Pineapple Chicken Rice Wraps (View Print Version)

A light dish featuring chicken, pineapple, rice, and crisp lettuce for a refreshing 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 fresh cilantro, chopped
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

# Method:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine diced chicken with soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Mix thoroughly and allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water. In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water and salt to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes until tender and liquid 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 4-6 minutes until fully cooked through and lightly browned on the edges.
04 - Add red bell pepper and red onion to the skillet. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp.
05 - Stir in diced pineapple and cook for 1-2 minutes until heated through. Remove from heat.
06 - Add cooked rice to the pan and gently toss with chicken, vegetables, and pineapple until evenly combined.
07 - Spoon chicken and rice mixture into prepared lettuce leaves. Top with cilantro, green onions, and toasted sesame seeds. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet-savory balance hits different when you wrap it all in crisp, cool lettuce leaves that feel fresh against warm rice.
  • It comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for weeknights when you want something that tastes like you spent way more effort than you did.
  • There's something deeply satisfying about building your own wraps at the table, letting everyone customize their bite.
02 -
  • Don't skip marinating the chicken, even for 10 minutes; it's the difference between bland protein and meat that tastes intentional and seasoned.
  • If you add the pineapple too early or cook it too long, it breaks down into mush and loses its bright personality, so timing matters more than you'd think.
  • Wet lettuce leaves are your enemy; make sure they're completely dry or the whole wrap becomes a sad soggy situation.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes before serving; they go from invisible to nutty and aromatic and it takes almost no effort.
  • Keep your cooked rice slightly warm but not piping hot when you serve, so it doesn't wilt the lettuce leaves when you first load them up.
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