Yummy Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pineapple

Featured in: Hearty and Delicious Meals

Toss chopped chicken, pineapple, onions, and peppers with BBQ sauce. Pile it all into foil, seal, then grill 15–18 minutes or bake at 400°F for 20–22 minutes till your chicken’s done.

Everything cooks at once, staying super juicy and full of flavor—plus cleanup’s almost nothing. Sprinkle green onions or cilantro on top and enjoy over rice for an island-style meal that’s ideal for busy evenings or summertime hangouts.

sana kitchen chef
By Sana Sana
Updated on Mon, 19 May 2025 19:48:43 GMT
Grilled Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pineapple Foil Packs Pin it
Grilled Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pineapple Foil Packs | recipebyme.com

Turn basic chicken into a tropical party on your fork with these Hawaiian BBQ Chicken and Pineapple bundles. Juicy pineapple browns up alongside soft chicken bites, soaking up that smoky-sweet BBQ flavor. Tin foil keeps everything super juicy and stress-free. This easy meal always puts me in a sunny mood.

We whipped these foil bundles up for backyard camping last summer. Needed something fun but simple for the fire, and everyone raved about them. Even my nephew, who usually pushes his food around the plate, went back for more. That's how you know it's a winner at our house.

Colorful Ingredients

  • Rice (cooked): Makes it feel like a real meal. Jasmine is especially nice with all the bright tropical tastes.
  • Green onions or cilantro: Totally optional but both will make your meal pop with color and freshness. Look for bright, crisp stalks.
  • Salt and pepper: Boosts every other flavor in the mix. Freshly ground pepper and kosher salt work best.
  • Olive oil: Gives richness and keeps stuff from sticking. Extra virgin brings more flavor.
  • BBQ sauce: That sweet, smoky magic that ties it all together. Pick your favorite BBQ sauce with balanced sweetness and a little smokiness.
  • Red onion: Adds just a hint of sharpness that mellows out perfectly. Grab ones that are shiny and feel firm.
  • Red and green bell peppers: Adds cheerful color and a tasty crunch. Choose peppers with shiny skin and nice weight.
  • Fresh pineapple chunks: Nothing beats this juicy sweetness. Pick a pineapple with golden patches and a yummy sweet smell on its base.
  • Chicken breasts (boneless, skinless): Stay nice and juicy baked in foil. Pick plump ones that look pink and don’t have weird spots.

Tasty Step-by-Step

Get Ready To Cook:
If you're using the oven, crank it up to 400°F and move a rack to the middle spot. For outdoor grilling, get things hot—medium-high, around 375–400°F works. That heat will make the chicken juicy and veggies soft (not mushy).
Bundle It Up:
Spread out four big rectangles of sturdy foil (about 12 by 18 inches each) on your counter. Heavy foil helps avoid rips when you flip them. Pile your chicken cubes, pineapple, chopped peppers, and onions right in the middle of each foil piece.
Add All The Good Stuff:
Drizzle olive oil on each pile so nothing sticks. Season everything with a good amount of salt and pepper. Spoon on roughly 2 tablespoons of your BBQ sauce. Then just mix it up with a spoon or your hands to spread it around evenly.
Seal It Up Tight:
Bring the long sides of the foil together and fold over a few times. Fold up the short ends, too, trapping everything inside but leaving some breath room for heat. Double check for cracks—steam needs to stay in!
Time To Cook:
If you're grilling, set the packets on the hot grill and close the lid. Cook 15 to 18 minutes and flip halfway through. In the oven, put your packets on a sheet pan and bake for 20 to 22 minutes. Inside, the chicken should hit 165°F so it's done but stays juicy, not dry.
A foil wrapped dish of chicken and vegetables.
A foil wrapped dish of chicken and vegetables. | recipebyme.com

Pineapple and BBQ sauce together might sound a bit wild, but they team up perfectly in these foil meals. Pineapple’s natural stuff actually makes the chicken extra tender as it cooks, and its sugars get all golden and delicious. When I was a teen living in Hawaii, we found these roadside BBQ shacks. This always brings me back to those good times.

Make Ahead Hacks

What’s awesome is you can build every foil packet up to a full day before and just pop them in the fridge. Makes dinner so simple when you've got a busy evening or friends coming over. When you’re ready to cook, let them go straight from the fridge but give them 2 or 3 extra minutes since they’ll start off colder. Bonus—giving them time in the fridge lets the flavors soak in even more.

Easy Swaps & Upgrades

The best thing about foil dinners is how much you can tweak them. Want it spicy? Add jalapeño or a shake of chili flakes. For extra sweetness, drizzle in some honey. Vegetarians can go with tofu or double up on the fruit and veggies. Want something more filling? Toss in partly cooked potatoes or a few corn chunks. Play around with sauces—try teriyaki or sweet chili for a tasty twist.

Serving Fun

Set these packets on a scoop of hot jasmine or coconut rice to catch all those saucy juices. If you want to cut carbs, use cauliflower rice instead. Simple coleslaw on the side is cool and crunchy—just right next to the hot, juicy foil dinner. If you’re hosting outside, line up extras like more BBQ sauce, chunks of avocado, macadamia nuts, or lime wedges so everyone can make it their own.

A bowl of food with onions and pineapple.
A bowl of food with onions and pineapple. | recipebyme.com

These Hawaiian BBQ foil dinners are a breeze and bring bold, sunny flavors that’ll make your taste buds happy.

Recipe FAQs

→ Could I prep these foil packs early?

Definitely! Throw them together the day before and stash them in your fridge—perfect for camping or when you need last-minute dinner. If you put them on the grill straight from cold, tack on an extra 2–3 minutes.

→ Will canned pineapple work here?

Yep, it's fine. Fresh tastes best, but canned is good too—just make sure you really drain out the juice so it’s not watery in the foil.

→ What’s the best BBQ sauce for this?

Honestly, it’s up to you! A sweet-tangy style matches the pineapple really well, but you can go with classic, honey, a smoky type, or spicy—whatever you’re into.

→ Can I make these on a campfire?

For sure! Lay the packs on a grill grate set over medium (not direct) heat from coals. Flip a couple times, and after about 15–20 minutes, your chicken should be good to go at 165°F inside.

→ How can I tell if my chicken’s cooked?

If you have a meat thermometer, check for 165°F (75°C) inside. No thermometer? Carefully open a pack and cut a piece—the inside should be all white, no pink, and juices totally clear.

→ What should I serve with these?

They’re tasty on their own, but even better with coconut rice, mac salad, some Hawaiian rolls, grilled corn, or just pile onto greens for a quick salad plate.

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pineapple

Bite-sized chicken and tangy pineapple with peppers slathered in BBQ sauce, all cooked up in fuss-free foil packs.

Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
35 min
By Sana: Sana

Category: Main Dishes

Skill Level: Easy

Cuisine: Hawaiian-American

Yield: 4 Servings (4 foil packets)

Dietary Categories: Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

→ Protein

01 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into 2.5 cm chunks

→ Produce

02 1 ½ cups juicy fresh pineapple cut into bite-size pieces
03 ½ red onion, chopped up
04 1 green bell pepper, chopped up
05 1 red bell pepper, chopped up
06 Chopped green onions or cilantro for a finishing touch (optional)

→ Condiments & Oils

07 ½ cup BBQ sauce
08 Pinch of salt and pepper, as needed
09 1 tbsp olive oil

→ For Serving

10 Steamed rice (totally optional)

Steps

Step 01

Open the foil carefully—watch out for the steam. Add some cilantro or sliced green onions if you're into that. Eat right away with some rice if you want.

Step 02

Wrap up the foil real tight, pinch those seams so nothing leaks. Let the packets grill for 15-18 minutes or bake for 20-22 minutes until your chicken's hit 75°C (165°F) inside.

Step 03

Splash some olive oil and BBQ sauce onto each pile, then give a quick toss so it all gets coated. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top.

Step 04

Lay out 4 big pieces of sturdy foil. Split up chicken, pineapple, onions, and both peppers over each sheet so everything's nice and even.

Step 05

Flip your oven to 200°C (400°F) or get your grill warming up to medium-high while you work.

Notes

  1. Want super soft chicken? Let it sit with a spoonful of BBQ sauce for half an hour before fixing your packets.
  2. You can build these ahead—just stash them in the fridge up to 4 hours till you're ready to start cooking.

Required Equipment

  • Heavy-duty foil sheets
  • Oven or grill
  • Thermometer for meat

Nutritional Info (per serving)

This data is provided as a guide and doesn't replace medical advice.
  • Calories: 285
  • Fats: 8.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 24 g
  • Proteins: 26 g