With only 10 minutes of prep time, this is a one-dish dinner that is perfect for a weeknight meal! This Hawaiian inspired meal is topped with crispy bacon, and even the pickiest of eaters are sure to love it!
Preheat oven to 425°. Spray a 9x13" baking dish with cooking spray.
In the prepared dish (or in a separate bowl) whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and chicken broth. Add uncooked rice, onion, bell pepper, pineapple (with juice) and raw chicken.
Cover dish tightly with foil. Bake for 55 minutes. Uncover and stir everything.
Sprinkle with cooked, chopped bacon.
Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until bacon is crispy and sauce has thickened.
Let stand 5 minutes before serving to thicken. Garnish with sliced green onions.
Notes
Season the dish with extra flavor by adding grated ginger, sesame oil, or spicy crushed red pepper flakes.
Mix other vegetables into the dish. You can stir frozen peas or corn into the dish towards the end (when you add the cooked chicken), or you can start with raw broccoli florets or green beans at the beginning.
If you prefer to use brown rice instead of white rice, that will work fine. You will need to increase the baking time to at least 90 minutes, though. This may cause the chicken to dry out slightly, but the recipe will still work.
Try topping your finished casserole with sliced or chopped peanuts or almonds. That extra salty crunch adds a nice touch to the dish!
Make sure to cover your dish tightly with foil so that none of the liquid or steam escapes during cooking. The rice needs that liquid to absorb while it bakes.
If you would rather use fully cooked chicken instead of raw chicken, that will work fine! Just stir in the cooked chicken during the final 10 minutes of baking time (at the same time that you add the bacon on top). This will give the chicken time to heat through without drying it out.