Air Fryer Chicken Pineapple (Printable)

Tender chicken and sweet pineapple cubes air-fried, seasoned for a perfect party-friendly bite.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (14 oz)
02 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free preferred)
03 - 1 tablespoon honey
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Assembly

08 - 1 small fresh pineapple, cut into 1-inch chunks (or 1 can pineapple chunks, drained)
09 - 24 toothpicks or small skewers

# How To Make It:

01 - Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes and set aside.
02 - Whisk together soy sauce, honey, olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper in a medium bowl.
03 - Add chicken cubes to marinade, toss to coat evenly, and let sit for 10-15 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate up to 2 hours.
04 - Peel, core, and cut fresh pineapple into 1-inch chunks, or drain canned pineapple thoroughly.
05 - Heat air fryer to 390°F for 3 minutes.
06 - Thread one marinated chicken piece and one pineapple chunk alternately onto each toothpick or skewer.
07 - Arrange assembled bites in single layer in air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding.
08 - Air fry for 10-12 minutes, turning halfway through cooking, until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F with golden exterior.
09 - Transfer to serving plate and garnish with fresh cilantro, green onions, or sesame seeds if desired. Serve warm with accompanying sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They come together in under 30 minutes, which means you can go from craving appetizers to serving them before anyone gets too hungry.
  • The marinade does heavy lifting on flavor so you're not standing over a stove, just loading a basket and trusting the air fryer to do its thing.
  • Sweet pineapple against savory chicken hits a flavor note that keeps people reaching for just one more bite.
02 -
  • Don't skimp on the marinating time, because even 10 minutes transforms plain chicken into something that tastes intentional and flavorful.
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket is the quickest way to end up with steamed chicken instead of crispy bites, so resist the urge to fit everything in one batch.
  • The chicken keeps cooking slightly after you remove it from the heat, so pull it out when it looks almost done rather than waiting for it to look perfectly golden.
03 -
  • Pat your chicken completely dry before cubing and marinating, because surface moisture prevents proper caramelization and that crispy exterior you're after.
  • If you notice the pineapple edges starting to char too much but the chicken isn't done, lower the temperature slightly or cover the batch loosely with foil for the final few minutes.
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