With its combination of pineapple, chicken, and mustard, this Pineapple Chicken and Rice recipe adds a tropical flair to your dinner table. The chicken breasts are sprinkled with seasoning and brown to a nice crisp, then simmering in a honey-pineapple Dijon sauce. The pineapple bits, sliced thin turn warm and juicy — their sweetness complements the soft chicken and the fluffy rice. Serve with cooked rice for an unbelievably satisfying, flavorful meal.
Why You’re Going to Love This Pineapple Chicken and Rice:
Savor Sweet & Savory Flavor: Pineapple juice, honey, and Dijon mustard combine to make a sweet and tangy sauce that marries well with seasoned, juicy chicken.
Fast & Simple: This dish has a couple of ingredients and not a lot of steps, which means it’s ideal for nights when you want something filling without having to do much to get it.
One-Skillet Wonder: You brown the chicken, you simmer the sauce, you do it all in one pan, which means you use fewer dishes and you have less to clean up.
Tropical Twist on Comfort Food: The sauce, infused with pineapple and garlic, provides a tropical twist on this otherwise banal chicken and rice, a welcome change of pace in a Wednesday night dinner.
Key Ingredients:
Chicken
Chicken Breasts: For this recipe, I suggest using boneless skinless chicken breasts. They are simple to cook, and they absorb the sauce beautifully. You can use boneless thighs for a heartier flavor — just modulate the cooking time accordingly.
Seasoning: A combination of thyme, salt and pepper provides a delicate herbal accent for the chicken without overpowering the sauce. Adjust seasonings as desired.
Pineapple
Canned Pineapple: Though you may be able to get away with fresh, canned pineapple is super quick and easy and is perfect for this recipe since we need the juice and slices. If you’re using fresh pineapple, simply blend a few pieces to juice it, and slice the rest.
Reserved Pineapple Juice: It’s central to making the sauce, and to thickening it with cornstarch.
Sauce Ingredients
Dijon Mustard: Provides a tangy, sharp winner that balances the sweetness of the honey and pineapple.In a pinch, ordinary mustard will do if you don’t have Dijon, although it’s less piquant.
Honey: This natural sweetener tempers the mustard’s tang and is nice with pineapple. You might use maple syrup or agave instead.
Garlic: Minced fresh garlic lends the sauce a pungent warmth that cuts through the pineapple’s sweetness.
Rice
Cooked Rice: Pour the chicken and sauce over white, jasmine, or brown rice for a complete meal The rice soaks up the tasty sauce and you will taste it in every bite. Try quinoa or cauliflower rice for even extra nutrition.
