Potluck Polynesian Chicken Recipe

Had this delicious dish at a potluck over the weekend and the hostess was very kind to share her recipe with me and I wanted to share with ya'll.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  cup buttermilk
• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 -4  lbs chicken pieces (we use boneless chicken tenders & boneless thighs)
• 1  cup  peanut oil
• 1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 2  tablespoons cornstarch
• 1⁄2 cup cider vinegar
• 1  tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1  medium green bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
•  cooked rice (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
2. Pour buttermilk into a shallow bowl. Combine flour, salt and pepper in a separate shallow bowl.
3. Dip chicken in buttermilk and dredge in flour mixture.
4. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned; transfer to baking pan.
5. Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Add enough water to equal 1½ cups liquid.
6. Combine sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Add pineapple liquid, vinegar, soy sauce and ginger.
7. Stir until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour over chicken.
8. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes. Add pineapple and green pepper strips. Bake 15 minutes longer, or until chicken is tender and no longer pink in the center.
9. Serve over rice, if using.