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)
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.
Video
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Super easy and very tasty!
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed. 🙂
This was so easy and delicious! I agree most take out sauces are too sweet. This one was perfect!
Thanks so much!
Made this as a family meal tonight, even though I am only one doing AIP. They loved it and my 12 year old son even asked for more. Thank you!
Yay! I’m so glad!! Thanks so much.
Absolutely fantastic! Every bite is so delicious! I love the tropical flavors!
I’m going to make this tonight! My family will love it. I’ll use tapioca flour to thicken, because my youngest seems to react to arrowroot. Thanks, Jean, such a fun dinner.
Jean, just wanted you to know that we loved this. I made it tonight. My son put extra sauce on his rice and ate it with a spoon. Everyone said how good it was. Thanks again. It’s a keeper I’ll make again!
Yay! I’m so glad you like it! Thank you so much!!
This is delicious and so easy to make! I wish I would have doubled the recipe!
Thanks so much!
Using pineapple is the perfect way to add sweetness and more flavor – definitely adding this to my weeknight dinners!
That teriaki sauce is delightful and sweet with the pineapple in it. So good with chicken & cauliflower rice.
Yum is all I need to say!
Made this tonight! Even my picky family was on board. Super easy and delish!
Amazing! So happy you enjoyed it.
Jean unni,
Delicious, fast meal! Look forward to meal prepping this with rice and broccoli. Plus I made extra sauce so who isn’t not loving this?!
So glad you enjoyed it!! YESSS, all the rice and broccoli with this. That’s how I enjoy it too!
I made this tonight and served with rice and green beans. Was a big hit with the entire family! Also did 1.5 times the quantity of sauce b/c my chicken was a little over 2lbs. Fed all four of us plus enough for two lunches tomorrow!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad your whole family enjoyed it. 🙂
Another great recipe, Jean! The pineapple added a sweetness to the sauce that which was just perfect. I added some shredded carrots and broccoli and served over cauliflower rice – super delicious meal!
Sounds amazing. Thank you so much!
We absolutely loved this recipe! I couldn’t believe how easy it was to put together and such great flavor overall. We enjoyed over a bed of cauliflower rice with chopped red & green peppers and all the flavor melded together famously. I cannot wait to make this again.
Thank you for a clean take on a delicious favorite. The pineapple + coconut aminos is a perfect combo without being too sweet!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! I love the idea of adding red and green peppers. I’ll have to try that!
If I used ginger paste instead of fresh ginger, how much would you use? Thanks!
You can try 1 1/2 tsp
I tried this recipe, not only did it not look like the picture it tasted to salty. $9.00 down the drain.
I’ve never heard that yet! Sorry that happened. Did you use sea salt and not table salt? Sea salt is less salty by volume. Also, you can save the recipe by making more chicken (don’t add salt) and adding to the sauce.
I had the same issue. Had to throw it away. Realized later I had used liquid aminos rather than coconut aminos. BIG mistake on my end!
I wish i would have started with 1 tbsp of acv. That’s all I can taste in the entire recipe. I’ll eat it, it’s must very overwhelming with acv taste.
If you don’t like the sourness, yes – definitely cut down the acv.
This was incredibly easy to make and super delicious! I added red pepper and broccoli and served over cauli rice – I will definitely make this again.
Thank you so much!
This was ahhhhh-mazing. I actively pulled out my computer to write this review so 1) I wouldn’t eat it all and 2) I had to tell the world that you have to make this because it’s SO good. I ate it with roasted broccoli and plain white rice and I really thought I was eating take out – but in a way that wont me feel slightly sick that I overindulged.
Thank you so much, Angela!! Makes me sooo happy that you enjoyed it so much.
Do you think mango would work ok. Instead of the pineapple?
You’ll probably be able to taste the mango but if you don’t mind that, it’ll work just fine!
This was an amazing meal!
I doubled the recipe for my family of 8 and I wish I would have made more.
Even my picky eaters cleaned up their plates! We will now be adding this meal to our rotation.
This recipe was incredibly easy to make and absolutely delicious. The pineapple adds the perfect sweetness!
This was SO DELICIOUS!! 10 out of 10 recommended! The whole family loved it and it was so simple to make. We served ours with some sliced steamed carrots & cauliflower rice. It paired PERFECTLY! This recipe fed 3 with no left overs so for larger families double the recipe! Thank you for this amazingly delicious and fresh recipe!! We will be making this again 🙂
Thank you so so much! So glad your whole family loved it.
I’ve already made this several times and the whole family loves it! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. I’m 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!
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!!
Really good recipe!!!!
Thanks 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.