Sweet Hawaiian Crock Pot Chicken Recipe
Sweet Hawaiian Crock Pot Chicken is a flavorful and easy slow cooker recipe featuring tender chicken simmered in a tangy pineapple and soy sauce mixture, enhanced with garlic, ginger, and bell peppers. Perfectly served over rice and garnished with fresh green onions and sesame seeds, this dish offers a delicious blend of sweet and savory flavors with minimal effort.
- Author: Marco
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
- Diet: Halal
Chicken and Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 can (8 oz) pineapple chunks, drained
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Cooked rice for serving
- Green onions & sesame seeds for garnish
- Prepare and Season Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken breasts or thighs in the slow cooker. Ensure the chicken is seasoned with salt and pepper to taste before adding the liquids for best flavor absorption.
- Make Sauce Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, and ground ginger until well combined. This mixture creates a sweet and savory sauce base for the chicken.
- Add Sauce and Vegetables: Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker. Then add the drained pineapple chunks and thinly sliced red bell pepper on top. Cover the slow cooker with the lid.
- Slow Cook Chicken: Cook the chicken on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
- Thicken the Sauce: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and set aside. Mix together the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Stir this mixture into the sauce in the slow cooker. Cook the sauce on high for about 15 minutes until it thickens.
- Recombine and Warm: Return the cooked chicken to the thickened sauce, coating the pieces well. Continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld and the chicken to heat through.
- Serve: Serve the saucy sweet Hawaiian chicken over cooked rice. Garnish generously with chopped green onions and sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.
Notes
- Using chicken thighs instead of breasts results in juicier, more flavorful meat.
- Drain pineapple chunks well to prevent excess liquid in the slow cooker.
- Adjust brown sugar amount to taste for a sweeter or more balanced flavor.
- If sauce is too thick, add a little water or pineapple juice to thin it.
- Serve with steamed white or brown rice to soak up the flavorful sauce.
- Slow cooker models vary, so adjust cooking times accordingly to avoid overcooking the chicken.
Keywords: Hawaiian chicken, slow cooker chicken, crock pot chicken, pineapple chicken, sweet and savory chicken, easy slow cooker recipes