Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Burger (Printable version)

Tropical chicken burger with grilled pineapple and teriyaki sauce for island-inspired flavor.

# List of ingredients:

→ Chicken and Marinade

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→ Teriyaki Sauce

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→ Burger Assembly

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# Directions:

01 - Whisk together soy sauce, pineapple juice, olive oil, garlic powder, and black pepper in a shallow dish. Add chicken breasts and turn to coat evenly. Marinate for 15 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate up to 2 hours for deeper flavor.
02 - Combine soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, and rice vinegar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Whisk in cornstarch slurry and cook 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens. Remove from heat.
03 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
04 - Remove chicken from marinade and discard excess liquid. Grill chicken 5-6 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F. During final 2 minutes, add pineapple rings to grill until caramelized and marked.
05 - Place burger buns cut-side down on the grill for 30-60 seconds until lightly toasted and golden.
06 - Spread mayonnaise on bottom bun if desired. Layer lettuce, grilled chicken, teriyaki sauce, grilled pineapple, tomato slices, and red onion. Top with upper bun and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

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  • The homemade teriyaki sauce hits that perfect sweet spot between restaurant quality and comfort food
  • Grilled pineapple becomes something magical when it meets the heat, almost candy-like in its intensity
  • Everything comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent all day planning
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  • Over-marinating can make chicken texture weird, 15 minutes to 2 hours is the sweet spot
  • The teriyaki sauce thickens quickly as it cools, so dont over-reduce it
  • Pineapple releases water as it grills, so pat those rings dry before they hit the heat
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  • Make double the teriyaki sauce and keep it in the fridge for quick weeknight stir-fries
  • Crushed pineapple works too if you dont have rings, just grill it in a cast iron skillet

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