Grilled or Broiled Pineapple Chicken

Grilled chicken and pineapple
AnnaIleysh/Getty Images
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Marinate Time: 8 hrs
Total: 8 hrs 45 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 3 chicken breasts

This pineapple chicken is marinated in a mixture of pineapple juice and soy sauce and then it's topped with pineapple slices and grilled or broiled to perfection. Serve the chicken with rice and cooked peas or grilled zucchini or eggplant for a delicious summer meal. 

Chicken can dry out quickly on the grill or under the broiler, so take care not to overcook. The juices from the marinade and careful cooking will yield tasty, juicy chicken.

Serve each chicken breast with a slice of pineapple—broiled or grilled, if desired—or pineapple tidbits.

Ingredients

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

  • 2 cups pineapple juice

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce, or coconut aminos

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon sambal (Asian hot chili sauce), optional

  • 12 pineapple slices, or about 1 cup of diced pineapple

Steps to Make It

Grilled Chicken Directions

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Gently pound the chicken breasts between sheets of plastic wrap just enough to make them fairly even in thickness. 

  3. In a large nonreactive bowl, container, or zip-close bag, combine the pineapple juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and brown sugar; blend well. Add 1 teaspoon of sambal, if desired.

  4. Put the chicken breasts in the container or bag with the marinade. Turn the pieces to make sure they are thoroughly coated with the sauce. Add more pineapple juice if necessary to cover.

  5. Cover the container and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

  6. Oil the grill grate liberally and heat the grill to medium-high heat, about 375 F to 400 F. 

  7. Remove the chicken pieces from the refrigerator and discard the marinade.

  8. Grill the chicken—and the pineapple slices, if desired—over medium-high direct heat for just a few minutes on each side, or until the chicken registers at least 165 F on an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken. Take care not to overcook, or the chicken will be dry.

Broiled Chicken Directions

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. To broil the chicken, preheat the broiler and arrange the marinated chicken on a well-oiled broiler pan. Broil about 3 to 4 inches from the heat source for about 8 to 12 minutes, turning about halfway through the cooking time. The internal temperature must reach at least 165 F after a few minutes of resting time.

  3. Add the pineapple slices, if using, about halfway through the cooking time and turn them to brown both sides.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Tip

  • According to USDA guidelines, the minimum safe temperature for chicken is 165 F. The temperature will rise slightly if you tent the chicken with foil immediately and let it rest for a few minutes.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
178 Calories
2g Fat
19g Carbs
20g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 178
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 51mg 17%
Sodium 485mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 47mg 235%
Calcium 35mg 3%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 372mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)