Chicken Teriyaki Smash Tacos with Grilled Pineapple
These smash tacos press seasoned ground chicken directly onto flour tortillas and sear them until crispy and caramelized, then get glazed with sweet garlic teriyaki sauce and topped with charred pineapple, green onions, and cilantro. They're a fun and come together in just 40 minutes and disappears even faster.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time40 minutesmins
Course: asian, Dinner, fusion, Main Course, Main Dish, Tacos
2tbspKogi Sweet Garlic Teriyaki sauceplus more for glazing
½tspgarlic powder
½tsponion powder
½tspblack pepper
1tspkosher salt
12small flour tortillas
2tbspneutral oil
For Assembly:
3–4 green onionsthinly sliced
Fresh cilantro leaves
Sliced jalapeño or serranoserranos are spicier
Lime wedges
Instructions
Start with the grilled pineapple. Brush each slice lightly with neutral oil. Heat a grill pan or cast iron skillet over high heat until screaming hot. Grill the pineapple slices 2–4 minutes per side undisturbed until deep golden grill marks form. Transfer to a cutting board, chop into small bite-sized pieces, and set aside.
Mix the ground chicken with the Kogi Sweet Garlic Teriyaki sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt until evenly combined. Divide into 12 equal portions.
Place one flour tortilla flat on your work surface. Press one portion of the seasoned ground chicken directly onto the center of the tortilla and flatten it out into a thin, even layer that covers most of the tortilla.
Heat a large cast iron skillet or flat-top griddle over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of neutral oil. Place the tacos chicken side down in the pan. Press down firmly with a spatula so the chicken makes full contact with the pan. Cook undisturbed for 3–4 minutes until the chicken is cooked through with caramelized edges on the bottom.
Flip the taco so the tortilla side is now face down. Immediately brush the Kogi Sweet Garlic Teriyaki sauce generously over the entire chicken surface. Let cook for 1 minute, then flip one more time so the glazed chicken side hits the heat directly. Cook for another 60–90 seconds until the glaze caramelizes, bubbles, and chars slightly at the edges. Remove from heat.
To assemble, add the chopped grilled pineapple over the glazed chicken, then finish with sliced green onions, fresh cilantro leaves, sliced jalapeños or serranos, and a squeeze of lime. Serve immediately.
Notes
Press the chicken firmly and evenly across the tortilla so it cooks flat with maximum contact on the skillet, gaps mean uneven browning and less crispy edges.
Don't skip the double flip at the end. Glazing the chicken then flipping it back onto the heat is what gives you that sticky, caramelized char on the surface.
Use a well-seasoned cast iron or flat-top griddle, nonstick pans won't get hot enough to give you the crispy, charred edges this method needs.
Grill the pineapple until it's deeply golden, not just warm. Real caramelization adds sweetness and smokiness that balances the savory teriyaki glaze.