This 3-ingredient Hawaiian chicken is the kind of recipe that saves dinner on a busy weeknight and makes meal prep feel almost too easy. Sweet pineapple and a savory sauce cook down into a glossy glaze that coats tender bites of chicken, giving you a colorful, family-friendly dish with almost no prep work. It has that classic sweet-and-savory takeout-inspired flavor, but with a short ingredient list that makes it perfect for hectic workweeks.
Serve this chicken over steamed white rice, brown rice, or jasmine rice to soak up every bit of the sauce. It also works well with simple sides like steamed broccoli, roasted green beans, snap peas, or a quick cabbage slaw if you want more color and crunch. For meal prep, I like packing it into containers with rice and an extra spoonful of pineapple so lunch is ready to grab the next day.
3-Ingredient Hawaiian Chicken
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
Directions
1. Place the chicken pieces in a large skillet, baking dish, or slow cooker, then pour in the barbecue sauce and the entire can of pineapple chunks with the juice.
2. Stir everything together so the chicken is evenly coated, then cook over medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened into a glaze. If baking instead, cover and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
3. Check that the chicken is fully cooked, then spoon the glazed Hawaiian chicken over rice or divide it into meal prep containers and let it cool slightly before sealing.
Variations & Tips
Use chicken thighs: If you want juicier meat that reheats especially well for lunches, use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts. They stay tender and are a great choice if you know the dish will sit in the fridge for a few days.
Make it saucier: For extra sauce to spoon over rice, add an additional 1/4 to 1/2 cup barbecue sauce during cooking. This is especially helpful if you are stretching the recipe for meal prep bowls with rice and vegetables.
Add a little tang: A splash of soy sauce, a bit of grated ginger, or a squeeze of lime can deepen the flavor without making the recipe any harder. These are easy add-ins when you want the dish to taste a little more homemade while still keeping the base recipe simple.
Prevent overcooking: Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces so it cooks at the same rate, and start checking for doneness a little early if you are using chicken breast. Once the sauce is thick and the chicken is cooked through, take it off the heat so the glaze stays glossy instead of reducing too far.
