This Easy Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry is a quick weeknight dinner made with tender chicken, fresh vegetables, juicy pineapple and a simple homemade sauce. It’s the perfect sweet and savory combination that is satisfying and delicious.
Originally published in January 2017 and updated in May 2026 with improved instructions and new photos.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Weeknight Dinner: Ready in under 30 minutes.
- Sweet & Savory Sauce: Simple homemade flavor without takeout.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with easy-to-find grocery store staples.
- Customizable: Swap the vegetables with what you already have.
Stir fry dishes are a favorite in our kitchen because they’re quick, easy and perfect for busy weeknights. Plus, you can easily swap the vegetables for your favorites or use up what you already have in the fridge.
Made with lean protein, fresh vegetables and a simple homemade sauce, this Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry is a healthy and budget-friendly dinner the whole family will love.
If you enjoy easy stir fry recipes, be sure to try my Lemon Chicken Stir Fry, Orange Pineapple Chicken and Kung Pao Chicken too.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken: We use boneless skinless chicken breast, but boneless chicken thighs work great too.
- Vegetables: Sugar snap peas, carrots, red bell pepper and green onions are our favorites. You can swap in other vegetables with similar cook times.
- Pineapple: Canned pineapple works best because we use the juice in the sauce too.
- Marinade: The chicken is briefly marinated in low sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar and ground ginger for extra flavor.
- Sauce: The simple homemade sauce is made with chicken broth, soy sauce, pineapple juice, garlic and cornstarch. Water can be substituted for the broth if needed.
- Oil: Sesame oil adds great flavor, but canola oil, vegetable oil or olive oil all work well.
Recipe Walkthrough
The chicken should be lightly browned before adding the vegetables.
This helps build flavor and keeps the chicken from steaming.
The vegetables should stay slightly crisp for the best texture.
Overcooking can make the stir fry watery and soft.
Once the pineapple and sauce are added, the stir fry will look a little thin at first.
The sauce thickens quickly as it cooks and should lightly coat the chicken and vegetables.
Love this recipe?
Leave a comment and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
Easy Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients
For the stir fry:
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 ½ teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ cup matchstick carrots
- 1 small bell pepper about ¾ cup
- 1 cup snow peas
- 1 can pineapple tidbits juice reserved (8 ounces)
- ¼ cup green onions
For the sauce:
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespooons chicken broth or water
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Marinate chicken: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces (about 1 inch). In a small bowl combine chicken, soy sauce, rice vinegar and ground ginger; set aside.1 ½ teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce, 1 ½ teaspoons rice vinegar, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- Prep vegetables + sauce: Peel and chop the carrots. Cut the bell pepper into 1-inch sticks. Chop the green onions and garlic. Drain pineapple, reserving the juice.¼ cup pineapple juice, 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespooons chicken broth or water, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Cook chicken + vegetables: Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken, stirring constantly, until no longer pink, about 3–4 minutes. Add the vegetables and cook until tender-crisp, about 4–5 minutes.1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, ½ cup matchstick carrots, 1 small bell pepper, 1 cup snow peas
- Finish stir fry: Stir in pineapple and green onions. Add sauce and cook until thickened, stirring constantly, about 2–3 minutes.1 can pineapple tidbits, ¼ cup green onions
- Serve: Serve over rice, chow mein, or rice noodles.
I love making stir fries since they usually come together really quick..I’m loving the addition of pineapple to this. Going trying adding pineapple to my next stir fry. Thanks for the awesome recipe Mindy! Hope your New Year has started off well 🙂
I love the sweet/tart with savory, they go great together. I hope you have a great New Year as well!
Your photo shows off and proves the point that fresh is best! Oh, my goodness, after making your pineapple chicken stir-fry, I don’t think take-out would be an option =)
Right!? Thanks for stopping by.
Hey, thanks. I have chicken stir fry on the menu this week. I think I will add some pineapple to it.
It is a nice addition.Thanks!
Stir frys are fun! Yours sounds delicious!
Thank you!
We eat stir fry a lot and I’m always up for trying a new recipe. A pineapple version sounds delicious!
Thanks!
Quick easy and so delicious! Happy New Year, Mindy.
Thanks. Happy New year!