Preheat your oven to 425°F and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish or similar casserole dish. While the oven heats, mince your garlic, chop the cilantro and set aside, and cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, ground ginger, and chicken broth until the sugar dissolves completely. This flavorful liquid will become your cooking medium, so make sure it's well combined.

In your prepared baking dish, combine the white rice, chopped red onion, diced red bell pepper, cubed chicken, and pineapple chunks with their juice. Pour the sauce mixture from Step 1 over everything and stir well to distribute all ingredients evenly. The rice should be mostly submerged—this ensures even cooking and allows the rice to absorb all the beautiful Hawaiian-inspired flavors. I like to give it one more good stir to make sure nothing is clumped at the bottom of the dish.

Cover your baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated 425°F oven. Bake for 50 minutes without disturbing. The foil traps steam, which helps the rice cook evenly and keeps the chicken moist while everything absorbs the soy-ginger sauce. The chicken will cook through and the rice will become tender as it absorbs the liquid.

Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and lift off the foil—watch out for the escaping steam! Give the casserole a good stir to prevent any sticking on the bottom and to ensure even cooking. Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes. This final uncovered baking allows any excess moisture to evaporate and helps develop a slightly more concentrated flavor.

Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. I find this resting period helps the rice finish absorbing any remaining liquid and allows everything to set slightly, making serving cleaner. Just before serving, drizzle the toasted sesame oil over the top, then sprinkle with the crumbled bacon and fresh cilantro for brightness and texture.