles, it offers a delightful balance of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Sauce
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha or hot sauce (adjust to heat preference)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (for thickening)
Garnish (optional)
- Chopped green onions
- Pineapple chunks
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Pat chicken thighs or breasts dry and season both sides with salt and black pepper evenly to enhance flavor.
- Sear the chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3–4 minutes on each side until golden brown and beautifully seared. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce: In the same skillet, add pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, sriracha, minced garlic, grated ginger, and vinegar. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan to maximize flavor.
- Thicken the sauce: Stir in the cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water) and cook for 1–2 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens to a glossy glaze.
- Simmer the chicken: Return the seared chicken to the skillet, reduce heat to low, and spoon the sauce over the top. Cover the skillet and simmer gently for 10–12 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through and tender, absorbing the flavorful sauce.
- Serve and garnish: Remove from heat and serve the chicken with sauce over jasmine rice or noodles. Garnish with chopped green onions and pineapple chunks if desired for extra freshness and presentation.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, marinate the chicken in the sauce ingredients for 30 minutes before cooking.
- You may grill the chicken and brush it with the sauce during the last few minutes of grilling for a smoky twist.
- This dish pairs beautifully with jasmine rice or coconut rice to complement the sweet and spicy notes.
