Description
Hawaiian Chicken & Coconut Rice is a sweet and savory tropical dinner made with pineapple-glazed chicken thighs served over fluffy coconut jasmine rice. It’s an easy weeknight meal that tastes like a mini vacation in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Hawaiian Chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks or rings, drained
- 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 large yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 medium red onion, cut into wedges
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Coconut Rice:
- 2 cups jasmine rice
- 1 (13.5-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
For Garnish:
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces and pat dry.
- In a bowl, whisk soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.
- Pour two-thirds of marinade over chicken. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes to 4 hours. Reserve remaining marinade.
- Simmer reserved marinade in a saucepan. Mix cornstarch with cold water and whisk into sauce. Simmer until thickened. Set aside.
- Rinse jasmine rice until water runs clear.
- Combine rice, coconut milk, water, salt, and sugar in a pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to low, cover, and cook 18 minutes. Rest 10 minutes, then fluff.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet. Sauté bell peppers and onion 3–5 minutes. Remove.
- Add remaining oil and cook chicken in batches until browned and cooked through, about 4–6 minutes.
- Return vegetables and pineapple to skillet. Pour glaze over everything and simmer 1–2 minutes until coated.
- Serve chicken over coconut rice. Garnish with cilantro, sesame seeds, and green onions.
Notes
- Marinate up to 4 hours for deeper flavor.
- Do not use marinade that touched raw chicken for the glaze.
- Cook chicken in batches to avoid steaming.
- Leftovers store well for 3–4 days in the refrigerator.
- Add red pepper flakes if you like heat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Hawaiian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg
