Spicy Chicken Stir Fry
This Spicy Chicken Stir Fry recipe is a simple and delicious dish made with tender chicken chunks, pineapple, and jalapeños. Ready in just 35 minutes, it’s perfect for a family dinner on busy weeknights.
The best thing about stir fries is that they’re a great way to experience a wonderful blend of different flavors and textures all in one dish.
This spicy chicken stir-fry recipe has it all! It has the juicy tenderness of the chicken, the burst of tropical sweetness from the pineapple, and the subtle heat from the jalapeños.
This stir fry is not only loaded with delicious flavors but also incredibly simple to make, making it perfect for any occasion.
For another quick and delicious stir fry recipe, you’ll also want to try this easy Pepper Steak, Chinese Ginger Chicken, Chicken and Steak Stir Fry, or one of these Weight Watchers Stir Fry recipes.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe
- Juicy and tender chicken: Cooked quickly in a savory sauce, the chicken turns out incredibly tender and juicy every time.
- Sweet and savory flavors: This recipe has the perfect blend of flavors that’s sweet and savory with just the right amount of spice.
- Quick and easy recipe: With a few simple ingredients you can have this easy dinner on the table in under 40 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
Spicy Chicken Stir Fry Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken breasts
- Pineapple
- Jalapenos
- Spices
See the recipe card for the full list of ingredients to take to the grocery store as well as complete instructions for this dish.
Substitutions and Additions
For a little added crunch and extra texture, you can add pieces of canned baby corn, water chestnuts or bamboo shoots.
If you’re wanting to add other fresh vegetables, green, yellow or red bell pepper, fresh green beans and snap peas are a great choice.
Substitute the breasts with skinless, boneless chicken thighs. Just make sure to use the same amount of chicken, regardless of the type.
You can give the sauce more robust Asian flavors with a few drops of sesame oil, fish sauce or hoisin sauce.
Kick up the heat level to make this an extra spicy version with a pinch of red pepper flakes or a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.
For a milder version, you can omit the jalapenos, if you prefer. Or to make the stir fry sauce a little sweeter add a little extra brown sugar in the skillet with the pineapple. Let it cook a couple of minutes into a sauce until it’s fully dissolved.
How to Make It
Step 1. Cut the chicken breasts into 1 ½ inch chunks and place in a large bowl.
Step 2. For the marinade, add the salt, black pepper, brown sugar, rice vinegar and soy sauce. Marinate the chicken chunks for about 15 minutes.
Step 3. Add the oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook for 4 minutes.
Step 4. Next, add the garlic, ginger, jalapenos, and pineapple chunks. Cook this mixture for 2-3 minutes or until the chicken is done and the pineapple has released some of its juices.
Step 5. Remove the skillet from the heat. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Serve this Spicy Chicken Stir Fry with some of the stir-fry sauce drizzled over jasmine rice, brown rice, or white rice.
Recipe FAQs
The flavors in this Spicy Chicken Stir Fry recipe pair well with other side options like Asian noodles, quinoa, or even a simple green salad.
You can use canned pineapple if fresh isn’t available. Just make sure to drain it well before adding it to the other ingredients.
You sure can. Store it in a freezer safe container in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. When ready to serve, thaw overnight in the fridge and gently reheat on the stove or microwave just until warm.
Top Tips
- Marinating time: While the recipe says to marinate the chicken for 15 minutes, you can add more time to give the chicken more flavor. If I’m not in a rush, I like to let it sit in the marinade for about 30 minutes to an hour.
- Cooking temp: You want to use a higher temp heat setting when cooking the chicken. This will help seal in the flavors and give you a nice sear on the chicken for added texture.
- Don’t overcook: Because the chicken is cut into smaller pieces, it will cook quickly. The chicken is ready when it’s no longer pink in the center.
- Storing leftovers: If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a couple of days. Make sure you reheat the chicken on low heat to avoid overcooking and drying out the chicken.
- Added sauce: This recipe makes just enough stir-fry sauce to coat the chicken. As the pineapple heats up it creates more juice, but to make more sauce, you can add more soy sauce and a little more brown sugar.
More Asian Recipes
Thai Chicken Curry (Crockpot Recipe)
Spicy Chicken Stir Fry Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts skinless, boneless (1.32 lb | 600 g)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce regular or light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 2 jalapeños cut in rings
- 3 slices pineapple cut in chunks
Instructions
- Cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in 1 ½ inch chunks and place in a large bowl.
- Add salt, pepper, brown sugar, rice vinegar and soy sauce. Marinade for 15 minutes.
- Heat oil in a nonstick pan on medium high heat. Add chicken and cook for 4 minutes.
- Add garlic, ginger, jalapenos and pineapple chunks. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds.
- Serve with rice.
- Enjoy!
