Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken slow-cooked in sweet pineapple sauce with Hawaiian flavors for an easy, flavorful meal.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
→ Sauce
02 - 1 cup pineapple juice
03 - 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
04 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
05 - 1/2 cup ketchup
06 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
07 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
08 - 2 tablespoons water
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
→ Vegetables & Fruit
11 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
12 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
13 - 1 medium onion, sliced
14 - 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks, drained if canned
→ Optional Garnish
15 - 2 green onions, sliced
16 - Sesame seeds
# How-To Steps:
01 - Arrange the chicken thighs or breasts in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger until the sugar dissolves completely. Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken.
03 - Distribute the sliced onion, bell pepper pieces, and pineapple chunks over the chicken and sauce.
04 - Cover and cook on LOW setting for 4-5 hours, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is tender enough to shred easily.
05 - Transfer the cooked chicken and vegetables to a serving platter using a slotted spoon. Cover loosely with foil to maintain warmth.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and water until smooth and no lumps remain.
07 - Pour the cooking liquid from the slow cooker into a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then gradually whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Continue whisking and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
08 - Pour the thickened sauce over the chicken and vegetables. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately over steamed rice.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The sauce hits that perfect sweet and tangy balance that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
- Its practically foolproof even on chaotic days when you need dinner to sort itself out
02 -
- The sauce will seem thin initially but reduces beautifully with the cornstarch finish
- Dont rush the thickening step or your sauce will taste like raw starch
03 -
- Marinate the chicken in half the sauce for 30 minutes if you have time
- Use gluten-free soy sauce to make this completely gluten-free