Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken slow-cooked in sweet pineapple sauce with Hawaiian flavors, perfect for easy weeknight dinners.

# 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
05 - 1/2 cup ketchup
06 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
07 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
08 - 2 tablespoons water for slurry
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

→ 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 or canned, drained

→ Optional Garnish

15 - 2 green onions, sliced
16 - Sesame seeds

# Directions:

01 - Place chicken thighs or breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, garlic, and ginger in a medium bowl. Pour sauce over the chicken.
03 - Arrange onion, bell peppers, and pineapple chunks over the chicken and sauce.
04 - Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours until chicken is tender and cooked through.
05 - Transfer chicken and vegetables to a serving platter and cover to keep warm.
06 - Mix cornstarch and water to form a slurry. Pour cooking liquid into a saucepan and bring to simmer over medium heat. Whisk in cornstarch slurry and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
07 - Pour thickened sauce over chicken and vegetables. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve hot with steamed rice.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce thickens into this gorgeous sticky glaze that you will want to put on everything
  • Throw it in the crockpot and walk away then come home to a house that smells like a tropical vacation
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day if they last that long
02 -
  • The sauce needs those few minutes on the stove to reach the right consistency do not skip this step
  • If the sauce seems too thick after sitting add a splash of pineapple juice to loosen it back up
  • Fresh pineapple makes a huge difference in texture but canned works in a pinch just drain it well
03 -
  • Brown the chicken in a skillet before slow cooking for deeper flavor even though it adds an extra step
  • Use chicken thighs with the bone in for even more flavor then just pull the meat off before serving

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