Indulge in a culinary journey with our tantalizing Pineapple Marinated Chicken Breasts, where sweet and savory flavors dance harmoniously. This dish promises a burst of tropical zest that will transport your taste buds to a tropical paradise. Marinated in a delectable blend of pineapple juice, tangy lime, aromatic garlic, and a symphony of herbs and spices, our chicken breasts emerge supremely succulent and bursting with juicy goodness.
Accompanying this main course, we've curated a collection of complementary recipes that elevate the dining experience. Dive into the creamy richness of our Avocado Ranch Dressing, adding a luscious touch to your chicken and salad. For a refreshing side dish, whip up our vibrant Pineapple Salsa, a medley of fresh pineapple, crisp cucumber, and zesty red onion, bursting with summery flavors. And to quench your thirst, quench your thirst with our invigorating Pineapple Mojito, a delightful fusion of pineapple, mint, and lime, perfect for any occasion.
PINEAPPLE-MARINATED CHICKEN BREASTS
Bromelain, the group of enzymes in fresh pineapple, is excellent at breaking down the connective tissues in thick, fibrous chicken breasts. In this simple marinade, grated pineapple completely alters the texture of the breast meat, resulting in something that's akin to luscious dark meat. Briefly marinating here is important: Leave it too long and the chicken will fall apart during cooking, becoming shreddy and a little gluey. Fifteen minutes is the sweet spot. The accompanying pineapple salsa is a bright topping for the juicy morsels of aromatic chicken and rice.
Provided by Eric Kim
Categories dinner, weeknight, poultry, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large bowl, stir together the brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, garlic powder, ground cayenne and black pepper. Transfer 1 tablespoon of this marinade mixture to a separate medium bowl and add the diced pineapple, red onion and cilantro. This is your salsa; toss until well mixed and set aside.
- Add the grated pineapple and its juices to the marinade mixture in the large bowl, then add the chicken and toss to coat. Set aside to marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes (and no longer).
- Once the chicken is done marinating, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high and add enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Add the chicken pieces, leaving any marinade behind, in a single layer so that they don't touch and let cook until the bottoms are browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides and no longer pink on the inside, 4 to 5 minutes more.
- Serve the chicken over rice and top with the reserved pineapple salsa.
MARINATED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH GRILLED PINEAPPLE RELISH
In this grilled chicken breast recipe, pineapple makes a fantastic marinade that caramelizes on the grill. Pineapple is grilled for the relish, too.
Provided by Eric Werner
Categories Chicken Grill/Barbecue Pineapple Jalapeño Chile Pepper Vinegar Summer Memorial Day Labor Day Father's Day Cilantro
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- To make the marinade: Slice the pineapple crosswise into 1-inch-thick rounds. Using a paring knife, remove the core from each round (this can be done roughly, since the core is edible). Chop half the pineapple coarsely; set aside the remaining half for the relish. Add the chopped pineapple to a blender, together with the jalapeño, onion, vinegar, garlic, and salt and blend until smooth. Transfer the marinade to a bowl, add the chicken breasts, and refrigerate, covered, for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours.
- Wipe the grill grates with oil to prevent sticking. Build a two-zone fire. Your high-heat zone should have embers 1 to 2 inches from the cooking surface, with occasional flames licking it. To create your medium-heat zone, nudge the embers 2 to 3 inches lower than that.
- To make the relish: Toss the remaining pineapple in oil, honey, and salt to coat. Grill over medium heat until it is nicely caramelized, about 3 minutes per side. Meanwhile, grill the jalapeño and onion over medium heat until lightly charred, turning often, about 3 minutes for the jalapeño and 8 minutes for the onion. As they finish cooking, transfer the pineapple, jalapeño, and onion to a cutting board.
- When they are cool enough to handle, coarsely chop the pineapple, jalapeño, and onion and add to a bowl with the vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, and cilantro. Season with more salt, and add more vinegar or honey, if needed. Set aside until ready to serve.
- Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade, shaking off any excess, and bring to room temperature. Place skin side down over high heat. After about 90 seconds, using tongs, rotate 45 degrees and cook for another 2 minutes. Flip the breasts and do the same on the other side. Once you have nice grill marks on both sides, move to medium heat and cook, turning often, until an instant-read meat thermometer, placed in the thickest part of a breast, reads 160ºF on a meat thermometer. Transfer to a cutting board and let the breasts rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving with the relish.
Tips:
- Choose ripe pineapples: The fresher the pineapple, the better the marinade will taste. Look for pineapples that are golden yellow and have a sweet aroma.
- Use a variety of spices: Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices to create a marinade that suits your taste. Some popular choices include garlic, ginger, cumin, and paprika.
- Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes: The longer the chicken marinates, the more flavorful it will be. If you're short on time, you can marinate the chicken for as little as 15 minutes, but the flavor will be less pronounced.
- Cook the chicken over medium heat: This will help to prevent the chicken from drying out. If you're cooking the chicken in a skillet, be sure to use a non-stick pan.
- Serve the chicken with your favorite sides: Pineapple marinated chicken can be served with a variety of sides, such as rice, quinoa, roasted vegetables, or a salad.
Conclusion:
Pineapple marinated chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. The marinade infuses the chicken with a sweet and tangy flavor, and the chicken can be cooked in a variety of ways. Whether you grill it, bake it, or pan-fry it, pineapple marinated chicken is sure to be a hit.
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