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These pineapple chicken bowls are packed with protein, fresh pineapple, and quinoa. They are ready in under 20 minutes and served in a pineapple bowl for a fun and tropical healthy lunch any time of year! It’s perfect for meal prep and entertaining guests!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here I am, mid-winter, already daydreaming of brighter, warmer days; what about you? Since I can’t drop everything and go somewhere tropical, I thought I would bring tropical to me with the exotic taste of fresh pineapple stuffed with chicken and quinoa! Besides tasting like an island vacation, here are a few more reasons you’ll love this recipe:
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Make these ahead of time so you can eat this fun tropical lunch all week long!
- Gluten Free and Dairy Free: This healthy quinoa bowl is made with quinoa which is a gluten free grain…and this recipe is also soy and dairy free. If you would like a healthy lunch bowl without the quinoa, try this quinoa-free teriyaki chicken bowl instead.
- High Protein: From a nutrition standpoint, these stuffed pineapple bowls are filled with chicken and quinoa which are both full of protein and other important nutrients! This recipe actually contains 30 grams of protein per serving!
- Family Favorite: These pineapple chicken bowls are a favorite in our house, especially with the kids. You can’t get more fun than eating out of a hollowed out pineapple husk!
- Customizable: Swap out the quinoa for one you like, use any protein you have on hand, and add more flavor by adding teriyaki or even homemade BBQ sauce.
For more pineapple bowl recipes try these Pineapple Shrimp Bowls or Jerk Shrimp with Pineapple Bowls.
Are Pineapple Chicken Bowls Healthy?
Besides being completely DELICIOUS, fresh Pineapple is packed with nutrients, antioxidants and other helpful compounds, such as enzymes that can help with digestion, fight inflammation and disease.
Although fresh pineapple is available year-round in most of the US, this island fruit hits its peak from March through July. Although frozen pineapple can be just as delicious!
So eat up!
➡️ Quinoa is gluten-free, high in protein and one of the few plant foods that contains all nine essential amino acids.
It is also high in fiber, magnesium, B vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E and various beneficial antioxidants.
➡️So what’s the deal with Coconut Aminos?!
Several months ago we held an informal “taste-off” (taste testing) with a few CFC staffers in my kitchen. This group included our videographer who is a HUGE “foodie” and will tell you himself that he’s not always making the healthiest choices.
Back to the taste test:
I served each person 3 small bowls of brown rice sprinkled with:
Low Sodium Soy Sauce
Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
Coconut Aminos
The UNANIMOUS win for best taste was Coconut Aminos! Which is AWESOME because I believe coconut aminos to be the healthiest of the bunch if you’re looking to avoid soy products.
Second place was a TIE between the remaining two options.
If you haven’t yet tried Coconut Aminos you’re truly missing out!
Ingredients:
These are the simple ingredients that make this Pineapple Chicken Bowl recipe perfect for a fun and easy lunch.
Makes 4 servings
- 2 small, ripe pineapples
- 1 lb. chicken breast or turkey breast cut into small bite-sized pieces
- sea salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 2 small bell peppers, any color, seeded and diced
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos, Bragg’s liquid aminos, or low sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 4 green onions or scallions, sliced
Variations and Substitutions
Protein Swaps: Instead of chicken, use ground turkey, shrimp, or even tofu for a vegan version.
Swap out the Grain: Instead of quinoa, you could use riced cauliflower, brown rice, or any other type of grain you prefer.
Change up the Flavors: Make this a teriyaki flavored bowl, add spice for a spicy chicken pineapple bowl, or even BBQ can be added for a BBQ Chicken Pineapple Bowl!
Serving Variations: The pineapple bowl is just for show! If you don’t want the extra work you can serve this pineapple chicken in a real bowl, in a lettuce wrap, or in a different type of natural bowl, like an avocado or a zucchini.
How to make Pineapple Chicken Bowls:
- To make the pineapple bowls, start by slicing each pineapple in half, lengthways.
2. Run a small paring knife around the edge of the pineapple, leaving about 1/4 inch of the shell intact.
3. Slice the flesh across as shown in the pictures, to make it easier to scoop out the pineapple flesh.
4. Remove the core from each, then chop remaining pineapple into small pieces. (If you want, you can reserve about half of the pineapple for another use like these tropical pineapple smoothie bowls!)
5. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and season with sea salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until almost cooked through, about 3 minutes.
6. Stir in your bell peppers, green onions and pineapple pieces, then cook for an additional 4-6 minutes.
7. Add in cooked quinoa, and drizzle in the coconut aminos. If there’s any remaining pineapple juice, add it into the skillet too and toss well to combine and continue to cook until everything is nicely heated through.
8. Divide the quinoa chicken evenly between the pineapple bowls and garnish with sesame seeds and additional green onions, then enjoy!
❤Rachel
Rachel’s Tips for Best Results
- Make sure you leave at least a quarter inch (1/4 inch) of pineapple around the pineapple husk in order to keep them sturdy enough to hold the chicken and quinoa filling.
- If you don’t use all of the diced pineapple, add it to a smoothie or make this easy pineapple soft serve ice cream for afterward!
Without the pineapple bowl, this pineapple chicken bowl is actually a wonderful meal prep lunch. For more similar recipes, try more of our healthy meal prep bowls, easy quinoa recipes, or healthy pineapple recipes.
Storage Instructions
Pineapple chicken bowls will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you want it to last 5 days, store the pineapple separately from the pineapple, chicken, and quinoa mixture, then assemble right before eating. The pineapple chicken mixture with the quinoa will stay good in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this pineapple chicken bowl low carb?
Yes, you can swap the quinoa for cauliflower rice to make this recipe low carb.
Can I make pineapple chicken bowls ahead of time?
Yes, you can make these pineapple chicken and quinoa bowls ahead. For the best result, stuff the pineapple with the chicken and quinoa mixture right before serving.
How long do I bake a pineapple bowl?
For this recipe, there is no baking of the pineapple bowl required. You just cook the filling and place it in the uncooked pineapple bowl.
More Healthy Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
Pineapple Chicken Bowls with Quinoa
Ingredients
- 2 small, ripe pineapples
- 1 lb. chicken breast, or turkey breast cut into small bite sized pieces
- sea salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 2 small bell peppers, any color, seeded and diced
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos, Bragg’s liquid aminos, or low sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 4 green onions or scallions, sliced
Instructions
- Slice each pineapple in half, lengthways, to create your bowls as shown.
- Run a small paring knife around the edge of the pineapple, leaving about 1/4 inch of the shell intact to hold as bowls as shown.
- Slice the flesh across as shown in the pictures, to make it easier to scoop out the pineapple flesh.
- Remove the core from each, then chop remaining pineapple into small pieces.
- Reserve about half of the pineapple for another use. (I suggest smoothies!)
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and season with sea salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until almost cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in your bell peppers, green onions and pineapple pieces, then cook for an additional 4-6 minutes.
- Add in cooked quinoa, and drizzle in the coconut aminos. If there’s any remaining pineapple juice, add it into the skillet too.
- Toss well to combine and continue to cook until everything is nicely heated through.
- Divide the quinoa chicken evenly between the pineapple bowls.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and additional green onions, then enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
