Maple-Glazed Chicken with Pineapple Salsa

It wasn't until very recently that I even realized there were people out there in the world who don't like the Pioneer Woman. Apparently, some people think she's really annoying? I guess I can see that; she certainly does seem to have a perfect life (and, whether you like her like I do or really don't like her much at all, you should go read this post. Right now. I'll be here waiting after you wipe the tears of laughter from your eyes). And, yeah, I would agree that the step-by-step photos on her website are just ever-so-slightly unnecessary. Love her or hate her, though, I don't think anyone would disagree that she's marketed herself really well.

And in my experience, she definitely has the cooking chops to back up all the hype. To this day, I've never tried a recipe of hers that wasn't loved by my entire family. This is another one of those recipes. We all just went ga-ga for this chicken. The sweet and salty glaze on the chicken is amazing, and it tastes even better the more it caramelizes on the grill. The sweet and spicy salsa is delicious and perfectly balanced. This was such a delicious dinner, and absolutely perfect for summer.

Maple-Glazed Chicken with Pineapple Salsa

adapted from The Pioneer Woman Cooks

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup pineapple juice

1 cup finely diced or crushed pineapple

1 jalapeno, minced

1/4 cup cilantro, finely choped

1 small red onion, finely diced

1 teaspoon vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Combine maple syrup, soy sauce, and pineapple juice in a small saucepan. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and let it bubble up and reduce by about one-fourth. Set aside to cool.

2. In a small bowl, combine chopped pineapple, jalapeno, cilantro, red onion, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

3. Grill the chicken until it's done, then baste the maple reduction over the chicken, on both sides, toward the end of the grilling time. Remove them from heat and place them on a platter. Top with the pineapple salsa.