Learn How To Make 20 Minute Blackened Grilled Chicken with Pineapple Salsa. This tasty salsa is filled with fresh pineapple, red pepper, onion, fresh herbs and lime juice creating a burst of flavor that is beyond satisfying! Weeknight meals just got more festive with this fun and easy recipe that is sure to become a staple in your home!
Tired of eating the same "boring" weeknight meals? To put it another way, looking for new inspiration for fun, tasty and healthy weeknight meal ideas? Look no further, this Blackened Grilled Chicken with Pineapple Salsa is the perfect recipe for a tasty meal!
WHAT IS BLACKENED GRILLED CHICKEN WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA?
This summer friendly recipe is easy to prepare and ready in under thirty minutes. Thoroughly seasoned chicken breasts are grilled and topped with fresh pineapple salsa. The flavor combination is the perfect mix of sweet, heat and spicy.
To clarify, the boneless skinless chicken breasts are seasoned liberally with blackening seasoning. I purchased my seasoning from Whole Food's but feel free to use your favorite. Here are a few of my favorite seasonings that will work great with this recipe.
- Old Bay with Blackened Seasoning
- Zatarain's Blackened Seasoning
- Cajun Nation Seasoning
- Campfire Sea Salt
While the chicken breasts cook, a fresh pineapple salsa is prepared. Fresh fruits and veggies are mixed with lime juice, honey and salt and pepper. Truly, the flavors pair extremely well together and deliver a flavor punch that will knock your tastebuds off!
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN THIS RECIPE?
This recipe is simple and requires minimal ingredients, most you'll have on hand! In addition to the fresh pineapple, you already have everything you need. Here's what to grab:
Pineapple Salsa
- Pineapple
- Red Pepper
- Red Onion
- Cilantro
- Honey
- Lime
- Salt and Pepper
- Chili Powder
Blackened Chicken
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Blackened Seasoning
- 1-2 teaspoon of Cooking Oil
HOW TO MAKE 20 MINUTE BLACKENED GRILLED CHICKEN WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA
Preparing the Blackened Chicken Breasts
First, if your chicken breasts are thicker than two to three inches, save cooking time by pounding the meat thinner. With a meat pounder or heavy object that is flat, pound the chicken breasts until one-two inches thick. This trick alone cuts down on cooking time and rings true to this dinner recipe that can be ready in under thirty minutes!
At the same time, gather your seasoning of choice and liberally season the chicken breasts. Add one to two teaspoons of cooking oil and finish coating the chicken breasts with the oil and seasoning.
How to Prepare the Pineapple Salsa
First, dice the fresh pineapple and place in a large bowl. Next, roughly chop the red onion, red pepper and cilantro. After the remaining veggies and herbs are prepped, add those ingredients to the bowl with the pineapple. In the same bowl, add the chopped red onion, red pepper and cilantro.
Then, pour in the honey, salt and pepper and lime juice. Finally, stir the ingredients until thoroughly combined and adjust seasonings and lime juice according to taste.
Grilling the Blackened Chicken
On a grille or indoor grill pan, heat to medium heat and place seasoned and oiled chicken breasts in pan. Sear chicken breasts on each side for at least five minutes, being careful not to move or disturb the chicken. For this reason, we are ensuring the chicken is not overcooked. It's so easy to over cook and dry the chicken breasts out sso manipulating it less and using a meat thermometer works wonders!
Finally, after the chicken breasts are close to reaching cooking temperature, remove from heat, cover/tint with aluminum foil and let rest for at least five minutes.
Plating the Blackened Grilled Chicken with Pineapple Salsa
Now that the chicken breasts are grilled and the salsa is done and marinating, it's time to plate this beautiful and tasty dish!
First, take a blackened chicken breasts and place on a plate. Add about one tablespoon of the pineapple salsa on top of the chicken, serve immediately and enjoy!
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Fresh pineapple works best but canned works too, just drain the juice.
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken breasts. Using a thermometer helps to combat this. Chicken breasts are cooked through when 165 degrees fahrenheit is reached.
- Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.
- If there are leftovers, store the chicken breasts and salsa separately.
- Be sure to oil your pan or grill if you aren't using nonstick cookware.
If you enjoy recipes like this, you'll love Peach Salsa with Shrimp, New England Mini Shrimp Rolls and Dragon Roll Sushi Bowls!
20 Minute Blackened Grilled Chicken With Pineapple Salsa
Ingredients
Pineapple Salsa
- 1.5 cup Pineapple Chunks Salt and PepperChili Powder
- ¾ cup Red Pepper roughly chopped
- ½ cup Red Onion roughly chopped
- ¼ cup Cilantro roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 2 wedges Lime Juice about 1 tbsp
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder optional
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Blackened Chicken
- 1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1 tablespoon Blackened Seasoning
Instructions
Pineapple Salsa
- Dice the fresh pineapple and place in a large bowl.
- Roughly chop the red onion, red pepper and cilantro. After the remaining veggies and herbs are prepped, add those ingredients to the bowl with the pineapple.
- In the same bowl, add the chopped red onion, red pepper and cilantro.
- Pour in the honey, salt and pepper and lime juice.
- Finally, stir the ingredients until thoroughly combined and adjust seasonings and lime juice according to taste.
- Set aside until further use.
Grilled Blackened Chicken
- If your chicken breasts are thicker than two to three inches, save cooking time by pounding the meat thinner.
- With a meat pounder or heavy object that is flat, pound the chicken breasts until one-two inches thick.
- Gather your seasoning of choice and liberally season the chicken breasts.
- Add one to two teaspoons of cooking oil and finish coating the chicken breasts with the oil and seasoning.
- After the chicken breasts are close to reaching cooking temperature, remove from heat, cover/tint with aluminum foil and let rest for at least five minutes.
- Take a blackened chicken breasts and place on a plate. Add about one tablespoon of the pineapple salsa on top of the chicken, serve immediately and enjoy!
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