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Chipotle Pineapple Chicken with Bang Bang Sauce. We love this recipe! Chicken is cooked in a smoky chipotle-tomato sauce with tamari, garlic, and honey, then roasted on a sheet pan with sweet chunks of pineapple for a tropical, island-inspired twist. Serve everything over bowls of rice with creamy avocado and a drizzle of spicy, tangy, restaurant-style bang bang sauce. It’s vibrant, easy, and delish!
As we inch closer to summer, I’m craving more and more tropical flavors—think Caribbean-inspired dishes that are both spicy and sweet, filled with fresh pineapple and bold sauces.
And, as always, I’m keeping things simple. This recipe is a one-pan wonder—easy, quick, and minimal cleanup. Perfect for busy weeknights or low-effort entertaining.
When I shared this with my family, we all agreed: the flavors are some of our absolute favorites. The inspiration came from a trip we took to Turks and Caicos a few years back. While we were there, we ate our way through tacos, burritos, and lots of dishes featuring chicken, rice, and beans—with so many fun sauces and toppings. That balance of smoky, spicy, and sweet really stuck with me.
This dish is my take on a jerk-style roasted chicken I had at a small local restaurant. It came served over rice with caramelized pineapple and a spicy sauce. I skipped the beans this time to keep things streamlined—but if you love them, they’d be a great addition.
This one’s fun, flavorful, and just a little different. Hope you love it as much as we do!
Here are the details
Ingredients – for the chicken
- tamari – or you can use soy sauce
- vinegar – I use apple cider vinegar
- honey
- tomato paste
- canned chipotle chilies in adobo
- sweet paprika
- fresh thyme
- garlic
- chicken breast or thighs
- fresh pineapple chunks
- salted butter
- sesame seeds
Ingredients – for serving
- steamed rice
- sliced avocado
- sesame seeds
- fresh thyme – basil or cilantro would be yummy too!
Bang bang sauce ingredients
- mayo
- sweet Thai chili sauce
- garlic
- lime zest
Tools
A blender and a sheet pan are all you need!
Step 1: the chicken
Start by arranging the chicken on a sheet pan. Use a pan big enough to also fit the pineapple.
Step 2: make the sauce
For the sauce, everything gets blitzed together in a blender. Tamari, apple cider vinegar, honey, tomato paste, chipotle chilies in adobo, sweet paprika, fresh thyme, and garlic.
Blend the ingredients together into a smooth sauce.
Then pour the sauce over the chicken.
Step 3: bake
Add the pineapple chunks to the sheet pan. Top each piece of chicken with butter and a sprinkle of sesame seeds, then bake.
The chicken will cook for about 25 minutes. As the chicken cooks, the pineapple caramelizes, and the sauce will thicken up.
Step 4: make the bang bang sauce
Mix mayo in a bowl with Thai chili sauce, garlic, and lime zest. You can also add a pinch of salt and pepper or even chili flakes!
This is one of my favorite sauces. The sweet Thai chile sauce is the secret to the deliciousness!
Step 5: assemble
Serve the chicken, pineapple, and sauce over bowls of rice. If you’re feeling fancy, maybe even make some cilantro lime rice. That would be delicious.
Then add slices of avocado and top each bowl with generous spoonfuls of the creamy bang bang sauce. I usually add a squeeze of fresh lime too!
Once together, this becomes one totally delicious bowl!
Looking for more recipes? Here are a few to try:
Crockpot Chipotle Pot Roast Tacos
Spicy Chipotle Honey Salmon Bowls
Chipotle Pineapple Bang Bang Chicken Skewers
Coconut Chicken Fingers with Bang Bang Sauce
Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken
Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Feta Potatoes
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Buffalo Cauliflower with Spicy Tahini Ranch
Lastly, if you make this Chipotle Pineapple Chicken with Bang Bang Sauce, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Chipotle Pineapple Chicken with Bang Bang Sauce
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 410 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Arrange the chicken on a sheet pan.2. In a blender, blend the tamari/soy sauce, vinegar, honey, tomato paste, chipotle, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper until the chilies are chopped. Pour the sauce over the chicken, tossing to coat. Snuggle the pineapple around the chicken. Top the chicken with butter. Sprinkle the sesame seeds over each piece of chicken. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.3. To make the bang bang sauce, combine all ingredients in a bowl.4. Serve the chicken, sauce, and pineapple over bowls of rice. Add some sliced avocado and fresh thyme. Top with bang bang sauce. Enjoy!