Published . Last updated By Elizabeth Lindemann   /  This post may contain affiliate links.
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5 from 11 votes
Whenever I have a craving for Chinese food, I always have a tough decision to make. Get take-out, which includes driving at least 25 minutes each way, knowing it’s not going to settle well? Or make it myself? Lately, I’ve been opting to make it at home more often- a cheaper andhealthier option. I made this Skinny Pineapple Chicken with Cashews the other day and wow… absolutely delicious! It was easy to make, it’s low-fat and healthy, it settles well, and tastes amazing.
AND, it doesn’t have any added sugar! The sauce is AMAZING. The sweetness of the pineapple is just enough to make a slightly sweet brown sauce, complimented by a hint of spiciness from Sriracha sauce, umami from soy sauce and toasted sesame oil, earthiness from garlic, coriander, and ginger, and acidity from rice wine vinegar.
ANDDDDDDD, the whole meal only takes 20 minutes to make!
This is the perfect recipe for this busy back-to-school time of year. The sauce can even be made ahead of time for an extra quick and easy weeknight meal, if you’re into meal planning.
Yup, this is definitely being added to my regular dinner rotation.
First, cook some chicken breast (or thigh) meat with a touch of oil, seasoned with salt and pepper, in a skillet.
Then, make the sauce. Simply mix the ingredients together in a bowl or glass measuring cup.
Lastly, heat up the sauce in the same skillet, add a slurry of cornstarch and water, stir until it’s thickened, and add some cashews and pineapple. That’s it!
Usually, I garnish stir-fries with chopped green onion, but I chose fresh cilantro this time. You don’t have to use a garnish at all, but be warned: it won’t be as pretty :-)
If you like making your own Chinese-inspired food at home, be sure to check out this easy sweet and sour chicken. And also, check out my friend Maggie’s blog, Omnivore’s Cookbook, for authentic Chinese meals you can make at home!
Other Savory Pineapple Recipes
- Hawaiian Pizza
- Pineapple Salsa
- Pineapple and Ham Fried Rice
- Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple
Printable recipe below, including adaptions for making this gluten-free or Paleo/Whole30 compliant.
Skinny Pineapple Chicken with Cashews
This skinny pineapple chicken with cashews is a healthy, low-fat stir fry you can make in 20 minutes! Naturally sweetened from fresh pineapple in a thick and delicious sauce brown sauce.
5 from 11 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 354kcal
Author: Elizabeth Lindemann
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil or other neutral tasting oil
- 1.5 lbs chicken breasts cut into 1/2" cubes
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 cup diced pineapple fresh or canned, juices reserved
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons corn starch
- 1/2 cup cashews
- steamed rice and fresh cilantro for serving (optional)
Instructions
Heat the oil (1 tablespoon) in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add the cut up chicken breast meat to the skillet and season with salt and pepper.
Cook chicken on all sides until browned on the outside and fully cooked, about 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix together the 2 minced cloves garlic, ginger (1 tablespoon), rice vinegar (2 tablespoons), sriracha (2 teaspoons), sesame oil (1/2 teaspoon), and soy sauce (2 tablespoons), along with any pineapple juice that's been reserved, in a small bowl or glass measuring cup.
Whisk together corn starch (2 teaspoons) and 1/4 cup water in a separate small bowl until a smooth slurry is formed.
Add the sauce to the skillet with the chicken. Then, stir in the cornstarch slurry. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 3 minutes).
Add the cashews (1/2 cup) and diced pineapple (1 cup) to the skillet.
Serve over steamed rice garnished with fresh cilantro.
Notes
- For easy weekend meal prep: mix the sauce together ahead of time and store in your refrigerator for up to a week.
- Make it gluten-free: use gluten-free soy sauce.
- Make it paleo: use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce and arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch.
- Money saving tip:Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts.
- The provided nutrition information does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. Feel free to calculate it yourself using thiscalculatoror by adding the recipe toYummly.
Nutrition
Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 756mg | Potassium: 800mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition Information Disclaimer
The provided nutrition information is my best estimate and does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. I use an automatic API to calculate this information. Feel free to calculate it yourself using one of these tools:
My Fitness Pal Recipe Nutrition Calculator
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