Aloha Chicken and Rice Recipe – An Easy To Prepare Dinner Recipe

If someone told you that you you should try a meal called Aloha Chicken, what first comes to your mind? For me, I immediately think of a Hawaiian inspired dish that somehow incorporates chicken and pineapple.

Although this recipe actually does include those two items, it also is so much more! With just a few basic ingredients you will have a quick, easy, and delicious meal that brings a taste of the tropics to the dinner table!

The Hawaiian flavors in this dish comes from the pineapple and sweet bell pepper but also from the savory flavor of the chicken and rice. It is so good that it could definitely be served for Sunday Supper.

However, it is easy enough to prepare meal that it is also perfect to serve for busy weeknights. In fact, it is one of my favorite recipes to make whenever I have leftover meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken.

Not to mention, because it is made entirely in one pan, clean up is a breeze! And that is why this is one of my favorite dinner recipes to make.

Although it also makes for a great meal planning recipe. Prepare this recipe on the Sunday and then portion it out into individual servings.

Then whenever you need a tasty meal in a hurry, all you have to do is heat it up! Believe me, with just one taste, you will be glad to have this meal more than once!

Ingredients Required For Aloha Chicken

• Light brown sugar – Adds a subtle sweetness to the dish.

• Low-sodium soy sauce – Provides a savory, umami flavor.

• Low-sodium chicken broth – This is the liquid used to help the rice become nice and tender.

• Minced garlic – You can use fresh cloves or jarred garlic for convenience.

• Uncooked long-grain white rice – This is the base of the dish however you can substitute Jasmine or Basmati rice if desired.

• Diced onion – Adds texture and a mild, sweet flavor when baked.

• Red bell pepper – Provides color, crunch, and a touch of sweetness.

• Canned pineapple tidbits in juice – Adds a tropical taste to the dish.

• Cooked, shredded or diced chicken – A great use for leftover rotisserie chicken.

• Optional garnish – Sliced green onions for a pop of color and freshness.

Time Required To Prepare Aloha Chicken

The good news is that this recipe takes only minutes to prepare. In fact if you have your ingredients prepped ahead of time you can have this dish in the oven in only 5 minutes!

And if you have to dice the veggies, give yourself 10 minutes to get everything combined and ready to put in the oven!

What Type of Rice To Use

It’s best to use long-grain white, Jasmine, or Basmati rice for this recipe. All three varieties absorbs the flavors of the juices and cooks up to become nice and tender.

However be sure to avoid using long grain brown rice because it requires a longer cook time to become tender. And if you are thinking about using instant rice, forget it! You will end up with mushy rice.

Canned vs. Fresh Pineapple

If you are wondering if you can use fresh pineapple in this recipe, the answer is maybe. Because this recipe also requires pineapple juice canned pineapple is preferred.

However if you have leftover pineapple juice from making another dish, like Pineapple Fried Rice, you can definitely use fresh pineapple tidbits.

Cook Time Required For Aloha Chicken

Cook time may vary slightly depending on whether you use a glass or metal baking dish. Glass cooks a little faster than metal so you will need to adjust the time accordingly.

In general, when using a glass dish it takes approximately 1 hour in the oven to come to the perfect consistency and tenderness.

However, regardless of the type of pan that you choose it is crucial to cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil before it goes in the oven. This will ensure the rice cooks properly and has time to become nice and tender.

Cooked Chicken vs. Raw Chicken

Using cooked chicken, such as shredded rotisserie chicken, makes this recipe come together easily and with little effort. However, if you prefer, you can use 1 large chicken breast and cut it into 1/2-inch cubes and add it at the beginning of the recipe.

Just be sure that the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F when tested with an instant read digital thermometer.

Other Recipe Variations

Feel free to customize this dish by adding different vegetables or proteins. For instance, you can add chopped zucchini or even chopped cashews during the last 10 minutes of the bake time.

If you’re a fan of bacon or pork belly, you can incorporate it into the dish as well for an extra layer of flavor.

This Aloha Chicken Recipe is an easy-to-make recipe that brings the taste of the tropics right to your dinner table. With its combination of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors, it’s a guaranteed hit with your family and friends.

Aloha Chicken and Rice Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup soy sauce, low sodium
• 1 ½ cups chicken broth, low sodium
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
• medium onion, diced
• medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 (20 ounce) can pineapple tidbits in juice, not drained
• 2 cups cooked, shredded or diced chicken

Optional Garnish:

• sliced green onions

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with non stick cooking spray.

Add the brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and chicken broth to the baking dish and whisk to combine. Then add the uncooked rice, onion, bell pepper, and the entire can of pineapple tidbits (including the juice). Stir to combine.

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Then place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 55 minutes.

Uncover the dish and fluff the rice with a fork. If there is a lot of liquid still in the dish, cover and let the rice cook an additional 5-10 minutes.

Taste the rice for doneness. At this point the rice should be almost tender.

To finish off this Aloha Chicken recipe stir in the cooked, shredded or diced chicken. Then place the casserole dish back in the oven, uncovered. Bake for 10 minutes so the chicken can heat through.

Remove the dish from the oven and garnish with chopped green onions.

There you have it, an easy to prepare tropical dish that your entire family will love!

Enjoy! Mary

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