Pineapple Chicken Recipe: Easy Asian Sweet and Sour Stir-Fry 58 2026

Pineapple chicken is a classic Asian-style dish where juicy pieces of chicken simmer in a glossy sweet and sour sauce with peppers, onion and pineapple chunks. It comes together in one pan in about 25 minutes, which makes it a perfect weeknight dinner when you want big flavor without a lot of fuss.

We use boneless, skinless chicken thighs because they stay tender and juicy in this kind of quick cooking, though chicken breasts work well too as long as you keep an eye on the cooking time. The vegetables are simple staples: onion, bell pepper, garlic and scallions, with the green tops saved for a fresh, crunchy garnish at the end.

The sauce is what brings everything together, a balanced mix of soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup and brown sugar that clings to the chicken and pineapple. Serve it over fluffy basmati rice and finish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds for a dish that looks as good as it tastes.

Ingredients for Pineapple Chicken

This makes 2 generous servings.

• 400 g boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon wheat flour or cornstarch
• 1 red or green bell pepper
• 2 scallions
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 onion
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 50 ml apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 can pineapple in syrup (140 g net weight)
• 100 g basmati rice, to serve
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

How to Make Pineapple Chicken Step by Step

1. Cut, season and flour the chicken

Cut 400 g of boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and ground black pepper, then lightly coat with 1 tablespoon of wheat flour or cornstarch. Set aside.

2. Cut the vegetables

Remove the seeds from 1 bell pepper and chop it into pieces. Slice 2 scallions, keeping the green tops aside for garnish. Press 2 garlic cloves and finely chop 1 onion.

3. Brown the chicken and set aside

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a wide, heavy-bottomed skillet or a wok and brown the chicken for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once golden, transfer it to a plate and set aside.

4. Sauté the pepper

Add the bell pepper to the same skillet and sauté for a couple of minutes until it starts to soften. If you like a bit of heat, this is the moment to add a tablespoon of freshly chopped ginger along with the pepper.

5. Add the remaining vegetables

Add the onion, garlic and the white parts of the scallions, and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring so everything cooks evenly without burning.

6. Pour in the sauce ingredients

Pour into the skillet with the vegetables 50 ml of apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar, 3 tablespoons of ketchup, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Stir to combine.

7. Return the chicken and add the pineapple

Lower the heat, return the chicken to the skillet and stir. Add 1 can of pineapple, previously drained and cut into chunks, and mix everything together.

8. Simmer the chicken and cook the rice

Cook the mixture for 10 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced and thickened. Meanwhile, boil 100 g of basmati rice in a saucepan with water and a pinch of salt for the time indicated on the package.

9. Serve the pineapple chicken with rice

Serve the pineapple chicken alongside the drained rice, garnished with the reserved scallion greens and 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds. A bowl of shrimp chips on the side is a nice extra touch.

Tips for the Best Pineapple Chicken

Choose the right chicken cut

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are the best choice here because they stay juicy and flavorful through the quick cooking. If you prefer chicken breasts, they work too, but keep the cooking times as written so they don't dry out.

Use a wok or a heavy skillet

This dish is traditionally made in a wok, which lets you cook everything over high heat in a short amount of time. If you don't have one, a heavy-bottomed skillet works well; just raise the heat to get a similar sear and keep the ingredients moving.

Balance the sweet and sour sauce

The sauce comes together from soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup and brown sugar, and that combination is what keeps the chicken juicy and full of flavor. Taste it as it reduces and adjust with a little more sugar or vinegar if you want it sweeter or sharper.

30 Home-Cooked Recipes I Keep Coming Back To

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a little bit of everything — cozy comfort plates, tried-and-true dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luxurious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only something fruity and soothing will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

Tapas and Mediterranean flavors are a constant craving, so I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. And when the occasion begs for something a touch fancier, this elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is what I serve.

Come lunch or dinnertime, these are the dishes I hand out to friends most often: a soul-warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. For something more substantial, out comes this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, boldly seasoned Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make an effortless appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks alongside a full menu, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and flavor that really pops.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over — whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a favorite of mine when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled after the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture pays off, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and unfussy sounds right, I tend to go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine — among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, golden Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it delivers great texture while saving time. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and completely gratifying without any gluten.

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