Description

Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken is a tender, juicy chicken dish cooked in a sweet and savory sauce made from pineapple, soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic. This easy, no-fuss recipe requires minimal prep and lets your crockpot do all the work. Serve it over rice or with tacos for a quick, tropical-inspired meal your whole family will love!

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs for extra juiciness)
1 tablespoon sesame oil (for cooking)

For the Sauce:

1 cup pineapple chunks (canned or fresh)
½ cup pineapple juice (from canned pineapple or separate carton)
¼ cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
¼ cup brown sugar (packed)
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ginger, minced (or ½ teaspoon ground ginger)
1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening the sauce)
Salt and pepper, to taste

For Garnish:

1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
Chopped green onions (optional)
Cooked rice, for serving

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Instructions

Prepare the Chicken:
Place the chicken breasts (or thighs) in the bottom of the crockpot. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Make the Sauce:
In a medium bowl, whisk together pineapple chunks (with juice), pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger until well combined and sugar is dissolved.
Cook the Chicken:
Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 74°C).
Thicken the Sauce (Optional):
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the crockpot and set aside. For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry. Stir the slurry into the sauce in the crockpot and cook on high for 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Shred the Chicken:
Shred the chicken with two forks or slice it into pieces, then return it to the crockpot and mix with the sauce to coat evenly.
Serve:
Serve the Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken over cooked rice, garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.

Notes

For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeños to the sauce mixture.For a more robust flavor, marinate the chicken in the sauce overnight before cooking in the crockpot.If you’re short on time, you can skip the thickening step, and the sauce will still be delicious.