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Spicy Pineapple Brown Sugar Chicken

Spicy pineapple brown sugar chicken with caramelized char and juicy pineapple chunks. Marinate in a sweet-and-spicy pineapple, soy, sriracha, and garlic glaze, then grill until the chicken hits 165°F.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
marinating 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Hawaiian-Asian Fusion
Calories: 520

Ingredients
  

Chicken and marinade
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp sriracha
  • 3 garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
Pineapple and garnish
  • 2 cup fresh pineapple chunks
  • 0.25 cilantro for garnish
  • 0.5 lime for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the spicy pineapple marinade
  1. Combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, sriracha, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a bowl until the sugar dissolves and the mixture looks glossy. Visual cue: you should see evenly distributed red pepper flakes throughout the liquid.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade, then pour the rest over the chicken to coat all sides. Visual cue: the chicken should be fully covered, with a deep caramel-brown color clinging to the surface.
  3. Marinate the chicken for 1-2 hours at cool room temperature or in the refrigerator until ready to grill. Visual cue: the chicken surface looks slightly darker and more tacky from the sugar and seasonings.
Grill the chicken
  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Visual cue: the grates should be hot enough to make a quick sizzle when the chicken is placed.
  2. Grill the chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Visual cue: visible char forms on the outside while juices collect near the edges.
  3. Brush the chicken with the reserved marinade during the final minutes so it glazes without burning. Visual cue: the surface becomes shiny and caramelized.
Grill the pineapple and serve
  1. Thread pineapple chunks onto skewers. Visual cue: leave small gaps between pieces so they caramelize evenly.
  2. Grill the pineapple for 2-3 minutes per side until caramelized. Visual cue: you’ll see browned edges and syrupy spots on the fruit.
  3. Serve the chicken topped with grilled pineapple, then garnish with cilantro and lime. Visual cue: bright green cilantro and fresh lime contrast the caramelized chicken and charred pineapple.

Notes

For best caramelization, pat the chicken very lightly dry after marinating so the grill can char it quickly, then glaze with the reserved marinade at the end. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; freeze cooked chicken (and pineapple separately) for up to 2 months. For a lower-sugar option, use a brown sugar substitute or reduce brown sugar slightly while keeping the pineapple juice and sriracha for balance.