Pineapple Barbecue Chicken
Published Aug 30, 2026
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This pineapple barbecue chicken recipe is a one-pan, 3-ingredient weeknight chicken dinner with plenty of sweet, tangy, savory flavor. It has juicy baked chicken breasts slathered with your favorite smoky barbecue sauce and topped with canned pineapple.
Juicy Baked Barbecue Chicken With Pineapple
This pineapple barbecue chicken recipe combines juicy baked chicken breasts with homemade barbecue sauce and tropical canned pineapple. It’s a delicious, easy chicken dinner that I can throw into the oven in 10 minutes on a busy weeknight, with enough time to whip up a side of rice or veggies while it bakes. Everything bakes in one pan, so cleaning up is just as quick.
When I have more time, I like to toss everything together in a baking dish ahead of time to let it marinate. The smoky, sweet-tangy flavors are so good, and they’re even better after an hour in the fridge.
I’ll serve this saucy pineapple BBQ chicken with corn ribs, a Hawaiian macaroni salad, or homemade mac and cheese for a summer cookout. Or, I add vegetables and turn it into my sheet pan Hawaiian chicken. I think you’re going to love it!
Why I Can’t Get Enough of This Pineapple Barbecue Chicken Recipe
- Only 3(ish) ingredients. Apart from salt and pepper, you need just chicken, your favorite barbecue sauce, and a can of pineapple.
- No grill needed, and just 10 minutes of hands-on prep. Afterward, let the chicken marinate or pop it straight into the oven.
- Family-friendly. Kids and adults love the mild, sweet-savory flavors of this barbecue chicken.
- Saucy pineapple chicken goes with everything! Since I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, it’s easy to shred the leftovers to make pulled chicken sandwiches or sliders. Sweet-sticky barbecue chicken is great for feeding a crowd on game day. Just sayin’.
For a variation without barbecue sauce, check out my recipe for Hawaiian baked chicken.
Only 3 Ingredients
All you need for this easy, one-pan tropical chicken recipe is the following ingredients, plus pantry staples like salt, pepper, and olive oil to season. See the recipe card below for the full recipe details.
- Chicken – I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Bone-in chicken or chicken thighs also work, though these will be juicier and will take longer to cook.
- Barbecue Sauce – Your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce will work, but I highly recommend my homemade honey barbecue sauce.
- Pineapple Chunks – Drained if you’re using canned. You can also chop up pineapple rings into smaller chunks.
Success Tips
- Check the chicken for doneness. The cooking time varies a little depending on the size and thickness of the chicken. Use an instant-read thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
- Remember to drain the canned pineapple; otherwise, the dish will be too watery.
- If you’re using fresh pineapple, chop it into bite-sized chunks. It won’t be quite as juicy as canned pineapple, but the flavor will still be delicious.
- Spice it up. Go ahead and use a spicier barbecue sauce, or mix hot sauce in with what you have. You can also add diced jalapeños or chili flakes.
Serving Pineapple Barbecue Chicken
Turning this baked barbecue pineapple chicken into a meal is pretty effortless. It goes with just about anything, from a quick side of air fryer French fries to steamed broccoli. These are easy serving ideas loved by my family and friends.
- With rice: This saucy pineapple chicken goes great with a bed of jasmine rice or low-carb cauliflower rice for a filling meal.
- Cornbread: Serve this barbecue chicken with sweet potato cornbread or cornbread pancakes on the side.
- BBQ sides: Pair with comforting sides like loaded potato salad or slow cooker mac and cheese.
- Sandwiches: Shred the chicken and pile it onto fluffy Hawaiian rolls with coleslaw for easy BBQ chicken sliders.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Pineapple Barbecue Chicken
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (breasts should be 4 ounces each)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup honey barbecue sauce, divided
- 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks, drained
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Prep the chicken. Grease a baking dish with cooking spray. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Arrange the chicken breasts in the baking dish and top with 1/3 of the barbecue sauce; rub in the barbecue sauce, then top with pineapple chunks.
- Marinate. Add the remaining barbecue sauce on top, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400ºF. Remove the plastic wrap. Drizzle olive oil over the chicken.
- Bake. Bake the chicken uncovered for 32 to 35 minutes or until the chicken's internal temperature reads 165˚F. Use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer to check for doneness. Cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve. Remove from the oven; let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How to Make Pineapple Barbecue Chicken
The three quick steps to make the juiciest, sweet-smoky pineapple barbecue chicken really couldn’t be easier. For best results, give your chicken at least 30 minutes to marinate in the BBQ sauce before baking.
- Prep the chicken. First, season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add it to a greased baking dish with the barbecue sauce. Rub the sauce generously over the chicken, then top with pineapple chunks.
- Marinate. Cover the dish and place it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours. This step is optional, but it does bring the flavor up several notches.
- Bake. When ready, take the chicken out of the fridge, drizzle it with olive oil, and bake it uncovered at 400ºF for 30-35 minutes. Rest the chicken for a few minutes after baking and before serving. Enjoy!
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerate. Store the leftover pineapple barbecue chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat. Warm up the chicken in the oven covered in foil, or in the microwave.
- Freeze. Freeze this pineapple barbecue chicken in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag for up to 2 months. Thaw it fully in the fridge before reheating.
Dinner tonight, without a doubt! 😀
Love pineapples, they give so much extra flavor!
This looks so flavorful! Perfect to feed the family!
Wow! This chicken looks awesome!
Doing this tonight with pork chops instead of chicken. I’m thinking it will be equally good! Thanks for an easy recipe for a busy night.
I bet that was delicious! I love pork with pineapples and bbq sauce! 😀
Well, too late for the crockpot this time, BUT I do have some French fried onions in the cabinet that I will sprinkle on top. Serving with some yellow rice with black beans and peppers. Can’t wait!
Hi! This looks delicious! Do you think I could put the ingredients together in the morning & cook after work or would that be too long in the refrigerator? Looking forward to trying it! Thanks!
Hi!! So, chicken in a marinade that contains vinegar or acid (bbq sauce contains vinegar) should not be left to marinate for longer than 2 hours because acid breaks down tissue and can toughen the chicken. To be completely honest, I hardly ever have time to let this sit in the fridge – I just throw it together and pop it in the oven. 😀
Thank you!!! I’ll just go that route then and put it in right away! I appreciate the advice:)
Making it right now. How about some fresh broccoli and fresh sliced carrots. Kind of like sweet and sour. But with bbq. Over rice. I’m going to try it.
That sounds so, sooo good!! I hope you enjoyed it!
That looks just delicious!!
I’m going to make this tonight. Do I bake it or cook on stove? If baking it what temp and for how long?
Hi!! Can you see the recipe up there right above these comments? All the steps on how to make this are written up there. Please let me know if it isn’t coming up for you.
This looks amazing. I must be blind though because I don’t see anywhere what temp you bake it for 40 minutes at/
Hi!! 🙂 It’s under the instructions, step #6.
6. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 400F.
7. Remove plastic wrap.
8. Drizzle olive oil over the chicken.
9. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes, or until chicken’s internal temperature reads 165F.
10. Remove from oven and serve.
If you have a minute, please let me know if you were able to find this information in the recipe card on my website. I would like to know so I can see to fix it, just in case that maybe some of you aren’t able to see all the instructions.
Yep I was right; I am blind. Thanks for pointing it out.
LOL! 😀 I do the same thing! I just want to read through everything real quick, but because of that, I always end up missing the most important information! 😀
I made this in my crock pot it was very good but I really think in the oven would be better.
I made this tonight and it was great! Super easy and will definitely make it again. Even my picky 7 year old liked it. I served it over wild rice.
YAAAY!! So happy you liked it! 😀 Thank YOU!
I noticed that you added a green seasoning on top of the dish, like parsley or thyme. Can you please tell me what it is, because you left it out of the recipe.
Hi! That’s dried parsley. 🙂
I was wondering also. Glad I read through the comments before asking. It was not in the instructions.