Description
Skillet-seared chicken thighs drenched in a sticky, sweet-and-sour glaze crafted from brown sugar, pineapple juice, and ACV. Dinner in 20 minutes! Full instructions and nutrition breakdown inside.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks, drained (reserve 1/2 cup of the juice)
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Whisk together the sauce mixture by combining the reserved pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and minced garlic in a medium bowl. Whisk in the cornstarch until fully dissolved and set aside.
- Step 2: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the cut chicken thighs and cook for 5-7 minutes, until browned on all sides and mostly cooked through.
- Step 3: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the chicken in the skillet, ensuring all pieces are coated. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Step 4: Allow the chicken and sauce to simmer for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened significantly and coats the back of a spoon. The cornstarch will cause the rapid thickening.
- Step 5: Stir in the drained pineapple chunks and cook for an additional 2 minutes until they are heated through. Serve the Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken immediately over rice or noodles.
Notes
- Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; the sauce tends to firm up considerably when chilled.
- To revive the texture, reheat leftovers gently in a skillet over low heat, adding 1-2 tablespoons of water or chicken broth to loosen the sauce as it warms.
- For a complete meal, serve this sweet and savory dish over fluffy jasmine rice and top with fresh chopped scallions or toasted sesame seeds for color.
- Do not rush the browning in Step 2; properly searing the chicken thighs develops a deep, caramelized flavor that cuts through the intense sweetness of the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (approx. 6 oz chicken and sauce)
- Calories: 448
- Sodium: 920mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Protein: 41g