Pineapple Chicken Rice Wraps (Printable)

Juicy chicken, sweet pineapple, and fluffy rice wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves for a light tropical meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 14 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
02 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
03 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
04 - 1 tablespoon honey
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

→ Rice

07 - 1 cup jasmine or basmati rice, uncooked
08 - 2 cups water
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Stir-Fry

10 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
11 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
12 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
13 - 7 oz fresh pineapple, diced
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
15 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Wraps & Garnish

16 - 1 large head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and washed
17 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
18 - Lime wedges for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine diced chicken with soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Mix thoroughly and marinate for at least 10 minutes.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water. In a saucepan, bring 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until tender and water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and stir-fry for 4 to 6 minutes until cooked through and lightly browned.
04 - Add diced red bell pepper and sliced red onion to the skillet. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until just tender.
05 - Stir in the diced pineapple and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more until heated through. Remove from heat.
06 - Add cooked rice to the pan and toss gently with chicken, vegetables, and pineapple until well combined.
07 - Spoon the chicken and rice mixture into prepared lettuce leaves. Top with cilantro, green onions, and toasted sesame seeds. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The sweetness of pineapple cuts through savory chicken in a way that makes you want to eat the whole batch in one sitting.
  • Lettuce wraps mean you skip the guilt and go straight to the joy of eating with your hands.
  • Everything comes together in 40 minutes, so even on a weeknight when you're tired, this is actually doable.
02 -
  • Don't oversoak the pineapple in the pan or it'll break down and disappear; add it at the very end and let the residual heat just warm it through.
  • The rice needs to cool to room temperature before you mix it with everything else, or the heat will make the lettuce wilt—I learned this the hard way.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes before using—the difference in flavor is immediately noticeable and worth the 120 seconds.
  • Chill the lettuce leaves in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving so they're crisp and won't wilt the moment you fill them.
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