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This Whole30 pineapple teriyaki chicken recipe is a quick and healthy weeknight meal, only sweetened with pineapple that’s blended in the addicting sauce. It comes together in 15 minutes and you’ll never get takeout again!
I’ve never really been a huge fan of teriyaki sauce unless I made it at home. Most teriyaki sauce from restaurants always tasted way too sickeningly sweet to me, and I always felt my blood sugar spiking after eating it. However, cooking at home allows to control my own spices and sweetness, and it’s the only way I enjoy any teriyaki dish now.
How to Make this Whole30 Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
For this Whole30 teriyaki chicken, fresh or canned pineapple chunks are used to sweeten the sauce. The tart flavor of the pineapple complements this dish perfectly, and it’s been our go-to weeknight meal! Best of all, it only takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish
Watch the Recipe Video Here:
Recipe Ingredients
This Whole30 teriyaki chicken requires some simple ingredients that come together so quickly! There are 2 components for this dish: the chicken and the Whole30 teriyaki sauce:
To Make the Chicken
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- salt
- ghee: You can also use coconut oil
- garlic
- sesame seeds and chopped green onions: For the AIP version, just omit the sesame seeds.
To Make the Sauce:
- fresh OR canned pineapple chunks: Make sure there’s no sugar added! Crushed pineapples can also work in a pinch
- coconut aminos: A great alternative to soy sauce if you want to avoid soy
- ginger
- vinegar
- arrowroot starch: Tapioca starch will also work in a pinch!
You just blend the sauce ingredients together until smooth in texture. The arrowroot starch helps the sauce thicken once the chicken is cooked and heated. Once you have the sauce ready, it’s very easy to make this Whole30 and paleo teriyaki chicken that you’ll want over and over again!
Step-by Step Directions: How to Make Whole30 Teriyaki Chicken
Once the Whole30 terikyaki sauce is made, the rest of the pineapple teriyaki chicken recipe is easy breezy:
- Stir fry the chicken pieces in oil on the stove top until the chicken is cooked. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Cook garlic in the same pan until golden and fragrant.
- Add the blended sauce in the pan and simmer for 1 minute until thickened.
- Add the chicken back in the pan and cook in the sauce for 2 minutes until heated through.
That’s it! Super easy, better-than-takeout gluten free teriyaki chicken. You can sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions before serving, and the leftovers save well too. Serve with cauliflower rice, white rice, or brown rice for a complete meal!
Tips and FAQs for this Recipe
Either skinless boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs will work. I personally prefer thighs because they are more flavorful and juicier. Either one will work well though!
If using pre-cooked chicken, you can just chop it up into bite-sized pieces then add it at the end with the sauce. No need to brown it beforehand. Same thing with canned chicken.
For frozen chicken, make sure to defrost it completely before using it in the recipe.
Leftovers of Whole30 teriyaki chicken can be enjoyed for up to 3 days. Just store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
There are so many ways to enjoy this Whole30 and paleo teriyaki chicken, and the possibilities are endless. Here are some ideas on how to serve this delicious dish:
– with cauliflower rice, or regular white or brown rice if not avoiding grains
– broccoli
– green beans
– snap peas
– roasted carrots
– broccoli rabe
– sautéed zucchini
It goes well with so many stir-fry veggies so feel free to experiment!
If you enjoyed this pineapple teriyaki chicken recipe, you might also love…
- Paleo & Whole30 Sesame Chicken – Stovetop & Air Fryer Method
- Paleo Chicken Yakitori aka Japanese Chicken Skewers (Whole30, Keto, AIP Option)
- Whole30 Mongolian Beef (Paleo, Keto, AIP Option)
- Gluten Free Hot Dog Fried Rice (Paleo & Whole30 Option)
- Paleo & Whole30 Mandarin Chicken Salad with Coconut Chips
Whole30 Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Recipe (Paleo, AIP)
Video
Ingredients
- 1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 tsp sea salt, or more to taste
- 1 tbsp ghee, or coconut oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Sesame seeds and chopped green onions, to serve (omit seasame seeds for AIP)
Pineapple Teriyaki Sauce
- 1 cup fresh or canned pineapple chunks
- 1/2 cup coconut aminos
- 1/2 inch fresh ginger
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar, or rice vinegar
- 2 tsp arrowroot starch
Instructions
- Place all ingredients for the pineapple teriyaki sauce in a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.
- Toss the chicken pieces with salt.
- Heat ghee in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add the chicken to the pan and cook stirring until browned on all sides, about 3 minutes. Remove from the pan.
- Add garlic to the pan and stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the prepared pineapple teriyaki sauce and use a wooden spoon to scrap the bottom of the pan as it heats.
- Simmer the sauce for 1 minute until thickened.
- Add the chicken pieces to the sauce, and simmer for 2 minutes until heated through. Taste and add more sale, as needed.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, and serve with cauliflower rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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You have made my whole week with this recipe. I’ve been on AIP for just a few weeks and have tried so many recipes that everyone claims are delicious but when made they are either tasteless or resemble what I can imagine something I dug up from the dirt would taste like. This was incredible! The first recipe that I like better than takeout or even something homemade. And it’s so simple. My family doesnt do AIP and refuse anything i say is made with AIP restrictions but this, loved every bite and asked me to make it again. Thank you so much!
LOVED this!!! Will be a new weekly staple in our house for sure! Do you know if they sauce can be made ahead of time and freeze for even faster cooking later in the week?
Thank you so much!! You can freeze the sauce but I would mix in the arrowroot starch right before cooking it after it’s defrosted. Freezing starch will make it lose its thickening ability.
Really good recipe!!!!
Thanks so much!!
I am obsessed with this recipe!!! First try went so well, added a little extra seasoning on the chicken but will definitely be adding to my weekly rotations!!
Thank you so much!!
Iโve already made this several times and the whole family loves it! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. Iโm going to throw the sauce and uncooked chicken in the crock pot tomorrow morning. It will be the first time I try the recipe that way and I bet it will turn out great!
Amazing!! That makes me so happy. Thank you so much for your review!