Pineapple Chicken Rice Wraps (Printable version)

Juicy chicken and pineapple combined with fluffy rice, served in crisp lettuce leaves for a fresh 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

# Directions:

01 - Combine diced chicken with soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly until chicken is evenly coated. Allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes.
02 - Rinse rice under cold running water. Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a rolling boil in a saucepan. Add rinsed rice, reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is fully absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and stir-fry for 4 to 6 minutes until fully cooked through with light browning on the exterior.
04 - Add diced red bell pepper and sliced red onion to the skillet with chicken. Continue stir-frying for 2 to 3 minutes until vegetables are just tender-crisp.
05 - Stir in diced pineapple and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through. Remove from heat.
06 - Add cooked rice to the skillet and gently toss with chicken, vegetables, and pineapple until all components are evenly distributed and well combined.
07 - Spoon the chicken and rice mixture into individual lettuce leaves. Top each wrap with fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, and toasted sesame seeds. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes fancy enough for guests but comes together faster than ordering takeout.
  • The lettuce wraps mean everyone gets to customize their own bite, which somehow makes everything taste better.
  • You get that satisfying crunch from fresh vegetables paired with warm, tender chicken in one perfect package.
02 -
  • Don't skip the marinating step—even 10 minutes makes a difference, and if you have time, 30 minutes is better because the soy sauce and sesame oil actually tenderize the chicken.
  • Fresh pineapple makes a huge difference in flavor, but if you use canned, drain it well and pat it dry so excess juice doesn't make your wraps soggy.
03 -
  • The secret to perfect rice is not lifting the lid—every time you peek, steam escapes and cooking time gets longer, so trust the process and wait those 15 minutes.
  • Taste the filling before assembling the wraps so you can adjust the salt or sweetness, because once everything is combined, it's harder to fix.
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