Hawaiian Chicken Coconut Rice (Printable)

Marinated chicken served over fragrant coconut rice with fresh pineapple for tropical island flavors.

# What goes in:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 3 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
03 - 2 tbsp honey
04 - 2 tbsp pineapple juice
05 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
06 - 2 garlic cloves minced
07 - 1 tsp fresh ginger grated
08 - 1 tbsp sesame oil
09 - 0.25 tsp black pepper

→ Coconut Rice

10 - 1.5 cups jasmine rice rinsed
11 - 1 cup full fat unsweetened coconut milk
12 - 1.25 cups water
13 - 0.5 tsp salt

→ For Serving

14 - 1 cup fresh pineapple cubed
15 - 2 green onions sliced
16 - 2 tbsp toasted shredded coconut
17 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds
18 - Fresh cilantro leaves

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together soy sauce, honey, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and black pepper in a bowl. Place chicken in a resealable bag or shallow dish and pour marinade over the top. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for deeper flavor development.
02 - Combine rinsed jasmine rice, coconut milk, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low. Stir once, cover tightly, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
03 - Preheat grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from marinade and cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F and the surface is slightly caramelized. Discard any remaining marinade.
04 - Transfer cooked chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Slice into strips or leave whole, as preferred.
05 - Place a bed of coconut rice on each plate. Arrange chicken on top and garnish with fresh pineapple cubes, sliced green onions, toasted shredded coconut, sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro leaves.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its a vacation on a plate that comes together in under an hour
  • The marinade creates this gorgeous sticky glaze that people think you slaved over
  • Coconut rice is the kind of side dish that makes people ask for the recipe
02 -
  • Discard the leftover marinade, never reuse it after raw chicken has soaked in it
  • Coconut milk separates, so give it a good shake before measuring
  • Jasmine rice rinsing is the difference between fluffy and gummy results
03 -
  • Spatulalinged chicken breasts slice more cleanly and stay juicier
  • A splash of lime juice right before serving brightens everything

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