Description
This Sweet & Sour Ground Chicken recipe is a vibrant and flavorful one-pan dinner that combines lean ground chicken with a tangy and slightly sweet sauce, colorful bell peppers, and fresh pineapple. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a healthy and satisfying meal perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 4 tablespoons low-sodium tamari (or soy sauce)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
Vegetables & Protein
- 5 green onions, trimmed and sliced (separate white/light green parts from dark green tops)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 pound 96% lean ground chicken
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 red bell peppers, chopped into 2-inch pieces
- 1 cup chopped pineapple (fresh or canned chunks, drained)
Instructions
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, vinegar, tamari or soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon of the garlic powder. Set aside to develop the flavors.
- Chop the Green Onion: Trim the root ends, then slice the green onions into small ½-inch pieces. Separate the white and light green parts from the dark green tops and set aside separately.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground chicken, salt, and remaining ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and cook until fully browned and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Cook the Veggies: In the same skillet over medium heat, add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the chopped bell peppers and the white parts of the green onions. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables are slightly softened but still vibrant and bright.
- Simmer: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet along with the prepared sauce and the pineapple chunks. Turn the heat to low and simmer the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and infuse its flavor into the chicken. Turn off the heat, stir in the dark green parts of the green onion, then serve immediately.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- You can substitute pineapple chunks with fresh or canned; just make sure canned pineapple is drained well.
- Adjust the sweetness by tweaking the honey and brown sugar amounts to your taste.
- Serve with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
- Lean ground turkey or chicken breast can be used as alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-American