Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Bowls (Printable Version)

A vibrant bowl with tender chicken glazed in teriyaki, pineapple, and crisp vegetables.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Teriyaki Sauce

04 - 1/3 cup soy sauce
05 - 1/3 cup pineapple juice
06 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
07 - 1 tablespoon honey
08 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
09 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
10 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
11 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
12 - 2 tablespoons cold water

→ Rice and Toppings

13 - 1 1/4 cups jasmine or short-grain white rice
14 - 2 cups water
15 - 1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
16 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
17 - 1 cup snap peas or snow peas, trimmed
18 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
19 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
20 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish, optional

# Steps:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. Combine rice and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then sauté until golden and cooked through, 6-8 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add bell pepper and snap peas. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until just tender but crisp. Remove and set aside with the chicken.
04 - Combine soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
05 - Mix cornstarch with cold water to form a slurry. Stir this into the simmering sauce and cook, stirring, until thickened about 1 minute.
06 - Return chicken and vegetables to the skillet. Pour in the teriyaki sauce and toss to coat. Stir in the pineapple cubes and heat through for 2 minutes.
07 - Divide rice among bowls. Top with teriyaki chicken, vegetables, and pineapple. Garnish with spring onions, sesame seeds, and cilantro if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The teriyaki sauce tastes like you've been simmering it for hours, but it's genuinely done in under five minutes.
  • Chicken thighs stay impossibly tender and juicy, no dry chicken disasters here.
  • It feels restaurant-quality but requires nothing fancy, just your regular skillet and a little attention.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cornstarch slurry or your sauce will be watery and won't cling to the chicken the way it should.
  • Add the fresh pineapple at the very end or it'll lose its juicy brightness and turn into soft mush.
  • Taste your sauce before serving because soy sauce brands vary wildly in saltiness, and you might want to adjust with a splash more vinegar or juice.
03 -
  • Always taste your soy sauce before building the dish because some brands are incredibly salty and will throw off your entire balance.
  • Keep that fresh pineapple out of the pot until the very last moment so it stays juicy instead of cooking down into sweet mush.
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