Summer is officially here, and I’ve got a recipe that’s going to become an instant favorite in your rotation. Forget boring chicken – I’m talking juicy, tender chicken bursting with a sweet and savory glaze, perfectly paired with caramelized grilled pineapple.
Served with a green salad, this Grilled Chicken & Pineapple dish is the perfect blend of easy prep and incredible flavor. With a simple marinade that does all the heavy lifting, you’ll be enjoying a gourmet-tasting meal with minimal fuss… Plus, that reduced marinade that’s pure liquid gold and takes this dish to a whole new level!
Why you’ll LOVE this recipe!
Irresistible Sweet, Savory, and Tangy Flavor Combination: Brown sugar and coconut aminos create a perfect mix of sweet and umami, which intensifies into a glorious honey-like glaze. Grilled pineapple transforms as natural sugars caramelize, for a smoky sweetness and tangy freshness that cuts through the richness of the chicken!
Juicy and Tender Chicken: Coconut aminos, with their enzymes (like bromelain in pineapple, though coconut aminos have their own tenderizing properties), help break down the chicken fibers, resulting in incredibly tender and juicy chicken, even with lean chicken breasts!
Simple & Easy: This ingredient list is short and uses common pantry staples! Marinating does the bulk of the flavor work, for flexible prep. This is perfect for busy weeknights or advanced meal prep. The leftover marinade is used for a finishing sauce so there’s no waste… And it concentrates the flavors even further with so little effort!
My Tips & Tricks
Pounding Chicken for Even Cooking: Chicken breasts are often thicker on one end. You can place them between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound them to an even 1/2 to 3/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin for even cooking.
Don’t Skimp on Marinating Time: While 30 minutes is the minimum, the longer you marinate (up to overnight), the more flavor the chicken will absorb and the more tender the chicken breast meat will become. Aim for at least 4 hours if you have the time!
Simmer, Don’t Boil Vigorously: Keep the heat on low to medium-low when simmering the marinade. A gentle simmer will allow it to reduce and thicken without scorching. Stir frequently to prevent sticking.
Flip Only Once (Mostly): For good grill marks and even cooking, try to flip the chicken only once halfway through the cooking time. Resist the urge to constantly move it around.
Don’t Overcook the Pineapple: Grilled pineapple is wonderful, but if overcooked, it can become mushy. It only needs a few minutes per side to get good grill marks and soften slightly.
Pairing
This flavorful chicken and pineapple is perfect served on it’s own.. And makes well rounded summer dinner served with a green goddess salad, simple pasta salad or loaded potato salad!
Let me know what You think… Review the Recipe card!
Glazed Grilled Chicken & Pineapple!
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup liquid coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pineapple cored and sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a large zip-top bag, combine the brown sugar, liquid coconut aminos, and crushed garlic. Add the chicken breasts to the bag, seal, and massage to ensure the chicken is fully coated. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or preferably overnight for maximum flavor.
- Preheat Grill & Prep Pineapple: Preheat your grill to 375°F (190°C). While the grill heats, slice your pineapple into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
Grill Chicken & Pineapple
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting any excess drip off (reserve the leftover marinade from the bag!).
- Place the chicken breasts on the preheated grill. Arrange the pineapple slices on the grill alongside the chicken.
- Grill for approximately 15 minutes per side, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the pineapple has beautiful grill marks and is slightly softened.
- Reduce the Marinade: While the chicken and pineapple are grilling, pour the reserved marinade from the zip-top bag into a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the marinade has reduced to a thickened, honey-like consistency. This will take about 10-15 minutes.
- Rest and Serve: Once cooked, remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. This helps keep the chicken juicy.
- Plate the grilled chicken breasts with the grilled pineapple slices. Drizzle generously with the warm, reduced marinade. Optional: Serve with green goddess salad, and coconut cream pie!
Notes
Nutrition
About Juliea
Juliea Huffaker is the creator of Farmhouse Harvest, and dedicated to teaching from-scratch cooking, sourdough baking, gardening, and food preservation. With over 25 years of hands-on experience she has preserved hundreds of jars of produce, mastered the art of meats and sourdough baking, and nurtured a thriving organic garden. Her recipes and articles have been featured across the web. And she’s passionate about inspiring others to embrace a simpler, self-sufficient life style.
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