Grilled Pineapple and Chicken Bowls
My Grilled Pineapple and Chicken Bowl is an absolute delight. By grilling the pineapple for this dish, you caramelize the sugars and it transforms into a milder flavor that pairs perfectly with the creamy avocado and savory herbs. Serve this over my Cilantro Lime Rice for a complete and healthy meal that is packed with flavor and nutrients in every bite.
Who doesn’t love their dinner in a bowl? There’s something so good about putting all of the elements of your meal into one big satisfying dish and just loving every component of your meal all together. My Grilled Chicken and pineapple bowls are exactly the bowl you are looking for. The ingredients are fairly simple for this dish, but I’ve taken some steps to elevate them to bring you the most delicious flavors. I’ve created a chicken marinade that not only leaves your chicken tender, but full of flavor. Then, I took the pineapple up a notch and grilled it. Pineapple on it’s own is absolutely delicious, but when you grill it, the heat takes all the sugars within and carmelizes them for the most delightful flavor. I created a rustic salsa from the grilled pineapple and mixed it with onion, cilantro, avocado, and lime for the perfect topping for your chicken. Serve this with my cilantro lime rice and you will be in a world of flavor. I first got the idea for this dish on my most recent vacation to the southwest. My family and I were craving Mexican food, but every restaurant seemed to be full and also a very very long wait for a table. My son does not handle being hungry well so things were starting to feel desperate. As we continued to wander around the restaurant district, I spotted a mysterious door with a picture of a taco and a snake on it. Without realizing it, we had stumbled into the worlds only snake handling taco stand. The aromas were absolutely hypnotizing, and the snake handlers were beyond mesmerizing. Luckily, we were able to find a table that was a safe distance away from all the snake handlers and we enjoyed the most amazing meal that we will never forget. I had a taco with grilled pineapple which has inspired me to create this dish today. Whether you are enjoying the feats of a skilled snake handler, or savoring this for a weeknight dinner, you will be delighted by these Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Bowls!
- 1 1/2 lb Chicken Breasts (Boneless and skinless, butterflied. Chicken thighs will also work well here too)
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup Lime Juice (Freshly squeezed)
- 2 tsp Lime zest (zest from 1 lime)
- 2 tbsp Cilantro (Chopped)
- 2 clove Garlic (Finely Minced)
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- 2 cup Grilled Pineapple (Diced into 1/2 inch cubes)
- 1 Avocado (Diced into 1/2 inch cubes)
- 1/4 cup Red Onion (Diced finely)
- 1/4 cup Cilantro (Chopped)
- 2 tbsp Lime Juice
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- 1 tbsp Jalapeno (Optional, chopped)
Prepare your marinade. Mix together all of your ingredients and set aside reserving 1/4 cup for basting your chicken during the last part of the cooking process.
Butterfly your chicken breasts, or cut in half lengthwise. Pour marinade over your chicken and allow it to marinade at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
While your chicken is marinating, start to prepare your salsa. I like to grill my pineapple before my chicken goes on the grill so that it has time to cook and cool slightly. Slice the skin off your pineapple and cut into long strips, grill until your pineapple is softened and starting to caramelize.
While your pineapple is on the grill, finish preparing your remaining salsa ingredients. After the pineapple has been on the grill for about 10 minutes, add your chicken to the grill.
Grill your chicken 5-7 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. During the last minute of cooking, baste the chicken with the reserved marinade. Allow your chicken to rest for a couple minutes and cut into cubes. Serve immediately over cilantro lime rice along with your grilled pineapple salsa. Enjoy!
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