Pineapple Chicken USDA Recipe for Child Care Centers

Age Group: Ages 3-5
Serving Size: 25-50
Full of sweet pineapple and succulent bites of chicken. The dish is similar in flavor to sweet and sour pork.
CACFP CREDITING INFORMATION
⅔ cup (No. 6 scoop) pineapple chicken and ¼ cup (No. 16 scoop) cooked rice provides 1½ oz equivalent meat, ⅛ cup vegetable, ¼ cup fruit, and ½ oz equivalent grains.
SOURCE
Team Nutrition CACFP Multicultural Recipe Project.
https://teamnutrition.usda.gov
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Prep Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Instructions
 

  • Make marinade: In a plastic bag or large bowl stir together water, salt, pepper, and soy sauce.
    Amount of water to use:
    For 25 servings, use ½ cups.
    For 50 servings, use 1 cup.
  • Place chicken in marinade and allow it to sit in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
  • Combine brown rice and water in a large stockpot. Reserve remaining water for step 9.
    For 25 servings, add 1 qt water.
    For 50 servings, add 2 qt water.
    Heat on medium–high heat to a rolling boil.
  • Cover and reduce heat to medium. Cook until water is absorbed, about 30–40 minutes. Fluff the rice gently with a large spoon.
  • Heat half of the oil in a tilt kettle or large stockpot. Reserve remaining oil.
    For 25 servings, use ¼ cup oil.
    For 50 servings, use ½ cup oil.
  • Sauté green onions and celery for 5–7 minutes or until celery begins to cook, but stays crunchy. Stir frequently
  • Remove vegetables and set aside.
  • Add remaining oil to the pot. Add chicken and marinade and pineapple with juice to pot. Continue cooking on medium–high heat and bring to a boil, 7–10 minutes. Stir frequently.
    Critical Control Point: Heat to 165 °F or higher for 15 seconds.
  • Make cornstarch mixture: In a small bowl whisk remaining water together with sugar and cornstarch until smooth. Amount of remaining water to use:
    For 25 servings, use 2 cups.
    For 50 servings, use 1 qt.
  • Stir cornstarch mixture into the chicken and pineapple. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes, or until sauce is nectar thick. Stir frequently. Add more water if too thick.
  • Stir celery and green onions into pineapple chicken mixture and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Serving size ⅔ cup (No. 6 scoop) pineapple chicken over ¼ cup cooked rice.
    Critical Control Point: Hold at 140 °F or higher.

Nutrition INFORMATION

Nutrition Facts
Pineapple Chicken USDA Recipe for Child Care Centers
Amount Per Serving 0 ⅔ cup (No. 6 scoop) pineapple chicken over ¼ cup (No. 16 scoop) cooked rice.
Calories 204 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 39mg13%
Sodium 354mg15%
Total Carbohydrate 19g6%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 5g6%
Protein 14g28%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
*
*Marketing Guide
25 Servings:
Green onions with tops: 1 lb
Celery: 1 lb 7 oz
50 Servings:
Green onions with tops: 1 lb 15 oz
Celery: 2 lb 14 oz

Notes

*See Marketing Guide for purchasing information on foods that will change during the preparation or when a variation of the ingredients is available.
Variation
If chicken is frozen, defrost in the refrigerator for 1 day per 1–5 pounds. Hold raw
chicken at 40 °F or lower.
Yield / Volume
25 Servings:
8 lb 10½ oz pineapple chicken, 12½ oz brown rice
1 gal ⅔ cup pineapple chicken, 1 qt 2¼ cups brown rice
50 Servings:
17 lb 5 oz pineapple chicken, 1 lb 9 oz brown rice
2 gal 1⅓ cups pineapple chicken, 3 qt ½ cup brown rice