This Hawaiian Chicken is a quick and easy stir fry recipe made with chicken, red bell pepper, pineapple and delicious sweet and sour sauce! The best part it takes only 30 minutes to make the whole dinner.
If you are looking for a quick and easy dinner idea, try this amazing Hawaiian Chicken! This recipe is loaded with seared chicken, candied red bell pepper, chunks of refreshing pineapple, and the best sweet tangy sauce that makes this whole dish to taste like you are on a tropical island!
Like my other Asian inspired meals (Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry, Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Mongolian Beef), this recipe takes only 30 minutes to make and only one pan to wash!
Also, check out my Healthy Chicken Dinner Ideas for more recipe inspiration!
How to make it
In a mixing bowl, add pineapple juice from the can (about 1 cup), ⅓ cup chicken broth, ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 clove minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon grated ginger. If you like your food a bit spicy, you can add ¼ tsp red pepper flakes. Mix it together and set aside.
Preheat a large skillet over medium heat and add 2 teaspoons olive oil.
Add 1 pound chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces and season them with salt and pepper. Sear it for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is almost cooked through.
Add diced red bell pepper and cook for 2-3 minutes until it’s softened.
Add pineapple chunks and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
Add the sauce mixture to the pan, stir everything and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water. Add the slurry gradually to the pan, until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency. Cook for a couple of more minutes.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onion before serving.
Tips for best results
- Chicken. I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs and also dice them into 1-inch pieces.
- Red Bell Pepper. Even if you are not a big fan of bell peppers, you will love it in this dish! Because we cook it with pineapple and sweet and sour sauce, the red bell pepper caramelizes and taste like candy!
- Pineapple. If you don’t have canned pineapple, you can use 1 cup diced fresh pineapple and regular pineapple juice.
- Spice. I like this dish a bit spicy and usually add about ¼ tsp red pepper flakes. If you are making this recipe for kids or don’t like spicy food, simply omit red pepper flakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can store it in an air-tight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
I like to serve it with a bowl of white rice (check my recipe for Instant Pot White Rice) and sprinkle with some sesame seeds and green onion.
More recipe ideas with chicken
- Lemon Chicken Recipe
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Classic Chicken Parmesan Recipe
- One Pot Chicken and Rice
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Macaroni Salad
- Chicken Cobb Salad
- Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
- Buttermilk Chicken Tenders
- Chicken Broccoli Ziti
Hawaiian Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1-inch pieces
- salt, pepper to taste
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 15 oz pineapple chunks juice and fruit separated
- ⅓ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- sesame seeds for topping
- green onion for topping
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add pineapple juice from the can (about 1 cup), ⅓ cup chicken broth, ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 clove minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon grated ginger. If you like your food a bit spicy, you can add ¼ tsp red pepper flakes. Mix it together and set aside.
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat and add 2 teaspoons olive oil.
- Add 1 pound chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces and season them with salt and pepper. Sear it for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is almost cooked through.
- Add diced red bell pepper and cook for 2-3 minutes until it’s softened.
- Add pineapple chunks and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Add the sauce mixture to the pan, stir everything and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water. Add the slurry gradually to the pan, until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency. Cook for a couple of more minutes.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onion before serving.
Video
Notes
- I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs and also dice them into 1-inch pieces.
- Even if you are not a big fan of bell peppers, you will love it in this dish! Because we cook it with pineapple and sweet and sour sauce, the red bell pepper caramelizes and taste like candy!
- If you don’t have canned pineapple, you can use 1 cup diced fresh pineapple and regular pineapple juice.
- I like this dish a bit spicy and usually add about ¼ tsp red pepper flakes. If you are making this recipe for kids or don’t like spicy food, simply omit red pepper flakes.
We used pork instead of chicken and it was fantastic! Will definitely make again!
Hi Heather! This is good to know that pork also works for this recipe 😉 So glad you enjoyed it!
It was delicious. I didn’t have any sesame seed but I did have toasted sesame oil. So I just used that in place of the olive oil. I rolled it in a tortilla and had it with salsa! YUMMY
Thank you, Velisa! So happy you liked the recipe! Love your creative touch to it 😉
This recipe is awesome, my husband even loved it.
Thank you so much, Nancy! So happy you and your husband enjoyed the recipe 😉
I love this recipe; it is very tasty (I included the red pepper flakes). My one complaint is that, per the recipe, the chicken gets somewhat over-cooked. I recommend just searing the chicken for 1 minute on a side, then proceeding with the recipe as listed. The amount of time that the chicken is in the pan (another 13 minutes total) is more than enough to cook it thoroughly. If not, just let it simmer another couple of minutes. As I have told my wife NUMEROUS times, you can always cook something more, but you CAN’T uncook anything!
Super Amazing! I added hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. I will be making this again! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Thank you so much, Deanna! I’m so happy you liked the recipe 😉
A+
This. Was. So. Good!!!
Simple and delicious.
I spiced it up with a small jar of my pineapple/ghost pepper chutney and served it over Instant pot white rice. I’ll definitely make this again.
Yaay! Thank you so much, Yanci! So happy you liked it!
Have A Good Day
Tried this and it was so so goood! Served it with coconut rice. Everyone loved it!, even my picky 6yr old. She had one spoon and went; ‘ this sauce is soo good’ and then cleaned her plate out.
Definitely making this again. Thanks for sharing.
This reminds me of sweet and sour chicken, but also feels authentically Hawaiian! It takes me back to my time on the big island.
Your recipe is the new addition to my chicken repertoire. Thanks for sharing. Everybody at home loved it!
This chicken sounds so flavorful. What a great recipe to try. Thanks for sharing.
I loved this Hawaiian chicken. The sauce was so good and like you, I made it a little spicy! Definitely to be repeated soon!
My family is full of chicken lovers and I can practically taste this just from the recipe. I can’t wait to try this, it looks so flavorful and I love the colors!
Yep this is going on my dinner list. This would be perfect with rice.
This is one of favorite weeknight dinners! So simple and delicious. And that sauce is awesome thank you!
We absolutely loved this Hawaiian chicken! It was perfect over some coconut rice, and I love how quick it was to prepare.
The sauce for this chicken looks amazing and thanks for the step-by-steps so I can get this recipe right.