Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken: A Sweet and Tangy Dinner That’ll Transport You Straight to the Islands Recipe
Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken is a deliciously sweet and tangy dish featuring tender chicken chunks glazed with a caramelized pineapple and brown sugar sauce. Perfectly balanced with ginger and soy, this easy oven-baked recipe brings a taste of the islands to your dinner table.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American with Island/Caribbean influence
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into chunks
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Glaze and Sauce
- 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks with juice (do not drain)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp ground ginger (or 1 tbsp fresh grated)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Optional Garnishes
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Chopped green onions (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Prep and Preheat: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Season and Brown: Toss the chicken chunks with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown the chicken pieces for about 4 minutes, turning occasionally to get an even golden color.
- Mix the Glaze: In a bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, low-sodium soy sauce, pineapple juice from the can, rice vinegar, ground ginger, and cornstarch until smooth and well combined.
- Combine and Bake: Place the browned chicken in the prepared baking dish, add the pineapple chunks, and pour the glaze evenly on top. Gently stir to combine the ingredients. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25–30 minutes.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 5–10 minutes to allow the glaze to caramelize and thicken. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped green onions and sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired for a spicy kick.
Notes
- Chicken thighs stay juicier, but chicken breasts are a leaner option and work well too.
- The cornstarch and brown sugar create a sticky, irresistible glaze during baking—don’t rush this step.
- Add red pepper flakes for subtle heat that balances the sweetness.
- If you don’t have rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar is an excellent substitute.
- This recipe doubles easily and makes great leftovers for meal prep.
- If the sauce seems thin after baking, allow it to rest for a few minutes—it will thicken as it cools.
Keywords: brown sugar chicken, pineapple chicken, sweet and tangy chicken, oven baked chicken, island-inspired chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner, caramelized chicken
