Description
This Baked Sweet Hawaiian Chicken recipe features tender, bite-sized pieces of chicken coated in a crispy cornstarch and egg batter, then simmered in a sweet and tangy pineapple soy sauce with bell peppers. Baked to perfection in the oven, this flavorful dish combines savory, sweet, and fruity notes for a delightful meal perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Sauce
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
Additions
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped (seeds removed)
- 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple tidbits, drained
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 325° F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set it aside so it’s ready for the chicken.
- Cut and Season Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Season them with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences. Place the cornstarch in a large bowl and the beaten eggs in a separate medium bowl for the coating process.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each chicken piece first into the cornstarch, making sure it’s fully coated, then dip it into the beaten eggs to cover it completely. This double coating will give a nice texture after baking.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, cook the coated chicken pieces until they are golden brown on all sides. These pieces are not fully cooked yet; they will finish cooking in the oven. Transfer the browned chicken to the prepared baking dish.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, and 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch until smooth and well combined.
- Add Sauce and Toppings: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the browned chicken in the baking dish. Sprinkle the chopped red bell pepper and drained pineapple tidbits over the top to add color and bursts of flavor.
- Bake the Chicken: Bake the chicken uncovered for 1 hour in the preheated oven. Every 15 minutes, stir the chicken gently to ensure all pieces get evenly coated with the sauce and to prevent sticking.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven and let the chicken stand for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to thicken slightly and the flavors to meld perfectly. Enjoy your sweet, tangy Hawaiian chicken!
Notes
- Stirring the chicken every 15 minutes during baking helps coat it evenly and prevents it from drying out.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can increase the cornstarch slightly when mixing the sauce.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to keep the sodium content moderate and balance the sweetness of the dish.
- This dish pairs well with steamed white rice or fried rice to soak up the delicious sauce.
- For a spicier twist, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.
