Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Prep
- Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Toss chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil and the spice mixture until evenly coated. Let sit at room temperature while you prep the pineapple and slaw.
- Combine shredded cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Toss well and set aside to soften slightly.
Cook
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 4 minutes until deeply golden on the bottom. Flip and cook 3 minutes more until just cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- Add pineapple chunks to the same hot skillet. Cook over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until edges turn golden brown and caramelized in spots. The natural sugars will create some dark bits in the pan - that's flavor.
- Return chicken to the skillet with the pineapple. Toss together for 1 minute to coat the chicken in the sweet, sticky juices. Remove from heat.
Assemble
- Spoon chicken and pineapple mixture onto warm tortillas. Top with a generous handful of slaw. Serve immediately with extra lime wedges if desired.
Notes
Chicken thighs stay juicier than breast meat and stand up better to the high heat needed for caramelization. For a spicier version, add 1/2 teaspoon cayenne to the spice mix or finish with hot sauce. The slaw can be made 2 hours ahead and kept refrigerated; just toss again before serving.
