Pineapple Chicken Rice Bake (Printable)

Savory chicken and pineapple blend with fluffy rice and teriyaki glaze for a comforting dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (about 1.3 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Rice

02 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed

→ Vegetables & Fruit

03 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, cut into 1-inch pieces or canned and drained
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 green onions, sliced for garnish

→ Teriyaki Glaze

07 - 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
08 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
09 - 2 tablespoons honey
10 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
12 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
14 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

→ Liquids

15 - 1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Optional Garnish

16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - In a saucepan over medium heat, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Bring to a simmer, then stir in the cornstarch slurry. Cook for 1-2 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - Spread rinsed rice evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with chopped onion, bell pepper, and pineapple pieces.
04 - Arrange chicken pieces over the rice and vegetables. Pour chicken broth evenly over the dish. Drizzle half of the teriyaki glaze over the chicken and rice.
05 - Cover tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
06 - Remove foil, drizzle remaining teriyaki glaze over the dish, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
07 - Let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with green onions and toasted sesame seeds before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one dish, which means minimal cleanup and maximum flavor bonding happening in that baking pan.
  • The teriyaki glaze gets glossy and caramelized while the pineapple stays juicy, creating this addictive sweet-savory balance that keeps you coming back for more.
  • It feels like a restaurant-quality fusion dinner but comes together so easily you could make it on a random weeknight without stress.
02 -
  • Rinse your rice before it goes in the dish—this one habit prevents the whole thing from becoming a starchy, gluey mess that tastes like paste instead of a vibrant casserole.
  • Don't skip the 5-minute rest at the end; it's the difference between rice that's fluffy and separate versus rice that's still absorbing liquid and falling apart when you scoop it.
03 -
  • If your chicken pieces are uneven in size, cut them so everything cooks at the same rate—smaller pieces on their own take less time, which means inconsistent doneness across the dish.
  • Don't crowd the baking dish; a little space between ingredients lets the heat circulate and cook more evenly instead of steaming unevenly on one side.
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