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Pineapple Quinoa With Island Chicken Skewers

This Pineapple Quinoa With Island Chicken Skewers is a delicious and easy dinner idea. It will tickle your tastebuds and leave you wanting more.

I have partnered with Mom It Forward Blogger Network and Dole® to bring you this scrumptious Pineapple Quinoa and Taste bud-Tingling Island Chicken Skewers. As always, all opinions are mine alone.
#DolePineappleJuice #AYearofSunshine

Pineapple-QuinoaWith Dole Island-Chicken Skewers @RunninSrilankan

Now, according to the recipe online, the marinade for the chicken consists of Dole Canned Pineapple juice, brown sugar, lime juice, soy sauce (we used Tamari instead), and garlic – all cooked up together. Dole Canned Pineapple Juice is 100% juice, and it’s not from concentrate. It also happens to be an excellent source of vitamin C, A & E, and is gluten-free.

In fact, when I was in college, Dole Pineapple Juice in the big can was the only juice I drank (it also happened to be very budget-friendly during those starving-art-student-days)! When all these ingredients were cooking, I have got to say, the smell was just intoxicating!

I also whipped up some quinoa to accompany the chicken. Now, usually, I cook my quinoa in stock, but as I had only half the amount of stock I needed, I subbed in some pineapple juice and my daughter ended up giving that quinoa 2 thumbs up (my daughter’s feelings towards quinoa fall into the same category as my feelings towards rain)!

The pineapple-flavored quinoa and the pineapple-flavored chicken were so good, I wish y’all could have tasted it! Oh but wait, y’all can…with the recipe below!  🙂

From now on, I am thinking Dole Canned Pineapple juice clearly needs to become a pantry staple in our home!

Dole-Island-Chicken-Skewers-@RunninSrilankan

I was standing in my driveway last night, contemplating my next mode of attack against the Carpenter Bees that seem to be attracted to my house when it hit me…

It’s been exactly 7 days since our last rainy day! One whole week!!! Yippeeee!!!! 

I abhor the rain – yes, I know we need it, and it helps with crops, and washing the pollen out of the air, and all that jazz,…but, April was oh so soggy here in Atlanta; at one time, it rained for 10 days straight!

So, this past week has been pretty fantabulous! I was so elated that I let those Carpenter Bees have their way with my wood and headed off to uncover my grill!

Pineapple-Quinoa-With-Island-Chicken-Skewers-@RunninSrilankan

My daughter had been bugging me to try out a recipe she caught me looking at on the Dole website; which, I had been putting off as the recipe calls for skewers, and my feelings for skewers and rainfall in the same category!

But, today, the 7th day -in a row- of sunshine, I figured it would be a good day to break out the grill, conquer my distaste for skewers and make us some Island Chicken! It is about those everyday little celebrations – right?

Dole Canned Pineapple Juice can be found in the shelf-stable juice aisle of grocery and super-center stores nationwide.
It’s available in both a 46oz can or 6oz 6-pack of cans.

If you happen to be looking for recipes for tasty tropical cocktails, marinades, and other delicious menu items, please check out dole.com/sunshine.

Want to keep up with DOLE Canned Pineapple Juice’s Year of Sunshine? Then please connect with them on Facebook, Pinterest & Twitter.

Pineapple-Quinoa-With-Island-Chicken-Skewers-@RunninSrilankan

Pineapple Quinoa With Island Chicken Skewers

5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Shashi
This Pineapple Quinoa With Island Chicken Skewers is a delicious and easy dinner idea. It will tickle your tastebuds and leave you wanting more.

Ingredients

FOR THE CHICKEN:

  • 1 cup DOLE Canned Pineapple Juice
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar packed
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce or Tamari sauce
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken tenders, cut into 2-inch strips
  • 6 wooden skewers soaked in water
  • 3 green onions cut into 1/2-in. pieces
  • 2 clove garlic smashed

FOR THE QUINOA:

  • 3/4 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup quinoa

Instructions

FOR THE CHICKEN:

  • Combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, lime juice, tamari/soy sauce, garlic, and green onions in a small saucepan and bring to boil for about 3 minutes. Pour out 3/4 cup mixture into a bowl to use for marinating the chicken. Allow the marinade to cool
  • Return saucepan to the stove and boil remaining pineapple mixture until slightly thicker. Remove from heat and allow to cool – I used this to brush over the chicken tenders.
  • Add chicken to the marinade, making sure to coat the chicken. Cover; refrigerate for at least 2 hours
  • Thread chicken pieces onto skewers and cook over a grill – 5 minutes on each side, while brushing with thickened pineapple mix.

FOR THE QUINOA:

  • Place the pineapple juice and chicken stock in a pan and bring to a boil.
  • Add in the quinoa and reduce to a simmer
  • Cover and let cook on low for 15 minutes
  • Top with shredded carrots, black beans, and more green onions, and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 1285mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 27g
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @SavorySpin or tag #savoryspin so we can share your ceation.

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Recipe Rating




  1. Ooooh.. this looks so good. I never cook with pineapple, should really try. So Hawaiian looking. 🙂

  2. Christian says:

    This looks amazing!!! I’m seriously going to make these next week! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Christian|www.mysimplemodestchic.com

  3. Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says:

    I am all about anything quinoa. This looks too good for words!
    Also, I am a little jealous. It rained here this morning. But at least I know to always have my umbrella handy 🙂

  4. I love Dole canned pineapple 🙂 Island chicken sounds delicious!

  5. Seriously…so fabulous! I always forget about the beautiful of pineapple when I make skewers. Gotta remember this for summer. Yum!
    Have a marvelous day!

  6. Sonali- The Foodie Physician says:

    Such a gorgeous dish and your staging is a thing of beauty! Pinning now 🙂

  7. Swati @ The Full-time Foodie says:

    This looks so good! It’s perfect for summer too! I used to not be a fan of hearing “pineapple” in a savory dish but thankfully outgrew that. I’ll have to try this out 🙂

  8. nagimaehashi says:

    I am so jealous, it’s been rain rain and more rain here!! LOVE the flavours you have going on here!! You’ve really cranked up quinoa for me 😉

  9. You’re very lucky to have had 7 days of sunshine in a row, Shashi. Here we’re lucky if we get 7 hours! The chicken and quinoa sounds really tasty. Nice and healthy, too!

  10. 10 days straight! Hopefully you are getting crazy May flowers for all that rain!
    Love these skewers! Such a flavorful easy dinner! Plus I love fruit in my dinner. Always must have something sweet! It’s a problem. #thestruggleisreal

  11. Pineapple is one ingredient I cannot have cooked as it becomes far too sweet for me. But chicken skewers are a winner for me 🙂

  12. chrisscheuer says:

    Just the name alone made me hungry – and I just ate lunch!

  13. Wow… Just to look at these skewers made my mouth water! They look amazing as everything else that you make, Shashi! Wishing you a very Happy Mother’s Day!!! Enjoy…

  14. I love the tropical feel of this dish!! I have grown to love pineapple in my savory food. 🙂

  15. Joanne says:

    It’s like a tropical flavor party on a stick! That has to be a good thing.

  16. I’d much rather eat this than walk in the rain or be chased by bees. I love pineapple and brown sugar together. Winner of a meal.

  17. Beautiful looking pictures of beautiful food as usual Shashi. I love your marinade!

  18. Mira says:

    Gorgeous meal, love the flavors! And so glad there is quinoa in it ! Pinned!

  19. I love grilling this time of year and now that it’s been sunny a few days, I’m getting spoiled.

  20. Holly @ Spend With Pennies says:

    This looks completely delicious!! I am putting it on my menu this week!

  21. The next time it rains here, I want a big bowl of this lovely dinner, and I’m going to pretend that I am on a tropical island!

  22. YES. I love having chicken marinated in either a really sweet orange or something tart and this is perfect- Seriously your creativity is awesome! Although… you should have totally Sunny D’d this 😉

    urgh bees. Bad memories. I got chased by one (yes chased!) as a kid.

  23. juliajolliff says:

    These look like the perfect summer skewers! I love the pineapple quinoa that you have it paired with.

  24. Danae @ Recipe Runner says:

    These skewers look so good! Grilled meat on a stick always tastes so good and I love the pineapple quinoa served with them!

  25. Ashley says:

    That marinade sounds fantastic! And I love that the quinoa is cooked in some pineapple juice too!

    haha I hear you on the weather! It’s been so nice by us lately – I can’t help but just want to be outside!

  26. Wow, now don’t I feel spoiled–I was almost grouchy last night because it got “cold” enough (like, 65 degrees?) that I had to put on my bigger jacket. hahaha I’m so glad you guys haven’t had rain this week though, that’s fab 🙂 I’d totally celebrate with some of this quinoa, looks FAB

  27. Girl, that is a party on a plate. I love fruit flavoring in the marinade and In fact I do use dole many times. Loving this one. I can imagine how you must feel about the weather. We didn’t get any rain at all except for that 2 days it was pouring. Glad you got out and grilled this up. I’m craving this so much, unfortunately you live a bit far, or else I would’ve dropped in for sure.
    Have a good day Sashi.

  28. Shashi – I love this recipe and all the pineapple yumminess! We love pineapple at our house and it will be so great on the grill, flavorful and colorful too. (Good luck on the carpenter bees!)

  29. Pragati Gusmano says:

    I loveee fresh pineapple but I’ve never cooked with pineapple juice. I can only imagine how yummy it is!

  30. cottercrunch says:

    yay for tamari sauce in this! such a good GF alternative. and might i say.. your dish looks HEAVENLY! well done for DOLE!

  31. spicedblog says:

    Woah…I don’t even know where to begin with all of the deliciousness you’ve got going on here, Shashi! Pineapple quinoa. And then Island Chicken Skewers, too? I’m pretty sure this needs to happen in Casa de Spiced…and soon!

    Oh, and carpenter bees? Blah. We have them in our shed out back. I usually just put one of those bug foggers out there, close the door and walk away. Then I come back the next day…and no more carpenter bees. But somehow they come back every year. Good luck! (Home ownership just wouldn’t be the same without regular trips to the home improvement stores…)

  32. Tara says:

    Mmm this looks delicious! I hate the rain too. When my plane touched down in London from Australia, it was pouring with rain and I was not happy! Thankfully it hasn’t rained since though.

  33. I love using pineappple juice in marinades, not only flavor-wise but also because it helps tenderizing the meat quite substantially.
    Great recipe my friend!

  34. I love this marinade as pineapple is one of my favvvvorites–it’s just so sweet. I think I hate the rain too.. there are a few moments in the summertime when it actually feels really good, but it mostly just makes everything feel dreary.

  35. Farrah says:

    I love Dole, and pineapples make me so darn happy! (They remind me of Hawai’i. <3) I've used pineapple juice to make pineapple fried rice before, but haven't ever used it in quinoa! Can't wait to try this out! <3

  36. Mmmm, totally tropical paradise! I’m a huge fan of pineapple! Sweet/sour/perfect!

  37. A day without rain is an awesome reason to celebrate and I would love to start by trying out your delicious pineapple quinoa chicken recipe. I bet the chicken was really tender as the pineapple juice would help with that in the marinade process.

  38. allie says:

    This looks like a wonderful and delicious meal full of flavor.

  39. Angie@Angie's Recipes says:

    I love protein packed meals like this and the flavour combo of this quinoa recipe is just unbeatable!