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Looking for a quick and flavorful meal? Try this single serving Broiled Chicken with Pineapples recipe. It’s a simple, delicious way to enjoy a balanced meal, combining juicy chicken and sweet pineapples under the broiler for a delightful blend of flavors. Perfect for when you want something tasty without the fuss.
Enjoy the broiled chicken alongside fluffy baked white rice, creamy buttered noodles, a crisp Caesar salad, or tender cheesy smashed Brussels sprouts for a complete meal.
Why You’ll Love This Broiled Chicken Recipe
- Flavorful & Unique: Lime-marinated chicken meets caramelized pineapple for a sweet-savory explosion.
- Fast and Easy: From preparation to table, this meal takes very little time to make, perfect for those busy days.
- Healthy: The combination of lean chicken protein and nutrient-rich pineapple provides a balanced, satisfying, and health-conscious meal.
- One-Pan Wonder: Minimal dishes for a hassle-free cooking experience.
- Versatile: It can be served as a main course, or paired with a side dish to create a more substantial meal.
What Is Broiling?
Broiling is a cooking method that might be unfamiliar to some, yet it’s a simple and effective way to prepare meals. Essentially, broiling involves cooking food under high, direct heat, typically in an oven’s broiler. This technique is similar to grilling, but the heat source comes from above rather than below. This approach is excellent for quickly cooking some cuts of meat, vegetables, or fruits, imparting a delightful char and crispness while keeping the inside succulent and flavorful. Our easy broiled chicken recipe leverages this technique to perfectly cook the chicken and caramelize the pineapple, creating a dish with a tantalizing texture and depth of flavor
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this broiled chicken recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Olive Oil: In this recipe, and others on my website, I use extra virgin olive oil. This is the highest quality, least processed form, known for its authentic olive flavor and rich content of vitamins and minerals. While I prefer extra virgin for its robust taste and health benefits, a lighter olive oil can also work well.
- Lime Juice: It brings a zesty, citrus freshness, perfectly complementing the sweet pineapple. If preferred, lemon or orange juice can be used as a substitute for a different citrus twist.
- Salt and Black Pepper: These classic seasonings are used to enhance flavor. Adjust the quantities according to your taste preference.
- Chicken: The recipe calls for one boneless, skinless chicken breast. If you’ve got an extra chicken breast, consider using it to make Chicken Nuggets.
- Pineapple: This tropical fruit adds a sweet and tangy dimension to the broiled chicken, creating a delightful contrast in flavors. Consider using leftover pineapples in Ambrosia or a Green Smoothie.
- Butter: A tablespoon of butter is added on top of the chicken and pineapple, melting beautifully under the broiler for added richness.
This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why I used them. For the full recipe please scroll down to the recipe box at the bottom of the post.
Recipe Variations
Here are a few ways to put your own spin on this classic dish:
- Add Heat: For a spicy kick, add some finely chopped jalapeños or a splash of hot sauce to the marinade.
- Go Tropical: Along with pineapple, you can use slices of mango or peach for a more tropical flavor profile.
- Use Different Proteins: Replace the chicken with pork tenderloins or tofu for a whole new taste experience.
How To Broil Chicken
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make our broiled chicken recipe. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Prepare the Marinade: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Whisk the ingredients until well mixed. If lime juice isn’t available, lemon juice makes an excellent substitute.
- Marinate the Chicken: There are two methods to marinate the chicken. One option is to place the chicken in a glass dish, pour the marinade over it, ensuring it is well coated. Alternatively, put the chicken in a sealable plastic bag, pour in the marinade, and seal the bag. This second method has the advantage of easy cleanup – simply discard the bag once the chicken has marinated.
- Cook the Chicken: Place your marinated chicken on a small baking sheet with edges, or a rimmed baking sheet. Then, put it under the broiler and let it cook for 5 minutes.
- Add Pineapple: After the initial cooking time, remove the chicken from the oven. Use a fork to flip the chicken over. Now, top the chicken with two pineapple slices and a dab of butter.
- Final Cooking Stage: Return the chicken, now topped with pineapple and butter, to the oven. Continue to broil for another 8-10 minutes. If your chicken piece is on the thicker side, it might need a few extra minutes of cooking.
- Check for Doneness: To ensure the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat, use a food thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken; the internal temperature should reach 165 degrees F.
Pro Tip: If you’d like the pineapples to have a more charred look to them, just flip the chicken over one last time for 2-3 minutes and the pineapples will caramelize slightly.
Expert Tips
- Oven Rack Placement: Position the oven rack approximately 5 to 6 inches beneath the heating element in your oven.
- Preheat Your Broiler: To ensure consistent cooking, preheat your broiler before placing the chicken in the oven.
- Flip the Chicken: To ensure even cooking, turn the chicken over after about 5 minutes in the oven, allowing the other side to cook.
- Monitor the Cooking Process: To avoid burning or charring, keep a watchful eye on the chicken as it cooks.
- Resting Time: After cooking, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest, covered, for around 10 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, leading to a tender, juicy bite when you’re ready to dig in.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will know that the chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. The temperature can be measured with a food thermometer which is inserted into the thickest part of the chicken.
Add a dash of hot sauce or a sprinkle of chili flakes to the marinade for an extra kick.
Yes, you can use frozen pineapple in this recipe. However, be sure to thaw the pineapple completely before using it in this recipe.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Other Single Serving Chicken Breast Recipes
Each of these chicken recipes call for using 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast.
- Chicken Caprese
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Chicken and Dumplings
- Chicken Margherita
- Mediterranean Chicken
- Chicken Fajitas
Pro Tip: Consider keeping chicken pieces in the freezer so you can easily pull one out, defrost it, and cook it when ready. Look for chicken breasts (or thighs) and purchase them when they’re on sale. Then, immediately divide, individually wrap and freeze pieces for later use. The USDA recommends freezing chicken breasts no longer than nine months for optimal quality.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this broiled chicken or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!
Broiled Chicken For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 (6-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast
- 2 pineapple slices
- 1 tablespoon salted butter , cut in half
Instructions
- Combine the oil, juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Place the chicken breast in a shallow bowl or in a zip top plastic bag. Pour the marinade into the dish or bag and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Position the top rack of the oven about 5"-6" from the heating element. Set the oven to broil and let it preheat to high.
- Transfer the chicken to a rimmed baking sheet and broil the breast for 5-6 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and flip the chicken over with a fork. Place 2 slices of pineapple on top of the chicken breast and put the slices of butter on top of each pineapple slice.
- Return the chicken to the oven to broil for an additional 8 minutes, until nicely browned and the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F. The broiling time will vary based on the power of the heating element. Be sure to closely watch the chicken as it cooks so that it doesn't burn.
- Place the chicken on a plate and cover for 10 minutes to allow the meat to rest before slicing.
Notes
- Oven Rack Placement: Position the oven rack approximately 5 to 6 inches beneath the heating element in your oven.
- Preheat Your Broiler: To ensure consistent cooking, preheat your broiler before placing the chicken in the oven.
- Flip the Chicken: To ensure even cooking, turn the chicken over after about 5 minutes in the oven, allowing the other side to cook.
- Monitor the Cooking Process: To avoid burning or charring, keep a watchful eye on the chicken as it cooks.
- Resting Time: After cooking, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest, covered, for around 10 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, leading to a tender, juicy bite when you’re ready to dig in.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Can the olive oil be omitted, without putting any other oil in place for a lower calorie meal?
If I were to make it without the oil, would this not taste good?
Thank you in advance!
The olive oil is an important part of the marinade in this recipe. It helps coat the chicken evenly, allowing the seasonings to stick better, and it also contributes to the chicken staying moist while broiling. Without the oil, the chicken may dry out, and the flavors might not be as well-balanced. If you’re looking to reduce calories, you could try using a smaller amount of oil, but omitting it entirely may affect the texture and taste.
This was excellent. However, it pretty much seems impossible for me to broil anything without setting off the smoke alarm. My kitchen is very small and very close to the smoke alarm. Nothing burned, but there is a lot of smoke. Could I just bake this and get the same effect?
Yes, you can bake the chicken at 400 degrees F for 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink.
This was the first one dish kitchen meal I made and it was fantastic. The short list of ingredients is deceiving–this tastes wonderful! I made two breasts and used the second one on a salad for lunch the next day which was also very good!
Wondering if this is fresh or canned pineapple? My inclination would be to use fresh, but the pix look canned.
I used canned pineapple but you can use fresh.
Made this recipe last night and it was delicious!! Loved the charred pineapple on top of the chicken. Definitely a keeper for me! Thanks for such great recipes Joanie.
I really enjoyed this recipe. It was simple and delicious. Will be cooking it again soon!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for your feedback.
Can I broil with the chicken on a Sil-Pat?
It is not recommended. Silpat can’t be used under a broiler. Instead, I recommend using either aluminum foil to line the baking sheet or don’t use anything.
I cooked the chicken and pineapple in my glass bowled halogen cooker on 220 degrees for a couple of minutes longer than suggested, rather than grilling (broiling) so that I didn’t need to constantly need to keep an eye on it. Worked fine, was tasty, and served with a simple salad of cherry tomatoes, lettuce, olives, apple, radish and handful of raisins with simple olive oil/Balsamic dressing. I’m a widowed U.K. pensioner
I’m so happy you enjoyed the chicken recipe, Bernard. Thank you for your feedback.