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This colorful 20 Minute Ginger Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry is inspired by my dad’s speedy summertime stir fry. Just a bit healthier, quicker, and with a few little tweaks that make it unique and maybe even more delicious! The ground chicken (or pork) is cooked in a golden buttery spicy chili garlic sauce before adding fresh chunks of bell peppers and sweet pineapple. Serve this simply with steamed rice and fresh herbs. The addition of Thai red curry paste and that sweet pineapple are the secrets here. It’s saucy, salty, tangy-sweet, and has just the right amount of spice!
After spending a couple of days in LA last week, I am absolutely in full-time summer mode. The weather ended up being pretty nice for most of my stay. The roses, jasmine, and fresh lilacs were all blooming and the homes around Beverly Hills all smelled incredible. It definitely felt like summer.
Upon returning I knew I needed to find a way to make it feel like summer here too. I decided to make my own version of my Dad’s summer stir-fry. In the summer, Dad was a big stir-fry guy. He’d toss chicken in a pan, add veggies, and then his special sauce. He kept it simple, but we always enjoyed those fast summer dinners of his!
The stir fry I’m sharing today isn’t a lot like Dad’s, but the idea was taken from his quick, in-a-pinch, dinner.
Here are some details
Step 1: cook the chicken
I like to use ground chicken for my stir fry. This saves me the step of cutting yucky raw chicken! It’s my little trick for super fast chicken dishes. Brown the chicken in olive oil and black pepper (or feel free to use ground beef or pork). Then, add a few pats of butter, a couple tablespoons of Thai red curry paste, fresh chopped garlic, and ginger.
Allow the butter to brown around the chicken and the garlic to turn a light golden shade. At this point, the dish should already be smelling wonderful.
Step 2: add the pineapple
When the butter browns and the dish is smelling fragrant and yummy, mix in the bell peppers, chunks of fresh pineapple, and either cashews or peanuts. Whatever you love most, or do a mix!!
At this point, you can also add in a few spoonfuls of pickled sushi-style ginger, which is a favorite ingredient of mine. This is optional, but delicious of course!
Be sure to save half of the chopped pineapples for serving.
Step 3: the sauce
Just before everything is finished cooking, mix in the tamari (or soy sauce) and honey. Let the sauce thicken around the chicken.
Meanwhile, you can toss the remaining pineapple chunks with fresh chopped cilantro and I love to use some fresh Thai Basil here too! Super good!
When the stir fry is looking perfect, remove the whole skillet from the heat.
Step 4: serve the stir fry
I serve my stir fry over bowls of steamed rice with fresh pineapple on top. I also add green onions plus a small drizzle of sweet Thai chili sauce. It just adds a little something special to each bowl!
This is a dinner the whole family really will enjoy!
Looking for other quick weeknight dinners? Here are some favorites:
20 Minute Garlic Butter Cashew Chicken
Sweet and Sticky Vegetable Stir Fry
20 Minute Thai Basil Beef Rolls
Chili Crisp Chicken Mango Cucumber Rice Bowl
30 Minute Sticky Thai Meatballs with Sesame Noodles
Better Than Takeout Sweet Thai Basil Chicken
Thai Basil Beef and Lemongrass Rice Bowls
Lastly, if you make this 20 Minute Ginger Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
20 Minute Ginger Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 491 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil or olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken (or ground pork)
- black pepper and chili flakes
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1-3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
- 2 bell peppers, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 cup cashews or peanuts
- 1/2 cup tamari or soy sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons honey (or real maple syrup)
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped Thai basil or basil
- sweet Thai chili sauce and sesame seeds for topping (optional)
Instructions
- 1. In a large skillet, combine the oil, chicken, and black pepper. Cook over medium heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chili paste, butter, garlic, and ginger. Cook 2 minutes, until the butter browns and the chicken gets crispy.2. Mix in the peppers, 3/4 cup pineapple, and cashews. Cook another 2-5 minutes. Pour over the tamari and honey. Cook until the sauce coats the chicken, 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat.3. In a bowl, toss 3/4 cup pineapple with the cilantro and basil. 4. Serve the chicken, peppers, and sweet chili sauce over bowls of rice. Top with the pineapple/cilantro/basil. Add the chopped green onions, and if desired, serve with sweet Thai chili sauce and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on June 5, 2023
Excited to try this recipe. The ingredients say red curry paste, but instructions say to add chili paste. Can you confirm which should be added to the chicken after it’s been cooked?
Thank you!
Hi Kate,
After the chicken is cooked, I like to add a Thai chili sauce for topping:) In step 1, you are going to use the curry paste. I hope this helps!
Way too salty! If I make again, I’ll use 1/2 the soy sauce, perhaps adding in pineapple juice and or chicken broth to make a sauce. No need for salted butter either, unsalted is fine. Other ingredients were delicious.
Hi Colleen,
Thanks so much for trying this dish and sharing your feedback. So very sorry to hear it was too salty!
My family loves this! It’s been on rotation for the last few months.
Hey Joni,
Wonderful! I appreciate you making this recipe so often and your comment, so glad to hear it is always enjoyed!!
This was really easy and delicious. Will make again!
Hey Emily,
Yay!! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it and your comment! xx
Was looking for a quick last minute meal and found this. You must make it! So delicious & was actually only 20ish minutes!! Even better as lunch the next day. Definitely going into the regular rotation! Tieghan, your recipes made up just about our entire meal plan this week.
Thank you so much, Sarah!! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe and appreciate you making it! Have the best weekend! xT
I took this recipe served over rice in plastic bowls with all the toppings suggested to an outing with some friends. I was to bring the main and they were bringing the appetizer and dessert. It was amazing!! So So yummy that they even asked for the recipe after they got home. We even had it again tonight. Definitely recommend everyone try it, especially the pineapple with cilantro and basil as a topping!! You crushed it Tieghan.
Thanks so much, Gail:) I’m so glad to hear this dish turned out nicely and appreciate you making it! XxT
This is my go to weekday recipe, I love to add pak choi and green beans too!
Hey Danni,
Awesome!! Love to hear this recipe always turns out nicely for you, thanks for making it so often! Hope you are enjoying fall! XxT
Loved it! Made the recipe as written. Full of flavor! Will definitely make again. Love the idea of using ground chicken. So much easier than cutting up breasts or thighs.
Hey Kathleen,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it was a winner! Have a great week:)
Was going well until the soy sauce, made it so salty it was inedible
Hi Sue,
Thanks for trying this recipe, so sorry to hear it was so salty. I would use low sodium soy sauce or tamari next time. I hope this helps! xT
So tasty, quick and fun to make.
Here in Canada beef is now too expensive to eat often, so it’s great to make such a delicious meal using chicken. Thank you Teighan!
Hey Pauline,
Happy Sunday!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it! xT
I really liked this! I decided to add in sugar snap peas as well and it turned out yummy!
Hey Rhaine,
Wonderful! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear it turned out well! x
Great flavors but so spicy my family couldn’t eat it! 🔥
Hi Randi,
Thanks for trying this dish and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear it was so spicy! xx
I have made this dish a few times alreadg and it’s delicious. It’s super easy to change up according to what I have left at home. Thanks for sharing 🤗
Hey Chelsea,
Love to hear this! Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try and your comment! Have the best day:)
Absolutely fabulous! The flavors are so fresh with the pineapple and fresh basil. Thank you again for another spectacular recipe!
Hey Tracey,
Wonderful!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a lot for making it! Xx
My husband and I do Weight Watchers so I did tweak a few things to bring down the WW points and I can’t tell you how delicious it was, along with fast and easy to make!! We didn’t want dinner to end….LOL I will be making this again, sooner than later.
Hey Lori,
Awesome!! So glad to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it:) Thanks for sharing your feedback! xT