Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken in sweet pineapple sauce, infused with Hawaiian flavors for an easy, delicious dinner.
# 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 for sprinkling
# Steps:
01 - Place chicken thighs or breasts in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
02 - Whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves completely. Pour sauce mixture evenly over the chicken.
03 - Distribute sliced onion, bell pepper pieces, and pineapple chunks over the chicken and sauce.
04 - Cover with lid and cook on LOW setting for 4 to 5 hours until chicken is tender and reaches internal temperature of 165°F.
05 - Transfer chicken and vegetables to a serving platter using tongs or a slotted spoon. Cover loosely with foil to retain heat.
06 - Whisk cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth to create slurry. Pour cooking liquid from slow cooker into a saucepan and bring to simmer over medium heat. Gradually whisk in cornstarch slurry and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until sauce coats the back of a spoon.
07 - Pour thickened sauce over chicken and vegetables. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately accompanied by steamed white or coconut rice.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The sauce thickens into this gorgeous glaze that coats every bite of tender chicken
- My husband actually asked for seconds and he never asks for seconds
- Set it and forget it cooking that tastes like you spent all day fussing
02 -
- Marinating the chicken in half the sauce for 30 minutes before cooking adds incredible depth
- That sauce thickening step is what takes this from good to absolutely restaurant worthy
03 -
- Fresh ginger makes a huge difference so please do not use the dried stuff
- Cut your bell peppers into uniform pieces so they cook evenly