Craving a taste of the islands without the long flight? Imagine juicy, grilled chicken bursting with sweet pineapple flavor, all ready in under 30 minutes. This Hawaiian Grilled Chicken and Pineapple recipe is your ticket to a quick, healthy, and incredibly flavorful meal. It's a weeknight dinner champion and always a crowd-pleaser. As a busy parent myself, I'm always looking for meals that are both delicious and easy to make, and this recipe hits all the right notes!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
I remember being a kid and visiting my grandmother in California. She had this incredible knack for making simple food taste extraordinary. One of her specialties was grilled chicken with fruit; it was always the highlight of our visits. This Hawaiian Grilled Chicken and Pineapple recipe isn’t exactly hers, but it captures that same feeling of sunshine and happiness on a plate. Every bite brings back memories of laughter, family, and the simple joy of good food. It's a recipe that feels like a warm hug.
Ingredients
-
For the Marinade:
- 1/2 cup Pineapple Juice
- 1/4 cup Soy Sauce (low sodium)
- 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional, for a touch of heat)
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For the Chicken and Pineapple:
- 1.5 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 fresh Pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes prior to grilling)
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making the Recipe
- Prepare the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken cubes in a resealable bag or container. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.
- Prepare the Skewers: If using skewers, thread chicken, pineapple chunks, and red bell pepper pieces onto the skewers, alternating ingredients.
- Grill the Chicken: Preheat grill to medium heat. Lightly oil the grill grates.
- Grill Chicken Place skewers on the hot grill. Cook for 6-8 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through and pineapple is slightly caramelized. Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). Ensure the chicken is cooked, and not burnt.
- Serve: Remove the Hawaiian Grilled Chicken and Pineapple skewers from the grill and serve immediately. Best when served hot and fresh.
- You can also serve over rice with more pineapple slices on the side. Enjoy!
Hawaiian Grilled Chicken and Pineapple
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a medium bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using).1/2 cup Pineapple Juice, 1/4 cup Soy Sauce (low sodium), 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar, packed, 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar, 1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 clove Garlic, minced, 1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger, 1/4 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- Place the chicken cubes in a resealable bag or container. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are coated. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.1.5 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
- If using skewers, thread chicken, pineapple chunks, and red bell pepper pieces onto the skewers, alternating ingredients.1.5 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, 1 fresh Pineapple, 1 Red Bell Pepper, Skewers
- Preheat grill to medium heat. Lightly oil the grill grates.
- Place skewers on the hot grill. Cook for 6-8 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through and pineapple is slightly caramelized. Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). Ensure the chicken is cooked, and not burnt.1.5 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, 1 fresh Pineapple
- Remove the Hawaiian Grilled Chicken and Pineapple skewers from the grill and serve immediately. Best when served hot and fresh.
- You can also serve over rice with more pineapple slices on the side. Enjoy!