Easy Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken: Sweet, Tangy, and Quick
This Easy Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken is a sweet, tangy, and sticky skillet meal made in just 30 minutes. Juicy chicken thighs simmer in a tropical glaze, perfect for a comforting and family-friendly dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American, Asian-Inspired
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 6 to 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Pineapple Brown Sugar Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
1. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs and cook for 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, melt the butter. Stir in ketchup and brown sugar.
4. Add crushed pineapple with juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, ground ginger, and garlic powder. Whisk to combine and bring to a simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
5. Return the browned chicken thighs to the skillet. Spoon sauce over each piece.
6. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10–12 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce has thickened.
7. Serve hot over rice, spooning extra sauce over the top.
Notes
Use fresh pineapple if preferred, but add a bit of water or broth to maintain the sauce consistency.
Double the sauce for extra drizzling over rice or veggies.
For a slow cooker version, combine all ingredients and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours, then shred and serve.
Leftovers can be reheated with a splash of water or pineapple juice to loosen the glaze.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce (approx. 180g)
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Find it online: https://paulakitchen.com/easy-brown-sugar-pineapple-chicken/