Hawaiian Chicken Coconut Rice (Printable)

Tender glazed chicken with fragrant coconut rice and fresh pineapple, delivering tropical island flavors in every bite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 3 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
03 - 2 tbsp honey
04 - 2 tbsp pineapple juice
05 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1 tbsp sesame oil
09 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Coconut Rice

10 - 1½ cups jasmine rice, rinsed
11 - 1 cup coconut milk (full fat, unsweetened)
12 - 1¼ cups water
13 - ½ tsp salt

→ For Serving

14 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, cubed
15 - 2 green onions, sliced
16 - 2 tbsp toasted shredded coconut (optional)
17 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
18 - Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

# How to Cook:

01 - Whisk together soy sauce, honey, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and black pepper in a bowl. Place chicken in a resealable bag or shallow dish and pour marinade over. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for deeper flavor.
02 - Combine rinsed jasmine rice, coconut milk, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, stir once, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
03 - Preheat grill or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and grill or sear for 5-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through and slightly caramelized. Discard any unused marinade.
04 - Let the cooked chicken rest for 5 minutes to retain juices, then slice or leave whole as preferred.
05 - Arrange chicken over a bed of coconut rice. Top with pineapple cubes, green onions, toasted coconut, sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet and savory marinade creates restaurant worthy caramelization without any fancy techniques
  • Coconut rice transforms ordinary rice into something creamy and aromatic that pairs with everything
  • Everything comes together in under an hour with ingredients you can actually find
02 -
  • Marinating longer than 2 hours can make the texture mushy because the pineapple juice is a powerful tenderizer
  • Coconut milk settles in the can so always shake vigorously before measuring
  • Resisting the urge to peek at the rice while it simmers is the secret to perfect texture
03 -
  • Pat the chicken completely dry before cooking to ensure proper caramelization
  • Let your skillet get properly hot before adding the first piece of meat
  • Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly than cold straight from the fridge

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