One pan meals are my secret weapon for keeping dinner easy, and this one pan Hawaiian chicken is an absolute winner!

Juicy chicken, sweet pineapple, and a tangy, sticky sauce all come together in one pan, which means fewer dishes and more time to actually enjoy your food.

Plus, it’s packed with protein, loaded with flavor, and great for leftovers (if there are any).

Grab a pan, throw it all together, and let’s make dinner ridiculously easy!

Delicious One Pan Hawaiian Chicken

This one pan Hawaiian chicken is everything a weeknight dinner should be—easy, flavorful, and made in a single pan for minimal cleanup.

Serve it over rice, tuck it into lettuce wraps, or just grab a fork and go for it straight from the pan.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• ½ red onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup barbecue sauce
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• ½ teaspoon ginger, grated
• ½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional, for a little heat)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water (for thickening)
• 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
• Sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
2. In the same pan, add the bell pepper, red onion, and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until slightly softened.
3. Stir in the pineapple chunks, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, ginger, and chili flakes. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
4. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water, then stir it into the sauce to thicken. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the sauce coats everything nicely.
5. Add the cooked chicken back to the pan and toss to coat in the sauce. Let it simmer for another minute.
6. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, then serve over rice or your favorite side. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to know more about one pan Hawaiian chicken? I have answers!

What side dishes go with Hawaiian chicken?

Hawaiian chicken goes great with steamed white or brown rice, but if you want to mix things up, coconut rice adds extra tropical vibes.

Roasted or grilled veggies (like zucchini, asparagus, or bell peppers) keep it fresh and light.

If you’re looking for something fun, try Hawaiian macaroni salad for a creamy, tangy contrast.

For a low-carb option, cauliflower rice or lettuce wraps work well too.

And of course, you can’t go wrong with a side of grilled pineapple to double down on those sweet island flavors!

How do you get a char on chicken in a pan?

The key to a good char is high heat and minimal movement.

Start by patting the chicken dry with a paper towel—less moisture means better browning.

Heat your pan until it’s hot (but not smoking) before adding the chicken.

Let it cook undisturbed for a few minutes until it develops a deep golden-brown crust, then flip and repeat.

If you want even more char, try using a cast-iron skillet and avoid overcrowding the pan, which can cause steaming instead of searing.

Is one pan Hawaiian chicken healthy?

It definitely can be!

This dish is high in protein and packed with nutrient-rich ingredients like bell peppers, pineapple, and onions.

The sauce does have some natural and added sugars, so if you’re watching sugar intake, you can adjust the honey or use a low-sugar barbecue sauce.

Pairing it with brown rice, quinoa, or extra veggies makes it even more balanced.

Overall, it’s a flavorful, wholesome meal that fits into a well-rounded diet.

Easy, Flavor-Packed One Pan Chicken Dinner You’ll Crave

One pan Hawaiian chicken is the kind of recipe that slides right into your weeknight lineup and never leaves.

It’s quick, loaded with sweet and savory flavors, and doesn’t leave you with a sink full of dishes.

Honestly, what more could you ask for?

Plus, it’s one of those meals that somehow tastes even better the next day (hello, leftovers win).

Delicious One Pan Hawaiian Chicken

Sweet, savory, and all made in one pan—this Hawaiian chicken is an easy weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup. Juicy chicken, pineapple, and a sticky sauce come together fast for a meal everyone loves.

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Ingredients

  

• 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup pineapple chunks fresh or canned, drained
• 1 red bell pepper diced
• ½ red onion sliced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• ½ cup barbecue sauce
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• ½ teaspoon ginger grated
• ½ teaspoon chili flakes optional, for a little heat
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water for thickening
• 2 green onions sliced (for garnish)
• Sesame seeds optional, for garnish

Instructions

 

• Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• In the same pan, add the bell pepper, red onion, and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until slightly softened.
• Stir in the pineapple chunks, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, ginger, and chili flakes. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water, then stir it into the sauce to thicken. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the sauce coats everything nicely.
• Add the cooked chicken back to the pan and toss to coat in the sauce. Let it simmer for another minute.
• Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, then serve over rice or your favorite side.