Pineapple Chicken Rice Foil (Printable Version)

Grilled chicken with pineapple, vegetables, and rice packed in foil for a tasty, easy summer dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Protein & Grains

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, approximately 6 ounces each
02 - 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice, rinsed

→ Fruits & Vegetables

03 - 1.5 cups fresh pineapple chunks or canned and drained
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed
07 - 2 green onions, sliced for garnish

→ Sauce & Seasonings

08 - 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
09 - 1/4 cup pineapple juice
10 - 2 tablespoons honey
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
14 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Cooking Medium

16 - Nonstick cooking spray or olive oil for foil preparation

# Directions:

01 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat, approximately 400°F.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, pineapple juice, honey, olive oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, black pepper, and salt until fully combined.
03 - Lay out 4 sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil, each approximately 12 by 16 inches. Lightly coat the center of each sheet with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil.
04 - Evenly divide uncooked rice among the foil sheets, spreading each portion in the center to form a bed for the chicken.
05 - Place one chicken breast directly on top of the rice bed in each foil packet.
06 - Distribute pineapple chunks, diced bell pepper, sliced red onion, and sugar snap peas around and over the chicken in each packet.
07 - Drizzle an equal portion of the prepared marinade over the ingredients in each packet.
08 - Fold the foil edges securely over the ingredients, creating a tight seal on all sides to prevent steam and liquid from escaping.
09 - Place foil packets on the grill with the seam side facing upward. Grill for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating each packet halfway through the cooking time. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F and rice should be tender.
10 - Carefully open packets, watching for escaping steam. Garnish each packet with sliced green onions and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one sealed packet, so you're genuinely done the moment you plate it.
  • The sweet-savory balance keeps everyone at the table engaged, even people who think they don't like pineapple on savory dishes.
  • You can prep these in the morning and grill them when guests arrive, which is basically cheating at dinner parties.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice; it makes a real difference in texture and prevents the packets from turning into a gluey mess.
  • If your chicken breasts are noticeably thicker than others, gently pound them to even thickness so everything cooks at the same rate.
03 -
  • Buy pre-minced garlic and pre-grated ginger from the grocery store if you're short on time; your packet will taste just as good and nobody ever needs to know.
  • Arrange your vegetables with the prettiest sides facing outward inside the foil so when someone opens their packet, they see beauty first.
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