The flavors in this dish just scream warm and sunny tropical island.
So much so that it makes me wish I was on a tropical island right about now.
It’s a fast, easy recipe the whole family will love and it’s ready in less than 15 minutes. This isn’t traditional jerk chicken but who said we always have to be traditional.
I love the warming flavors in jerk seasoning and it varies from brand to brand but allspice, peppers, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, brown sugar, garlic, and salt are common.
Combined with a sauce made with pineapple juice, honey, and brown sugar for sweetness, and lemon juice and apple cider vinegar for tanginess, the chicken is bursting with sweet-and-tangy flavor and wonderfully moist.
I am all about sauces and dips, always need extra, and this one is ridiculously good. You’ll have more than you like need for the chicken and it’s wonderful drizzled over rice, pasta, or vegetables.
I caramelized pineapple and mango to top the chicken. I used coconut oil which enhances the tropical flair, but you can substitute with another oil.
I used canned pineapple since I needed the juice anyway for the sauce for the chicken and I used frozen mango but if you have fresh, even better. Pineapple holds up to heat and the caramelization process better than mango because it’s firmer, but I adore any caramelized fruit.
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Sweet and Tangy Jerk Chicken with Caramelized Pineapple and Mango
The flavors in this dish just scream warm and sunny tropical island. It’s a fast, easy recipe that the whole family will love and it’s ready in less than 15 minutes. It isn’t traditional jerk chicken but who said we always have to be traditional. I love the warming flavors in jerk seasoning and combined with an easy sauce that’s ridiculously good, the chicken is bursting with sweet-and-tangy flavor and wonderfully moist. I used coconut oil for the caramelize fruit which enhances the tropical flair, but you can substitute with another oil.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice (from one 16-ounce can pineapple chunks, reserve the pineapple for caramelizing)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for sauce + 1 tablespoon for cooking chicken
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon jerk seasoning for sauce + more for sprinkling over chicken
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Caramelized Pineapple and Mango
- 1/2 to 1 tablespoon coconut oil (or another preferred oil)
- about 1 cup pineapple chunks (reserved from can)
- about 1 cup mango chunks (I used frozen that I allowed to thaw)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, optional and to taste
Instructions
- Chicken – To a medium bowl or large measuring cup, add the honey, pineapple juice, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon jerk seasoning, salt, pepper, and stir to combine; set aside.
- To a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, generously sprinkle each chicken breast on both sides with jerk seasoning. Add chicken to skillet and cook chicken over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes on each side so that it has a nice sear. Cooking time will vary based on thickness of chicken breasts. Chicken should be about 80 to 90% cooked through.
- Remove skillet from heat, turn heat to medium-low, and carefully add the sauce noting that it will bubble up vigorously in the first few seconds.
- Place skillet back on the heat and allow chicken to cook for about 10 minutes, or until sauce has thickened and reduced some, has darkened in color, and chicken is cooked through. Flip chicken a few times throughout. While chicken cooks, caramelize the fruit.
- Caramelized Pineapple and Mango – To a separate large skillet, add the coconut oil, pineapple, mango, optionally sprinkle with salt, and cook over medium-high heat until golden brown and caramelized, about 8 minutes, flipping every few minutes to ensure all sides are evenly cooked.
- Top chicken with caramelized fruit and serve immediately. Chicken and fruit are best warm and fresh, but leftovers will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days. I store fruit and chicken separately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 601Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 979mgCarbohydrates: 65gFiber: 3gSugar: 60gProtein: 45g
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I’m definitely thinking about making this recipe, seeing as both mango and pineapple are in season around the time I write this. For a fresh pineapple and a fresh mango, what would be the equivalent to your quantities listed?
About 1 cup of each, diced small.
So good!!! Made into a burger once, then over rice.Â
Way to get creative! I bet it was delicious both ways!
The Best! I improvised the seasoning because I didn’t have jerk seasoning! Also added no sugar to the mango and pineapple. Husband and I have had this 4 times in a month! Love it!Â
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it’s been on repeat for you and your husband this month!
So super tasty! Â I have been enjoying cooking my way through your blog as we have been stuck at home!!!Thank you for your wonderful recipes đź’—đź’—đź’—
Thanks for sharing the recipe, it was amazing! So delish! And easy to make!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it was delish and easy!
Absolutely incredible! I made this for my wife and our five children and it was a hit. We could barely keep our oldest daughter away from the kitchen while we were cooking – it smelled THAT good! If my son hadn’t been napping, I’m sure he would’ve been sneaking pieces off the stove. I paired it with garlic risotto and I can’t get enough. Can’t wait to make this a family staple!
Glad that it was a hit with everyone and that this will become a staple for your family!
I made this today with my niece and put it in a pinapple bowl, with jasmine rice. We won first place to taste. The exact comments were: “the food was really good, low sodium, seasoned very well and very good.” So good they said it twice.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I’m glad to hear you won first place and that it was a literal winner for you and your niece!
Hi Averie,
I really hate pineapple, would you recommend any other fruit as substitute?
thanks!
Just omit it then and go with only mango.
Yes! Swap out the pineapple and mango for orange marmalade, orange zest or apricot or peach jam! Not as sweet and makes a sauce that coats the chicken nicely and goes well with anything.
Oh my, Averie! This was simply delicious!! Both my husband and I agree this will be our contribution for the family reunion in Hawaii this year. Can’t wait to WOW the kiddos with the flavors in this recipe. Just outstanding. Because of the season, I did get to use fresh mango and pineapple. Never caramelized fruit before, so this was a nice surprise. It went so well with the chicken. I found a recipe for the jerk seasoning and put that one together myself. This was so quick and easy. Thank you so much.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this was good enough that you are going to make it for your family reunion in Hawaii!
what is Jerk seasoning? Can it be made with the seasoning I have?
Google Jerk Seasoning. You can find out all about it.
I just discovered your blog a few weeks go because of all your delicious bars. I had leftover fresh mango from another jerk chicken recipe I made 2 days ago when I stumbled across this one. I used pork chops instead just so my husband wouldn’t ask why we were having jerk chicken twice in one week. The flavors are just amazing – definitely knocked it out of the park, so I’m excited to peruse your other non-dessert recipes!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you with pork! Way to use up what you had on hand! The irony is that this chicken recipe is the very first chicken recipe I ever posted on my site because before that, I was a baking-only blog or salads and veggie type sides.
Hi Averie, I tried to email you but was unsure if it went through, I want to make this recipe on vacation but was trying to find an easier way with being on the beach all day.. Have you ever made this in the crockpot? I was thinking of making it in there instead. Let me know! Thanks!
Just replied to your email. I haven’t tried in a slow cooker but I bet it would be great. Dump everything in and see what happens. I would do the experimentation before you’re on vacation though.
Looking at this, I’m wishing I was on a tropical island right now too! I’m making my menu plan for the week and this is going on it. It looks AMAZING! And 15 minutes…woo hoo…fast and easy is the best!
Made this tonight per my husbands request and it is VERY good! Just the right amount of sweet and spice! Served it over white rice and topped with cilantro!! Delicious!! This has now become a dinner staple in my family!!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you – and that it was husband approved! And that it’s now a dinner staple, awesome!
Is there a certain “jerk season ” you recommendÂ
I’m not too picky about brand so whatever is on sale at my grocery store is what I use. The one I have now is actually a store-brand from Ralph’s.
Tried this last night and it was really good. I look forward to trying more of your things
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you!
I made this today with a little modification…Jon grilled the chicken and I made the sauce. This really is outstanding–a lot going on and we love it! Thank goodness for leftovers…it’s too good to just have once. I’m anxious to see what you have coming in May!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you and that you have leftovers :)
I made this tonight and it was delicious! I add onion and red bell pepper and served with pearl couscous. Will definitely make again. Thanks for the great recipe Averie!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you and that you’re going to make it again! Love the idea of onions and peppers in this dish!
This is making me want to buy a plane ticket right now to Hawaii or the Caribbean… But my bank account is telling me that probably isn’t such a hot idea. Darn it!! If only I could pull up a chair at your table instead. ;)
Hi, I have been following you for a couple of years.  It seems like lately u have been posting more meat recipes.  I always thought you were a strict  vegetarian?! I remember u would use pseudo meats from trader joes.
Regardless this looks so succulent. Â Thx 4 posting this.
I did some more testing, and an advertisement comes up whenever you first click on the site, not just when the print button is selected. Â Since I only click on the site when I want to print a recipe that is why I always get an advertisement first. Â Still, I don’t see that with any of the other blogs I follow.
Thanks for doing some digging and I REALLY appreciate the feedback because I just went and passed this along to my tech team and they’re looking into it more now. I think it has something to do with Google and Google Adsense and an overall glitch that Google had been having for awhile but we’ll look into it more and sorry for the trouble in the meantime.
I think it looks great! Definitely enough to make me want to try it! Thanks!
This looks awesome! I have to try it :)
This chicken looks absolutely amazing! Im drooling from the pictures!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
I really like your blog & the recipes, but why is it that every time I print a recipe I first get an advertisement? Â This doesn’t happen on any of the other blogs I print from.
I’m not sure how you’re printing exactly – are you clicking on the “Print” icon in the recipe card section of post? I have never heard of this or had this happen when I periodically test my own site. I’ll let my team know. Thanks for the heads up.
Not that it’s any of my business so feel free to not answer :) but are you not a vegetarian anymore? Would you comment about the process to change? I have been a vegetarian for several years but now with kids I’d love to start adding animal protein
This dish looks super flavorful. Love the tropical flavors!
I’m with all the people above – keep on with the savory and the chicken recipes!! Â
I can’t get enough jerk seasoned anything in the spring and summer. Â I love to make kabobs with chicken and pineapple and tomatoes. Â Actually, I’m usually too lazy to even skewer them, and just use my grill pan. Â No shame.
Thanks for the support and praise and this sauce…you would LOVE it. Love love love. Your kabobs sound perfect! Tomatoes and pineapple are two of my all-time faves! Funny, I just bought a grill pan recently for summer ‘grilling season’ since it’s as close to a real grill as I’ll get.
Averie, that chicken looks so succulent!! Â And I can just imagine the big, bold flavors. Â YUM!
Succulent is the perfect word…it really was! And the flavors were big and bold indeed!
The caramelized pineapple alone is incentive enough for me to make this, but throw in a juicy, flavorful chicken and I’m all about this! Love it, Averie!Â
The caramelized pineapple alone is incentive enough for me to make this <--- awesome! Save some for me because it's so good!! :)
I second the above comments…keep the savory and chicken recipes coming! I feel like I have made every kind of chicken breast known to man but this is new and different. How could you look at those photos and NOT try this! Â :)
Awww, you’re so sweet with compliments on my photos and glad you like the savory recipes AND that this is something new and different for your repertoire!
Oh man, these chicken breasts look AMAZING. Â I’m going to try your glaze and put it on the BBQ! Â Grilled Chicken with Grilled Pineapple. Â Swoon… Thanks for the inspo, love your blog!
Glad the glaze has you inspired and it is seriously one of my fave sauce/glazes I’ve made in ages. I wanted to drink it :)
If I make this, will the weather turn warm and sunny? ;) Looks and sounds yummy.
Absolutely!! :)
I LOVE when you post savory recipes….I must make this for my kids!!
Thanks my sweet friend! After 6 years of mostly sugar and desserts, savory is in order!
Love all the favors here, the tropical fruits are such a nice touch, I am all about sweet and savory recipes, especially when it comes top chicken, since it can be so bland sometimes.
I must try this! I love that sweet and spicy hint-of-island that jerk and pineapple give in a recipe. Pinned!
Thanks for pinning and the sauce with the sweet and spicy hint-of-island as you so perfectly put it, is just one of my fave sauces in ages!
Your chicken recipes are outstanding!! Gotta make this over the weekend. One of my (teenage)nephews gave me some spice mixes he made himself (such a thoughtful gift)! Anyway, one of them is jerk seasoning and this is the perfect recipe to use it in!
No way…you have a teenage nephew who is making his own spice blends?! Omg. Wow. That is amazing. I can’t even get my daughter to make her bed :)
And what a stroke of serendipity that you can use the jerk seasoning here! And thanks for the compliments on my chicken recipes. Just way for May. I have lots of things coming up I think you will like :)
Loving the caramelized mango and pineapple. Serve me just that and I’d me perfectly happy!! Seasoning on the chicken looks great too :)
You could serve me just that too and I’d be super happy!
I love pineapple and pretty much eat it every day once Spring arrives…lately I’ve been so into mango and the combination of them both together is insanely good….can wait to try this recipe…
I am a pineapple fiend! Love it SO much! I have to restrain myself sometimes :) If you try this, LMK!
Your opening sentence covers it all! Â Definitely tropical island. Â I love, love, LOVE the grilled pineapple and mangos on top. Â :)
You can’t go wrong with caramelized pineapple! This looks fantastic. Â I love a quick dinner that looks this good. Â
Averie – I want all of this chicken. It’s such a flavorful dish and it looks like it would satisfy all of my chicken and fruit cravings. Traditional is boring, but this is adventurous and daring! I love it. :DÂ
Another great chicken recipe! And we’re big fans of caramelized pineapple around here (honestly, it’s SOOO good), so this will go over very well. I love how you’re using all the frozen mango this week, too! Then you can make this dish in the depths of winter and still feel breezy!
I didn’t even realize I had another recipe in the last few days with frozen mango (the mango pineapple margaritas, duh!) and I totally think you should wash this dinner down with those :)