One Pot Hawaiian Chicken with Coconut Rice

This Hawaiian chicken recipe is made with tender chicken thighs flavored with a tropical pineapple marinade and cooked in one pot with fluffy coconut rice. This one pot dinner is great for any night of the week!

Looking for more one pot meals? Try one pot spanish chicken and rice, one skillet lemon chicken orzo, or healthy chicken pad thai next.

Scroll down to the recipe video if you prefer to watch instead of read!

My husband is obsessed with all things Hawaiian and coconut. His favorite pizza is Canadian bacon and pineapple, so I figured it was time to make a flavorful Hawaiian chicken dish at home. He went crazy for this meal!

We love one pot meals and sheet pan meals around here. They make for the perfect weeknight meal. For another easy chicken dinner, try our Instant Pot Greek Chicken and Rice.

What makes this recipe so good?

• It’s really healthy! Full of protein, healthy fats, and fresh veggies, plus it’s gluten free and dairy free.
• This go-to recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make, so it’s great for busy weeknights.
• It’s all made in one pot, so that means one pot to clean!
• Picky eater in the house? No worries! The whole family will love this easy weeknight meal thanks to its amazing flavors.

Ingredients You Need

Here is the simple ingredient list for this one pot Hawaiian chicken recipe. Most are pantry staples and easy (and affordable) to find at the grocery store. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements and nutrition information.

Chicken and Marinade

• Coconut aminos: Substitute with soy sauce if needed.
• Full fat canned coconut milk: See our suggestions for coconut milk substitutes.
• Honey: Adds natural sweetness.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic is best.
• Sesame oil: Adds a deep, nutty flavor.
• Kosher salt: Kosher salt is best for cooking.
• Pineapple juice: Should be 100% pineapple juice. (Use the juice from the canned pineapple below.)
• Boneless skinless chicken thighs: Makes tender juicy chicken pieces.
• Olive oil: Substitute with avocado oil.

Tropical Coconut Pineapple Rice

• Full fat coconut milk: See our suggestions for coconut milk substitutes.
• Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, ground ginger, kosher salt, and pepper.
• Jasmine rice: Or any long-grain white rice.
• Can of pineapple chunks: In 100% pineapple juice
• Garnishes: Cilantro, chopped cashews, or toasted coconut.

How to Make Hawaiian Chicken

he full printable recipe is below, but let’s walk through the steps with some photos and a video so you have a clear idea of what to expect. This pineapple chicken recipe is really easy and these step-by-step instructions will make sure it turns out every time.

Make the marinade: Combine the marinade ingredients then add the chicken and toss to coat well. After that, marinate in the fridge for 1-24 hours.

Cook the chicken: Sear the chicken to a hot pan with olive oil and discard the remaining marinade. Sear for 3-4 minutes on one side then flip it over and cook for another 1-2 minutes then transfer to a plate.

Make the rice: Add the coconut milk and pineapple juice to the same skillet the chicken was cooked in then add the spices. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat then stir in the uncooked rice and reserved fresh pineapple chunks and stir well.

Close the lid and cook: Add the browned chicken on top then close the lid, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the rice is fluffy and the cooked chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Prefer to watch instead of read?

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How Long to Marinate Chicken

The chicken thighs should marinate for 1-24 hours. The longer the better! If you’re The chicken thighs should marinate for 1-24 hours. The longer the better! If you’re short on time, one hour will do. For more tips on getting juicy, flavorful chicken, see our post on how to marinate chicken.

Pro tip: Throw the chicken and marinade together the night before so it’s ready for dinner the next day.

Does the pineapple juice make the chicken mushy? Canned pineapple juice infuses the chicken with a bright, sweet flavor while also tenderizing the meat. Be careful not to marinade it well over 24 hours to avoid it being mushy.

How to Make the Chicken Extra Crispy

The key to getting the outside of the chicken crispy is to sear the tops for 3-4 minutes The key to getting the outside of the chicken crispy is to sear the tops for 3-4 minutes over medium-high heat without moving them at all. This gives them an extra crispy crust. Color equals flavor in cooking!

What to serve with Hawaiian Chicken

This recipe is a great one pot meal, so my first recommendation is the tropical coconut rice.

This recipe is a great one pot meal, so my first recommendation is the tropical coconut rice. However, you could serve it with side dishes like snap peas or air fryer asparagus or a side salad like a fresh cucumber tomato avocado salad.

Want to add more veggies? Add some diced red bell pepper to the rice with the coconut and stir in spinach to wilt at the end.

Recipe Variations

• If you don’t want to use white rice, use cauliflower rice or brown rice instead.
• Make some fun skewers on the side with leftover chunks of pineapple, bell peppers, grape tomatoes, and chunks of avocado.
• Add more fun toppings like green onions, sesame seeds, grated fresh ginger, or red pepper flakes for a little more heat.

Meal Prep & Storage

This is an easy recipe to meal prep. Just divide the chicken and rice evenly into individual storage containers. Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days and reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments.

 If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. You can also tag me on Instagram so I can see it!

More of Our Favorite One Pot Meals

Looking for new recipes that make an easy dinner? Try any one of our one pot meals.

One pot Mexican beef and rice is another rice dish with savory flavor. If you’re looking for other easy chicken recipes, lemon garlic chicken asparagus pasta and one pot creamy cajun chicken pasta both call for boneless skinless chicken breasts. 

For a dish with Asian flare, give our sweet and spicy pork lettuce wraps or 30-minute chicken Pad Thai a try. Two favorite pasta dishes are our one pot creamy cajun chicken pasta and one pot taco pasta.