Description
Sweet Hawaiian Chicken is a tropical twist on classic baked chicken, combining crispy bite-sized chicken pieces with sweet pineapple, savory soy sauce, and colorful bell peppers. This easy one-pan dinner brings bold flavor, vibrant color, and a touch of island sunshine to your table—perfect for busy weeknights or entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup plus 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 20 oz can pineapple tidbits, drained
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside for later use.
- Cut chicken breasts into bite-size pieces. Season generously with salt and pepper. Set up coating stations with cornstarch in large bowl and beaten eggs in medium bowl.
- Dip each chicken piece in cornstarch to coat completely, then dip in beaten eggs for double coating protection.
- Heat vegetable oil in large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook coated chicken in batches until golden-brown on all sides. Don’t overcrowd pan. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
- In medium bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, and 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch until smooth and well combined.
- Pour sauce evenly over chicken. Sprinkle chopped bell pepper and drained pineapple tidbits on top. Bake uncovered for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes for even coating.
- Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken slightly.
Notes
- Cut chicken pieces uniformly for even cooking – aim for 1-inch cubes
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to control salt levels
- Always drain pineapple tidbits thoroughly to prevent excess liquid
- Check chicken internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety
- The sauce will appear thin initially but thickens significantly during baking
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Hawaiian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 185mg
Keywords: pineapple chicken, Hawaiian chicken, sweet and savory chicken, baked chicken bites, tropical chicken dinner, pineapple soy sauce chicken, island chicken recipe