Barbecue Pineapple Chicken

Name: Barbecue Pineapple Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs boneless (skinless chicken breasts chopped); 1 cup barbecue sauce of choice (divided); 1 onion (large, sliced); 2 bell peppers (red and or green, chopped); 12 oz pineapple chunks fresh or frozen (thawed); 1 jalapeño ( seeded and diced); 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper

By Kevin

published Mar 22, 2022

4.93 from 14 votes

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Baked barbecue pineapple chicken takes freshness to a whole new level. Caramelized fruits and vegetables are ramped up with spicy jalapeños and your favorite barbecue sauce. Just a dash of salt and pepper with no other seasonings required, this juicy chicken is full of flavor bursting with every bite.

A plate full of bbq pineapple chicken and vegetables

Get your fix of sweet and heat with my baked pineapple chicken!

Cooking the pineapple helps to curb its tartness while accentuating its sweetness. Blended with smoky barbecue sauce, sweet bell peppers, and spicy jalapenos, it’s the perfect tropical treat!

The protein and heat in this dish makes it so energizing! Though sticky and savory, it isn’t at all heavy. Plated with white rice or fresh greens, you can serve this barbecue pineapple chicken for a taste of summer any time of the year.

ready to serve Barbecue Pineapple Chicken

You can use your choice of BBQ in this recipe… but why not make your own right at home? I have a couple recipes on my website that you can try out:

My North Carolina BBQ is thin and peppery.
This Kansas City Style sauce, on the other hand, is thick, sticky, and sweet.
A fruity and bright Raspberry Peach Chipotle BBQ is zesty and well-balanced.

INGREDIENT NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Chicken – Since we’ll be chopping it up and coating it with sauce, prep will be much easier and quicker with boneless breasts as opposed to other cuts. Tenderloins are a great substitute as well.
Barbecue Sauce – Use your favorite BBQ sauce in this dish! Something smoky, fruity, and with a bit of heat would be perfect. Any of my homemade sauces would be a great choice or my go to store bought is Loveless Cafe’s Sweet with a Bite BBQ Sauce.
Onions & Peppers – Not only will the aroma of these veggies be absolutely tantalizing, but their delicate sweet flavors will pair perfectly with the pineapple. White or yellow onions and red or green peppers are best suited for this recipe. Feel free to go with a mix!
Pineapple – Bite-sized chunks, either fresh or frozen, to bake with the meat. If using frozen, allow to thaw in the refrigerator before using.
Jalapeño Peppers – Be sure to seed and dice so that the heat isn’t too strong — follow along with the video to see how. The bright, refreshing spice in this pepper will blend with the fruity sweetness of the dish. Serrano or poblano chiles are possible substitutes.
Salt & Pepper – To lightly season and enhance the other flavors without compromising the natural flavors of the fruit, vegetables, and meat.

overhead shot of Barbecue Pineapple Chicken

HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE CHICKEN

Prepare Oven and Dish. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Meanwhile, generously coat your baking dish with oil or cooking spray.
Slice and Dice the Vegetables. Chop the onion into thin slices — this is easier when you halve the onion first. Slice the bell peppers similarly, chopping into bite-sized pieces. Remove the seeds from the jalapeno pepper and dice. Put the chopped veggies to the side, keeping the individual veggies separate.
Marinate. Place the chicken in a bowl and pour ⅔ cup of barbecue sauce over the top. Toss the meat in the sauce, coating evenly, and marinate for at least 15 minutes.
Layer the Ingredients. Place the onion slices on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Follow with the marinated meat, bell peppers, and pineapple chunks. Pour the last of the BBQ sauce over the dish and fold into the mixture to coat every ingredient. Top with the jalapenos and sprinkle the salt and pepper over the dish.
Bake. Pop into the oven and bake until the poultry reaches its safe internal temperature of 165°F, around 30-35 minutes.
Serve. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes. Spoon the leftover sauce over the meat, and serve!

Barbecue Pineapple Chicken in a casserole dish

What should I serve with pineapple barbecue chicken?

Keep things simple with fluffy white rice or a bright salad — or both! Crisp, fresh vegetables will balance out the warm, soft sweetness of the dish, and rice will taste phenomenal when it soaks up that sweet and spicy sauce.

Should I marinate barbecue pineapple chicken overnight?

You can if you want to prep it ahead of time. With cuts this small, 15 minutes is really all it takes to absorb a good amount of that BBQ flavor, but it won’t hurt to marinate for up to a day.

How do I get juicy baked chicken?

Be sure to let the meat rest after removing it from the oven! Otherwise, all of the juices will leak out and leave it dry. The larger the cut of meat, the longer it needs to rest. Since we’re working with bite-sized pieces, 5-10 minute should be plenty of time.

How long does barbecue pineapple chicken keep in the fridge?

Three to four days is the maximum amount of time to keep leftover poultry in the refrigerator.

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